1/24 Airfix Spitfire (the new one)

[stona]

Thanks for that considered reply Barry. I know you have a lot of experience with these paints! No paint is perfect and I do like the MRP paints. In general use they spray beautifully and I'll certainly be using them again. I suspect freehand camouflage on such a large model may have been an ill advised first use on my part.
I've bought the colours to do the national markings which will, of course, be masked. I can't imagine that I will have any problem with them, unless self inflicted

[stona]

I've started spraying the markings. Time is an issue, but I've had a couple of hours to get the two fuselage roundels done (there is one on the other side).



I've used a set of generic 'Spitfire' masks from Maketar who fortunately do some in this scale. I've previously used 1/24 custom masks from Mal's Masks, but I don't think he's still doing them.
I've used MRP again for the markings with no drama. The colours are close enough, there are some more accurate available if you are a fully signed up colour nerd.

Next up the fin flashes and code letters, just leaving the easy to do upper and lower wing roundels to finish off. Sadly, I don't have masks for the serial numbers/letters in this scale, so I'll use the decals.

[adt70hk]

Coming on very nicely Steve. Markings do bring them to life.

Keep up the good work.

Andrew

[stona]

This afternoon I have managed to finish spraying all the markings that will be sprayed.

This is where the fast drying nature of the MRP paints has really been a big advantage. I started of being a bit circumspect about masking colours, leaving them for half an hour or so. Eventually I became braver and masked after about ten minutes. I suspect you could do it even sooner than that. It meant that you could spray, say, a pair of three colour roundels like those on the underside of the wings (red ,white and blue) in less than half an hour, which is very nice indeed! I'm used to leaving a couple of hours (at least) between colours.



I'm hoping to get some varnish on and start decals by the end of the week. The best laid plans....etc.

[adt70hk]

Steve

That really is looking the business. Very well done.

Andrew

[papa 695]

Cracking work Steve.

[yak face]

Looking superb steve , the painted markings are great , cheers tony

[stona]

All varnished and ready for decals tomorrow (I hope).

Here's the bottom, which is not terribly exciting!

[stona]

Just throwing this out there as I'm a bit stumped and am considering just gluing the 'wire' in place, even at this scale.

This is the attachment on the tail plane for the IFF wire that runs to the fuselage (roughly at the red of the roundel).



How would you do it?

[Neil Merryweather]

Just throwing this out there as I'm a bit stumped and am considering just gluing the 'wire' in place, even at this scale.

This is the attachment on the tail plane for the IFF wire that runs to the fuselage (roughly at the red of the roundel).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1196382[/ATTACH]

How would you do it?

Is this the model or the real thing?

[stona]

Is this the model or the real thing?

The image is the real thing. I'm trying to think how to replicate that at 1/24, other than just gluing the 'wire', which will be fishing line, to the leading edge of the tail plane.

[Tim Marlow]

Just throwing this out there as I'm a bit stumped and am considering just gluing the 'wire' in place, even at this scale.

This is the attachment on the tail plane for the IFF wire that runs to the fuselage (roughly at the red of the roundel).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1196382[/ATTACH]

How would you do it?

Did they still have IFF wires on the mark IX Steve? I know you’ll know more than me, but thought it was worth an ask.
If so, I’d probably go with gluing the cable into a hole then scratching a cover to go over it that looks like the bit with the button end.

[Neil Merryweather]

The image is the real thing. I'm trying to think how to replicate that at 1/24, other than just gluing the 'wire', which will be fishing line, to the leading edge of the tail plane.

Melt the end of the nylon into a button and glue on a piece of tube?

[stona]

Did they still have IFF wires on the mark IX Steve? I know you’ll know more than me, but thought it was worth an ask.
If so, I’d probably go with gluing the cable into a hole then scratching a cover to go over it that looks like the bit with the button end.

The Mk II I.F.F. system (with the wires from tail lane to fuselage) was phased out through 1943 for aircraft of the metropolitan air force. This aircraft was delivered to the squadron in February that year. It doesn't have the antenna for the later version of IFF and I've convinced myself I can see a wire in this image of the same aircraft, taken sometime in March that year, after Johnson had 'acquired' it.



I can't believe that's a photographic anomaly in exactly the right place for an IFF antenna wire

[stona]

Melt the end of the nylon into a button and glue on a piece of tube?

That's probably the best way to go. It needs to be a very thin/small tube.
I feel a rummage coming on!