Tamiya 1/48th Scale Spitfire Mk Vb

[Stefee]

Steve, I feel your pain. I restarted this model building malarkey about a year ago and ran into similar problem areas but decided to use the "scrap" kit to experiment on for various glues, paints, decals etc. and learnt a lot which I put to use on subsequent kits. Slowly but surely each build is better than the one before, IMO, and the mojo returned.
Take a break, buy a cheap kit and try again.
Keep the faith and trust in your abilities.

[Waspie]

Steve, even stripping the paint off is a learning exercise in itself. I had to do it to my Tamiya VW Beetle. It's worth it. Back to bare plastic. Clean it all up and start painting again. As for decals. Loads for spits on the internet. May cost a few bob, (less than a tenner). Nil desperandum and all that buddy.
OR, use it as a test bed for experimenting on as has been said.
Decisions - decisions!!!!

[Andy the Sheep]

Ditto.
I think we all have some kits that really went bust; I use my several ones as test beds for new paints or whatever I do not dare testing on the kit I actually have on the bench.
Keep a stiff upper lip, Steve, plastic won't get us.

[Geoffers]

Maybe buy a few cheap 1/72 kits.

Don’t worry about the cockpit or other details etc but just build, prime and decal to get some practice.

No massive demoralisation if they don’t go to plan and it will be good practice to develop your skill set.

Geoff.

[Andy T]

Sorry Steve, I was just trying to brainstorm some possibilities, not imply you'd done anything wrong.

I can understand how you feel; this hobby is supposed to be fun, so if it's causing you grief I can see why you're considering throwing in the towel. Please be assured though that many of us have made many mistakes along the way and had problems with the various lotions & potions, so you aren't alone and I hope you get the mojo to have another crack at either this, or something else
:smiling3:

[Guest]

Maybe buy a few cheap 1/72 kits.

Don’t worry about the cockpit or other details etc but just build, prime and decal to get some practice.

No massive demoralisation if they don’t go to plan and it will be good practice to develop your skill set.

Geoff.

It's funny you mentioned 1/72 kits. I did a 1/72 helicopter a month back and then I decided 1/72 kits were too small for me but I had bought another one.
it's a 1/72 F4 Phantom. I was going to just leave that forever undone or donate it to someone but.. maybe I'll do it just for practice, but we'll see how I feel.

[Scratchbuilder]

Steve,
Have a breather.
Then give the Spitfire a gentle rub down with some 400 or higher wet & dry. Try not to fill the cockpit with water then give it a couple of days to dry out in the airing cupboard or somewhere warm - no not the cooker......
Re-mask the cockpit..
And now you can start again - first primer - use a rattle can from Azon or Halfords or any car shop of grey primer.
Allow 24 hours for this to harden and then give this a gentle rub down with dry paper and wipe with a damp cloth.
Next should come your base coat of grey or green, most people start with grey and allow this time to dry, then mask or cut up the instruction mask and stick it to the model with small bits of BluTac or similar. Then spray on the green.
24 hours later and you should be ready to varnish, do not use an acrylic varnish, but something like Tamiya Clear gloss and spray a couple of light coats over first the top and then the bottom. I know you said you cannot spray in the room but if you have a shed that will suffice so long as it is not -1.
And if you cannot take the fumes then take a look at this, it is what I now use and there are no fumes...

All it cost me was a bit of scepticism and some time, and I am now converted and the room can smell of spring flowers every time I spray.
Decals, during your refit time on the Spit, let me know your address in a PM and I will send you one of my spare sheets for this kit.
We are all with you and as we keep saying we all had our problems, some worse than others, but in the end we got there and so will you.
Mike.

[JR]

It can't be residual decalfix as I always tried to add decals in areas I'd not used before. It went, underside wing, upper wing, fuselage.
as for this model, well I don't see the point in stripping it and repainting it as I've now ruined/destroyed/lost many of the decals as I tried to apply them in different areas and each one did this.

I think this model has come to an end now, it's a shame to leave a lovely Spitfire like this but I'm not going into buying new decalsets etc. I've been talking to other
people about this and they say Humbrol is the problem, I'm really not so sure and don't want to blame them if the issue is me.

I'll be honest, I'm going to take a day or two to consider if I want to continue or just sell all my stuff and give up, sorry if that sounds bad but it's where I am right now.

Don't give up Steve, I'm sure we have all thought that at some point. I cant do 1/72 anymore too small , keep at it.

