Tamiya's 1/32 SpitfireIX

[stona]

Little today.Easily summed up in one piccy. I like Tamiya's cunning sandwich style instrument panel (decal on the back of a clear part inserted into the fascia). It makes the decals look good. Also nice to see the compass,something most kits,even in this scale,don't include.

Photo etch armour plate, as seen behind the seat, is a winner too.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I can tell already that this is going to be quite impressive. Remember Steve those red white and blue round decals go on the wings where you would normally put crosses ;-) The instrument panel looks terrific doesn't it. getting a bit tempted now but I must resist I do not have anywhere to put something of this size............

[Guest]

Boy oh boy...how nice is that instrument panel...loving that compass. Ive been following this on Promodeller as well, a truely stunning kit. Great work steve. :-)

[stona]

Very quick update. I've reduced a LOT of little bits to a few bigger bits. I'm waiting for this lot to dry so that I can finish assembly of the cockpit and give it all a nice wash,fit the harness, etc. I'm planning to jump the instruction sheet and take a stab at what looks to be a very nice Merlin power plant once I've got this done.

Anyway yet another poor picture of "a few bigger bits"

If anyone is planning to build this be carefull over the sub-assemblies of the control column/rudder actuators and pedals. They are a bit of a fiddle but it all goes together and fits beautifully (like everything else so far) under and behind the instrument panel as long as you've built it correctly. I had to make a very minor adjustment when I fitted mine.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

Well looks like you have been busy and its looking really good.

One tiny detail, and its Tamiya's error not yours. The Artificial horizon was not blue/brown in any spitfire. Simple black with white markings. Any photos that show a AH in colours is a retrofit in a restored one!

I do rather like the custom paint colour for interior green. Got a mix ratio on that? That seat looks spot on colour wise, what did you use, I normally either mix something on the fly, or use mahogany brown.

can hardly wait to see that merlin go together.

Ian M

[stona]

Hi Iain,I was aware of the artificial horizon issue but just went with the kit decals,I believe there is a fix available now.

I have a rough mix for the interior green,I actually like the colour to vary a bit from mix to mix. It doesn't show in my (crap) photography but,for example, the armour plate is a slightly different shade. I figure it may well have been as it was a seperate item!

I mix Xtracrylix Interior Green (XA1117) with Xtracrylix RLM65 (XA1202) in about a 70:30 ratio. For a bit of shading I add a couple of drops of white to whatever's in the paint cup.

The seat is much less scientific! I took some Vallejo "Rust" and added some Xtracrylix "Red Arrows Red" to it. It was far to bright so I chucked in some Xtracrylix "Dark Earth"!!!!!!!

I have absolutely no idea of the ratios, I just fiddled about until it looked like I imagine the "Tufnol" resin seat may have looked. I saw a decent photograph of one somewhere but I'm going from memory. I remember thinking whilst mixing the paint that there must be an easier way lol.

The Merlin looks very nice so we'll see what I can do to mess it up in the next day or two!

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Nice loooking build so far and I might get that kit at Leuchars airshow.

[Ian M]

Good on yer Steve.

If you get an oppertunity, try Mahogany Brown from Vallejo. Its pretty good, a nice rich chestnutty brown. I found it quite odd that Tamiya could make such a bo-bo with the AH, but there you go, they are only human!!

On a scale of good enough to utter S... hao would you rate Xtra's interior green. Having only seen it on a pc screen, I think it looks way to dark, Have any comments on that?

Cheers,

Ian M

[stona]

Good on yer Steve. On a scale of good enough to utter S... hao would you rate Xtra's interior green. Having only seen it on a pc screen, I think it looks way to dark, Have any comments on that?

Cheers,

Ian M

The interior green does seem way too dark. I find adding the blue not only lightens it but gives it a slightly greyish quality which looks good to me. It looks much closer to one of the U.S. interior colours,though maybe a bit light for them!

Maybe I bought the wrong one.

The A.H. error was probably caused by referencing an extant aircraft with a modern instrument fitted. An awful lot of kits have appeared over the years with wrong wheels,instruments,aerials and most famously canopies due to precisely this.

The instrument face is printed on the back of the decal (the sheet looks like black dots,which is a bit disconcerting) and this makes it virtually impossible to correct. Replacement decals would be the only realistic option.

I've nailed a few bits together and sloshed a wash on them. I'll tidy that up tomorrow. For now I've at least got this.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I used Xtracrylix Interior green on my Hellcat , just scroll down a bit for close up pics. Cannot say if it is right but I like it lol

It is the FS34151 colour so it is the American standard.

[Ian M]

Now thats a cockpit! Nice one Steve. I think for the time being I will stick to what I know and continue useing Vallejo Green Sky for my Spirfire's interiors. Its a tad light, but a wash soon cures that. (funny normally when you give things a wash they get cleaner, just not in our little world).

Ian M

[stona]

It is the FS34151 colour so it is the American standard.

That explains why it's closer to Bronze Green or Dull Dark Green! I've obviously got the wrong thing in my cupboard. I bet Xtracrylix do a very good RAF interior grey/green might tack it onto my next order.

Cheers

Steve

Edit: unless I'm missing something they don't.

[stona]

Right then,I've had a couple of hours before SWMBO requires my services so I thought I'd fit the harness. I followed Tamiya's instructions and bent everything as shown only to find I couldn't fit the damned thing like that. Now this maybe down to me but I have now lined it all up the way I would have done it without the instructions and it seems a lot easier.

For anyone else doing this I only made the first 4mm bend in the back part of the harness,that's the bit that goes into the slot in the seat. I then fitted it like this,glueing the rear of the shoulder straps to the frame behind the armour.

Once it's all dry I'll bend everything to shape.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Looking good Steve! I annealed the harness - the first time I'd tried it. Pleased with myself, I then annealed a set of Eduard pre-printed seat harness on their ME109, and discovered that the pre-printing catches fire...doh.

[stona]

Thanks Snapper,apparently you can "oven bake" photo-etch to anneal it. I've never tried it as SWMBO would have issues with the oven on 9 for hours on end but it's supposed to work. It might save a few flames and a bit of smoke !

Cheers

Steve