1/24 Airfix Spitfire (the new one)

[Neil Merryweather]

I made the fuselage join before I glued the leading and trailing edges together, it just gives you the small amount of movement needed and a leading edge is much simpler to sort out than the fuselage/wing join. In fact there is little that will need to be done.
This is a step well known to those of us who build models of aeroplanes and it can be, to put it mildly, a bit of a jostle. This was pretty straightforward, so well done Airfix.

That's a new one on me, hope I remember it next time I build a wingy thingy.
Thanks for sharing, oh wise one!

[stona]

The engine, the engine.
So, the engine looks nice enough that I was really tempted to build it. However, I know that this model will end up being displayed closed up. I am not going to build the engine in its entirety, so this thread becomes irrelevant for a while for those who will.
The instructions are clear that you can build the engine and still have the option to fit the panels, though the build sequence is different. The instructions on this, and everything else, are very good.



Because I will never pose this model with panels off and because I'm a lazy b*gger, I'm taking the route outlined above, steps 115-135 before carrying on from step 199.

Here is almost as much of the engine as I will build. I haven't worried too much about doing anything other than slapping it together. The bearers are not yet glued into the firewall and the engine (such as it is) is not glued to the bearers. All that will be done in conjunction with the panels when hopefully it will all fit.

[Tim Marlow]

Very nice work. Must be a wrench not displaying the engine though….

[stona]

Very nice work. Must be a wrench not displaying the engine though….

The engine looks decent enough. It's just that I know I will display this model with the panels on, so there is no point in risking them not fitting to build an engine that won't be seen

[stona]

This will be the last update for a few days as I'm off to work tomorrow. There strikes on public transport in the Netherlands at the moment, so I'm looking forward to getting to and from the venue!

So...the nose.

I've already made the decision to build the nose 'closed', so I thought I'd follow the instructions for this method. Well, I couldn't! If you can make them work, building the entire nose, on nothing, in mid air, you're a better man than me. My advice? Leave the engine to firewall join unglued to give some play. Fit the two side panels which have a positive fit, you can't get them wrong. Fit the lower cowling, initially in two halves (I taped them together) and make sure each side fits with its respective side panel. Now, several stages later than the instructions, fit the spinner backplate and glue the two halves of the bottom cowling together and to it.

You end up with something like this:



Other side, bottom:



Onto which the top cowling should drop nicely:



Clearly there is a little tidying up to do and one or two things can now be fixed in place, but overall it has gone together quite nicely, just not the way Airfix said it would!

[Guest]

There strikes on public transport in the Netherlands at the moment

Only local public transport, though, so if you need to take a train you’re probably good. Unless it’s Ariva, in which case you may or may not, I gather.

[stona]

Only local public transport, though, so if you need to take a train you’re probably good. Unless it’s Ariva, in which case you may or may not, I gather.

Thanks Jakko.
I'll take some kind of train from Schipol to the RAI (rather than going all the way in to the central station) assuming I can get one. I usually take the Metro back and forth between there and the hotel, so hopefully GVB is not on strike. It's only one stop or quite a long walk!

[tr1ckey66]

Excellent progress Steve.
It’s interesting to get your take on assembling the main wing spar and the fit of the engine cowls, these areas seem to require a particularly careful approach. I think I will build at least one of my 2 kits with the full engine in and try to get the cowlings detachable with magnets. Doing it this way is fraught with danger though and there’s every chance of getting things out of alignment. Your Spit looks beautifully aligned and is coming together really nicely. Are there enough parts to build a separate Merlin engine to display externally?

Cheers
Paul

[Guest]

I'll take some kind of train from Schipol to the RAI (rather than going all the way in to the central station) assuming I can get one.

In that case, you should be good. Ariva only runs trains in the east and north, but up in Holland, as well as in more normal parts of the country, they’re all NS and that’s not on strike as they don’t fall under the local public transport collective labour agreement. No idea about the Amsterdam metro, though — they might be.

[stona]

Hi Jakko.

The Metro is good. I took a 'Sprinter' train from Schipol to the RAI (had to call in to pick up some passes) and then metro to Overamstel...all good.

[stona]

I think I will build at least one of my 2 kits with the full engine in and try to get the cowlings detachable with magnets. Doing it this way is fraught with danger though and there’s every chance of getting things out of alignment. Your Spit looks beautifully aligned and is coming together really nicely. Are there enough parts to build a separate Merlin engine to display externally?

Cheers
Paul

Hi Paul, Airfix seem to believe that the cowlings will fit with the complete engine inside, as this is one of the 'threads' (for want of a better term) in the instructions. I can't vouch for it though!

There are certainly enough bits to build the engine as a separate display. You could do that and still complete the model, though you would have to come up with some means of attaching the propeller...surely not beyond the wit of man

[wotan]

Steve

I know I keep going on about this but on Nigel's modelling bench, on Youtube he is building this Spitfire and he has carefully modelled and fettled the engine compartment to contain the full engine build AND to fit the engine cowling panels so that they are detachable and fit well. Just for anyone who wants to give it a try.

John

[stona]

Just to prove I'm still at it, I have had a chance to fiddle with the empennage today. I've been unfeasibly busy for someone who is supposed to be winding back on work, but I should have a chance to make some good progress over the next couple of weeks.
There's not much to see, a lot of this is just taped on. I have to put the labels on because I can never remember which bit goes on which side!



It all fits very nicely....and it's getting very big.

[yak face]

Looking really good steve , cheers tony

[langy71]

She's coming along beautifully Steve