[Guest]

I think this is the last update in this thread. I've been asking around and doing a lot of googling and a lot of what I'm seeing is that the humbrol gloss is the cause here.
I'm not sure if it is or isn't but that's what I've been told and what I've read in various places.

I don't plan on doing any more work on this model but I will keep it and use it for testing paint/camo etc. Which is marginally better than it being binned.
as for what i'm doing next, not sure. amusingly I have 3 kits coming to me on wednesday for my birthday.

I will do another kit, just not sure what right now. However I wish to thank all of you for all the help and support you've giving me. See you all in the next one.

[JR]

That's the way Steve, using it for a test piece in future builds .:thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

[The Smythe Meister]

I think this is the last update in this thread. I've been asking around and doing a lot of googling and a lot of what I'm seeing is that the humbrol gloss is the cause here.
I'm not sure if it is or isn't but that's what I've been told and what I've read in various places.

I don't plan on doing any more work on this model but I will keep it and use it for testing paint/camo etc. Which is marginally better than it being binned.
as for what i'm doing next, not sure. amusingly I have 3 kits coming to me on wednesday for my birthday.

I will do another kit, just not sure what right now. However I wish to thank all of you for all the help and support you've giving me. See you all in the next one.

That's the spirit Steve... NEVER GIVE UP... you just never know when things will just "Klick"!!
Keep your chin up mate, you're learning invaluable lessons which will all add to making you a better modeller ....
.. I look forward to seeing your next adventure :thumb2:.

[Waspie]

I think this is the last update in this thread. I've been asking around and doing a lot of googling and a lot of what I'm seeing is that the humbrol gloss is the cause here.
I'm not sure if it is or isn't but that's what I've been told and what I've read in various places.

I don't plan on doing any more work on this model but I will keep it and use it for testing paint/camo etc. Which is marginally better than it being binned.
as for what i'm doing next, not sure. amusingly I have 3 kits coming to me on wednesday for my birthday.

I will do another kit, just not sure what right now. However I wish to thank all of you for all the help and support you've giving me. See you all in the next one.

Nice one Steve. You now have a test bed to experiment with. I use a piece I cut off a sheet of plastic I procured to make something for my Sea King.
Looking forward to your next one. Hopefully it won't fight back.
Oh and Happy birthday for Wednesday. (In case I miss it)

[minitnkr]

Been modeling off/on for 70 years. Have set it aside many times, but never for long. Usually for lack of time, but if lack of mojo I just went to a different subject. I even did a couple ships back in the day. Small scale aircraft go together fast and are good for developing finishing skills. Figures are also, but a bit trickier. HTHs.

[Scratchbuilder]

I think this is the last update in this thread. I've been asking around and doing a lot of googling and a lot of what I'm seeing is that the humbrol gloss is the cause here.
I'm not sure if it is or isn't but that's what I've been told and what I've read in various places.

I don't plan on doing any more work on this model but I will keep it and use it for testing paint/camo etc. Which is marginally better than it being binned.
as for what i'm doing next, not sure. amusingly I have 3 kits coming to me on wednesday for my birthday.

I will do another kit, just not sure what right now. However I wish to thank all of you for all the help and support you've giving me. See you all in the next one.

First, Happy Birthday for Wednesday....

And all together....
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Bread and butter in the gutter,
Happy Birthday to you.......
(Big cheers and bumps to follow)..

Getting back to the less serious stuff, good, you have made a decision, and you have more than likely discovered the villian (Humbrol). I have had some disasters with Humbrol, expecially when they changed their paint formula from paint to Pinapot. I must have bought ten tins of the same colour before the penny dropped and back then it was only the model magazines that came out once a month that kept you informed. There were a lot of modelmakers at the monthly club meetings scratching their heads in frustration.

Yes keep the model for testing purposes, and once that has been thoroughly covered and no further use, then buy a bag of 100 white plastic spoons (Azon, dirt cheap) for your testing.

Looking forward to your next build and further success...
Mike.

[Scratchbuilder]

Been modeling off/on for 70 years. Have set it aside many times, but never for long. Usually for lack of time, but if lack of mojo I just went to a different subject. I even did a couple ships back in the day. Small scale aircraft go together fast and are good for developing finishing skills. Figures are also, but a bit trickier. HTHs.

That is why after the MAFVA Nationals in June I will be putting the armour aside for a time and getting out some of those wingy things for a change, so get ready for the tears....