1/24 Airfix Spitfire (the new one)

[papa 695]

It’s looking very nice, great work so far.

[Neil Merryweather]

ooh there's a lot in there, notwithstanding the 'missing' rod!

[Jim R]

I've heard quite a few good things about this kit Steve. You experiences so far seem to confirm that view. You're off to a fine start. Very neat, thoughtful work. At the price the kit deserves no less :smiling:

[tr1ckey66]

Great looking cockpit Steve. Airfix really have done a great job with the detail and it looks as though it comes together with no dramas. Or maybe that’s you just making it look easy! I agree the IP looks excellent OOB. Interestingly, Airscale announced their detail set today and I’ve ordered a couple of sets. Time will tell whether the investment is worth it as the detail in the kit is excellent. I was quite prepared to build OOB with just the addition of a set of seatbelts from HGW and possibly a set of masks. Anyhoo, I follow your build with interest as I value your opinion on the kit.
Cheers, P

[stona]

I was quite prepared to build OOB with just the addition of a set of seatbelts from HGW and possibly a set of masks. Anyhoo, I follow your build with interest as I value your opinion on the kit.
Cheers, P

If I build another one I would go with an after market harness. I do like that Airfix have included one, which is why I have used it, but it could be improved.

I think there is room for after market improvements on just about any kit. After a better harness I'd be looking for better exhausts on this one. The kit's offerings look pretty basic.

I'm going to use masks. It might be cheating, but I don't see why we should use decals for anything but the little stencils and the like at this scale. Roundels and fin flashes are so easy to mask and spray and always look better than decals.

[tr1ckey66]

If I build another one I would go with an after market harness. I do like that Airfix have included one, which is why I have used it, but it could be improved.

I think there is room for after market improvements on just about any kit. After a better harness I'd be looking for better exhausts on this one. The kit's offerings look pretty basic.

I'm going to use masks. It might be cheating, but I don't see why we should use decals for anything but the little stencils and the like at this scale. Roundels and fin flashes are so easy to mask and spray and always look better than decals.

I think you’re right about aftermarket and kits, most can be improved. I’m as guilty as anyone for buying AM bits and bobs but it’s funny, of late I really do put a great deal of thought into whether a particular piece Is worth it or not. I think a really good paint finish is far more important. I take your point about the exhausts though, those hollow backs let them down.

[yak face]

Brilliant cockpit so far steve , the IP looks perfect . I like the plastic seat harness , Fine Molds do them as an aftermarket accessory in smaller scales i think , a good idea although as you say maybe in this scale Airfix could have made these a bit thinner . Cheers tony

[tr1ckey66]

BTW Steve - masks (in my opinion) aren’t cheating at all. The build is OOB, painting is really up to the individual -right? :thinking: Otherwise they’d have to include the paint in the box too! :smiling4: The decals - well, they’re just optional!!!!
Cheers, P

[stona]

Quick update as 'disappearing in the back' is apparently not on the agenda today, so says the Fuhrerin anyway.

I did manage to get the control column fixed and fitted and attach the other side of the cockpit, giving this.



I have done a light pin wash and a bit of dry brushing, but the aircraft as I'm attempting to reproduce it was, literally, factory fresh, so no meaningful weathering.

For others building this, it fits very well and is clearly well engineered. I have left the final (rear) frame off for the moment as it doesn't index/locate with anything and I want to make sure that I fit it 'square'. To be fair, it won't be difficult, but it is possible to get it wrong, which means there's a good chance that I might :smiling3:

[stona]

I've heard that some people have had difficulty fitting the fuselage together over the cockpit. Anyone who has put together WW2 aircraft models knows that the join over the instrument panel can be...errrr...problematic. I've decided to make sure I don't have any such issues at a time when I still have access to fix them, so I jumped ahead with tape and clamps to see how everything will fit.
The cockpit 'tub' has some positive location at the front and gets pushed up to a line at the back, hence the clamps. The fuselage frames help too. The good news is that mine seems to fit okay!



The gap visible on the nose pulls together easily with minimum force, I just didn't tape it very well. The only material I have removed is the remnants of what looked like molding for another locator pin/hole, just in front of the instrument panel, which was subsequently deleted by Airfix. I'm not sure that was necessary but better safe than sorry!

I will now disassemble this lot and think about how exactly I'm going to rebuild it...with glue this time

[Jim R]

Looking good. The joining of the fuselage halves, sandwiching the cockpit, is always a worrying time. Glad yours looks fine.

[scottie3158]

Steve,
Looking very tidy.

[adt70hk]

Coming on very nicely Steve!

[Mickc1440]

Great work on the cockpit

[stona]

I have now completed the cockpit and other internals to be found in the box.
This is my best attempt at taking a picture of it before most of it gets obscured by the other fuselage half:


I have no doubt that there will be room in the market place for various kits to 'improve' this but for my money, with the exception of the harness, it looks pretty good with the bits you get when you lay out the best part of a hundred quid for the model!

On a practical note, threading the oxygen hose, visible to the right of the seat, from behind the rear green bulkhead, you can see it under that X shaped piece, is fun. You're going to need some decent, long, tweezers