Originally posted by \
Sometimes I wish I'd not embarked on such details which, as you say, will hardly be visible later
Cheers
Steve
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There's another wire which goes from the metal 'block' where the shoulder straps attach to the two wires up to the bar (not yet fitted) which runs from the frame to which the seat is attached to the silver frame behind (under the rearmost clear canopy section). It was to stop the weight of that block and the wires dragging the harness through the slot and falling down behind the seat.
Sometimes I wish I'd not embarked on such details which, as you say, will hardly be visible later
Cheers
Steve -
Nice detail and work so far Steve, looking forward to more magic from your workbench.Comment
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I've moved on to the wings and started to fit the fabric covered ailerons suitable for my subject. These are part of the resin set from Barracuda and very nice they are too.
For anyone else having a go at this it is VERY important to adjust the kit wings to take the new ailerons. The little instruction sheet from Barracuda asks you to bevel the inside of the wing surfaces to accept the ailerons. It is MUCH easier to do this before you join the upper and lower wings together. You just have to keep filing and test fitting until it all fits together. I did make some adjustments to the ailerons themselves too.
Now I need to make the separate wing tips fit seamlessly! I hate separate wing tips, even though I understand why the manufacturers do it. I expect Revell will be putting out a clipped wing version in the future.
Cheers
SteveComment
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Something like a Spitfire has finally emerged.
I'm girding my loins to get on with masking the canopy. Meanwhile I've made a start on some nice replacement exhausts from MDC. I've also got some propeller blades from them.
Cheers
SteveComment
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Looks great so far Steve.Comment
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Cracking job Steve, love the cockpit.
AndyComment
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Great start Steve!
The Barracuda parts are nice, I purchased the cockpit detail set also for the 2 airfield Spits. All of the sets have great detail and are perfectly cast. I like your pilot and especially the harness I must make sure I use the same attachment points on the 2 I've yet to start.
Looking forward to this Steve i know it'll be a cracker.
Cheers
PaulComment
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Cheers chaps.
Paul, the steel wire ropes securing the harness attached to longerons back in the fuselage boom. There was actually a rather complicated system which enabled the pilot to loosen the harness to lean forward, but that would automatically re-lock when he leant back again to secure him. I haven't attempted anything like that as it would almost all be invisible. The two wires disappearing into the back are good enough for me.
The divider/guide was attached to the back of the frame behind the pilot and was probably to keep the aerial and its attachment from collecting the wires in the event of the aeroplane ending on its back in an accident. The aerial is mounted on this frame too. I believe this is what happened when the prototype crashed and resulted in the pilot being killed.
I'm looking forward to your airfield dio. Having built three quarters of one of these Spitfires I appreciate what a mammoth task you've taken on
SteveComment
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Primed, rubbed down, polished and cleaned, just awaiting the start of painting.
I should be able to start tomorrow.
CheersComment
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Not sure about magic
I've been experimenting over what to use for the silver of the underside. My subject's squadron left the front and rear of the fuselage silver, just painting the two halves of the main plane black and white.
I've experimented with a couple of Alclads and WEM's silver and to my surprise I actually prefer the look of the silver paint. I'll still be using Alclad for things like wheel hubs and undercarriage struts.
Cheers
SteveComment
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I got the silver on last night and masked it this morning allowing me to get the white on the starboard wing.
I will be able to mask the white in the morning and then spray the other wing Night (black). Once that is dry I will mask that as well, meaning that the entire underside is masked, and start on the upper camouflage.
I've already sprayed a patch of sickly yellow/green on the upper surface of the port wing which will be masked before eventually becoming the 'gas patch' still in use at this early stage of the war.
I've also got some figures on the go.
The ground crew man will eventually be on the Spitfire's wing. He's a resin figure from PJ Production and is very nice.
The officer is from the Masterbox set. I found him in a little draw of various figures and parts thereof in my cupboard. I don't seem to have anything else from the set apart from a dog who doesn't fit together very well. I don't remember ever buying this set which is weird!
Cheers
SteveComment
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Just caught up on this one Steve and it's looking goodComment
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What was the 'Gas Patch' Steve?Comment
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It was a chemically impregnated sheet of material or paper, later special paint, which would change colour when exposed to the chemical agents of the period (though not the nerve gases the Germans had).Originally posted by \
A 'patch' was applied to the wing of Spitfires and other aircraft, usually affixed with doped on material, and a change in colour would warn ground crew that a returning aircraft was contaminated. Literally millions of indicators were made at a time when gas attacks were a very real fear and they were attached to buildings, vehicles and even special stands on street corners. Everyone in the UK, civilian and military was given a gas mask and it was to be carried at all times.
The patches are usually described as being a yellow/green colour and were supposed to turn red to indicate gas. Unfortunately tests showed that they were very unreliable and most aircraft don't seem to have carried them after the BoB period. There are exceptions.
Here's a Spitfire with a doped on gas patch in the typical position and orientation.
Also visible here.
Cheers
SteveComment
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