Spitfire Mk. IX

Off we go!  I'm not sure if you would call it a slump, or perhaps it is just due to the fact the life has gotten busy lately.  Regardless of the reasons my modeling output has recently dwindled.   

I have a number of good friends who are aircraft modelers; I admire their attention to the details, the painstaking paintwork, the scribing of panel lines….listening to their enthusiastic discussions.   The thought …"perhaps I need to do something different than armor, maybe I should stretch my wings".   You realize, or course, that it's been probably 30 years since I have built an aircraft kit.  In the winged world I am a newbee and so I began to ask for kit recommendations and tips from those in the know.  With increasing enthusiasm I began to narrow my choices until finally chose to build the recently released Tamiya Spitfire.

 

 

Let's begin with the box, shall we?  It's big, and it's packed!  I took a bit of time to familiarize myself with the instructions and tried to get the unfamiliar part trees into some type of organized pile for later use. 

With armor kits one usually begin with the road wheels, with aircraft it is the cockpit.  So many parts in such a small space.  With a little patience and a few dry fits construction proceeds without a hitch.  Right from the start, however, I realize the biggest difference (at least for me) between constructing armor vs. aircraft is that painting as you go is essential. 
 

The detailing here is excellent and looks every bit the part according to my references.  The only small enhancements that I did was to drill out the lightening holes in the frame and add a little bit of wiring to some of the controls.

Another day…a little more progress.  I realize that the cockpit is an important part of the project – it seems like the first thing that everyone does when inspecting a model aircraft is peek inside!  But, having judged a number of contest (aircraft) I know that it's the fit details that can either make or break a model airplane.   There have been a number of aircraft models at show – excellently painted – that have been eliminated from consideration due to small seams, alignment and fit issues.  Knowing this I moved onto the airframe with quite a bit of nervous anticipation.

 

The work begins with some very clever engineering for the flaps.  Small metal rods and photo etched pins are used to make these workable.   Quite simple, yet very effective.  I took the plunge and mated the two halves of the fuselage – the fit is good, though small seams still exist – however, nothing that a little careful filling and sanding couldn't handle.

 

 

The wings come next.  The panel details are just amazing…I hope that I can due this thing justice with the painting!  The wheel wells are an intricate little assembly were the first use of screws and magnets are used to hold certain parts together.  Again, a clever touch that allows certain panels to be attached, and then removed rather easily.  Attaching the wings to the fuselage was another of the "hold my breath" moments…but once again the fit is tight requiring no filling or sanding.  Moving to the underside for a moment the wheel struts are another small assembly…complete with a metal reinforcement rod sandwiched within the leg for added strength – super nice touch. 

 

I'd been looking forward to finally working on the engine.   Unlike other kits where the modeler is  forced to decide whether or not the engine is to be on display, or not.  Tamiya has once again come up with a very clever solution.  On this Spit., the cowling and side panels are all held in place using small tabs and magnets.  Brilliant!  Now, I can feel good about spending time detailing the engine – with also the option of displaying the aircraft ready for flight! 

The actual construction follows an "inside – out" type of flow; each step adding more and more details until finally the frame is installed.  Many of the parts – such as the air intake – offer different variant opens, so check your references.  Not being very well versed in the aircraft I assembled the engine almost entirely OOTB, with the exception of adding a just a little bit of wiring to the plugs.  Painting was done mostly using Tamiya acrylics for the base colors, and then followed by weathering applications using the MIG Productions oils and pigments.

 

Painting!

Oh My!  It's amazing how anxious I'm feeling moving into the painting process.   Matthew Sinclair (an excellent armor modeler) did a P-47 some time ago and we spoke at length on how to translate the use of armor painting and weathering techniques to aircraft.  He set the bar very high with his outstanding job…now it's my turn to give this a shot. 

 

RELAX!  It's just painting.  I began by laying down the upper surface base color using Model Master Neutral Gray acrylic paint, while  the underside was given a base color using :ight Ghost Gray.  Now what?  Well, if you have followed any of my more recent armor projects you'll notice that I have employed small pieces of card stock as quick masks to add interest to the surfaces.  Using the panel lines as my guides I began the process of highlighting and shadowing certain panels.  

Did you know that Spitfire's where all painted in a particular camouflage pattern?  I didn't.  Friend, mentor, and airplane modeler Mike Howard educated me to this fact and was even so kind as to send me a template for me to use.   I cut out the pattern and laid it over the gray surfaces.  Using a base color of RAF Dark Green I laid down the green blotches.  I must admit that I am not the best masking guy around….no patience.  So, after I began to paint I ended-up taking off the masks and  airbrushed the blotches freehand – using the patterns simply as a reference – I'm sure that I'm breaking some sort of airplane etiquette here.   I also did the same quick masking technique on the green blotches as I had on the gray base – adding slightly lighter and darker areas for added interest.  It looks the part in my eyes – and that's good enough for me!

 

 

 

Markings

 

Next-up…decals.  I debated for some time whether or not to go with kit decals, or try one of the aftermarket offerings.   In the end I decided to go with the kit set – a decision the I am unfortunately regretting.  Perhaps it is just me – or this particular set, but I have had to fight with these to no end.  First, to me these decals seemed to be very thick.  I prepared the surfaces as usual – with a good overall spay of Future floor polish and then began the application process.  Right from the start I could tell the not only where these decals extra thick, but once I began working with them they seemed less than adhesive.  Even with liberal application of Decal Set they would not lay down snug against the surface – and are very susceptible to silvering.  As a final step I gave the surfaces an over-spray of Future which did little to help the situation as now the decals seem brittle and likely to flake.  In the end the decals are applied and I am ready to begin the process of  weathering the Spit.   I have my fingers crossed that the weathering will help bring the decals in-line with the rest of the finish.

 

Back to the Shop for Repairs

 

Ok, here's were the story gets interesting.   To make it short I began weathering the Spit using some of my usual techniques; filters, oils, washes, etc. with generally pleasing results.  But, try as I might to work with the decals I wasn't able to get them to cooperate – it was becoming obvious that they would detract from the final finish.  I ordered a new set of aftermarket decals from Zotz.  While waiting for the decals to arrive I worked to remove the Tamiya decals and repair the paintwork.   Only time will tell if this "fix" will have a successful outcome.  Making repairs is always much more difficult that basic construction – couple this with the fact that I am not a patient modeler and the stage is set for further frustration and  set-backs.  (NOTE TO SELF:  TAKE YOUR TIME!)  

 

I think that enough time has lapsed that I'd better wrap this one up.  Fixing the decal situation proved to be a little easier than I had feared.  Although, as with any setback sometimes the final result suffers somewhat.  I feel that this is perhaps the case here.  Many of the subtle finishing effects that I was beginning to achieve were lost in the repaint/re-decal process.  A little dis-heartening to be sure, but in the end I still enjoyed building this Spitfire.   A few final pictures to close out this chapter.

 

 

My review article and photo can be found in the September/October issue of World War II.

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