Another Spitfire...Hobbyboss Mk.VB (Trop)

[stona]

I've always been told that smooth tyres were used on unmade or grass airstrips as they were less likely to pick up debris and chuck it into delicate parts like radiators and flaps.

I think this goes back to Peter Cooke's research in the 1970s. He also established that the smooth tyre scrubbed very quickly when it was used on paved strips and this might explain why some late war pictures do show treaded tyres. You'll struggle to find a Merlin powered Spitfire sporting treaded tyres in Europe before 1945, though there may well have been some. Did some Aussie Spitfires have treaded tyres? For some reason I think they might have.

On a slight tangent I also noted a comment by Edgar Brooks a while ago that Typhoons struggled on PSP with their smooth tyres, maybe Spitfires also had trouble on the stuff.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I have a Dremel somewhere but hardly ever use it, I don't feel in control You'd have to go easy spinning the tyres as the 'rubber' overheats very quickly and you could make a right mess!

Cheers

Steve

It does make a bit of mess but it works quite quickly. Everyone has a different method that works. You may be right about the aussie spit. I have a book about them somewhere but lack the energy to find it at the moment. Hahaha.

[stona]

I might give it a go when I've got a spare pair Kresten

I'll try to check on those Aussie Spitfires (why on earth were they coded as 'Capstan' when everyone, including the Japanese, knew what they were?).

Meanwhile I've got the camouflage on Gleed's mount. It was a much photographed aeroplane so the evidence for the extremely unusual and non-standard camouflage scheme is easy to find. I've no idea where the camouflage was applied, but it wasn't at a factory in the UK.

Because the scheme is so well known I make a copy of the decal sheet on plain paper which enables me to cut out various markings and position them on the model. This ensures that during masking you can make the correct relationships between the camouflage demarcations and the markings.



Here's the result with the first coat of Klear/Future applied. A model never looks its beat at this point!



Cheers

Steve

[The Migrant]

Cool. Was it azure blue underneath?

[stona]

Cool. Was it azure blue underneath?

I hope so

I went for the standard Azure Blue rather than some exotic version or Mediterranean Blue, not least because I suspect the aircraft was painted (or re-painted) at one of the MUs in North Africa. It has the Aboukir rather than Vokes filter fitted. Someone a lot more knowledgeable about the RAF than me might know for sure, but those under surface colours can be a bit of a can 'o' worms. That's without even mentioning Malta

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

The paint looks great Steve. Not sure about the decals though, lol

Spits do look rather nice in desert camouflage. Might well be my next choice.

Ian M

[flyjoe180]

I thought tread patterned tyres may be a modern or Post-War thing. Most American aeroplanes had tread, possibly because in the Pacific most aircraft operated from PSP or coral airstrips, or were carrier-based originally. So far as I can find, RAAF Mark V and VIII Spitfires wore treaded tyres.

The paint job looks sharp Steve, looking forward to more.

[tr1ckey66]

I've done a VERY approximate measurement, simply by offering the Hobbyboss fuselage up to the completed Tamiya Mk IX. The Hobbyboss is shorter. It matches quite well from fin to cockpit and then the cockpit openings are very similar. The Hobbyboss is several millimetres shorter in the nose.Cheers

Steve

Hi Steve

Isn't the MkV shorter in the nose than the MkXI anyway? I thought they lengthened the nose in the MkIX to accommodate the new Merlin 61 engine? If this is correct (I think it is) that would make the Hobby Boss measurements even more acceptable???

Just a thought, although I may be wrong.

Very nice progress as always Steve, the new windscreen sits very nicely and the canopy matches well judging from the pic. Another winner me thinks

Cheers

Paul

[stona]

Hi SteveIsn't the MkV shorter in the nose than the MkXI anyway? I thought they lengthened the nose in the MkIX to accommodate the new Merlin 61 engine? Cheers

Paul

Yes and yes. I can't remember the difference off the top of my head, but it very probably makes the Hobbyboss dimensions close to what they should be. It certainly doesn't look wrong to my eye. I've got an old Hasegawa Mk V somewhere which I might also compare.

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

I've been applying the decals. The under wing roundels are always tricky on Spitfires as they lie over various bumps and bulges, one of which is a bit over sized on this model.

The decals are good and I've managed to make them conform, though a little touch up will be needed once they have thoroughly dried out.



The rest have gone on very nicely with no problems at all.

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

Quick update.

I've got the decals on and have sealed them in with a coat of Klear. I have applied a selection of stencils but not all. As far as I can tell this aeroplane may only have had the walkway lines re-applied after it received this camouflage but I did add a few others.

I tinted the Klear on the upper surface with a sandy colour.



I've also patched up the broken decal and sealed in the under side.



You can 'see the join' in that close up shot but when looking at the model normally, i.e. not with a magnifying glass, it looks fine.

Weathering and matt tomorrow I hope. If I don't finish this early next week it will be a long time before I get the time to do it !

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

Looks very nice!

So you off gallivanting again..?

Ian M

[flyjoe180]

Nice job Steve.

[stona]

This is just about done now.



I'll post some piccies in a completed thread later.

Cheers

Steve

[Vaughan]

. Steve As always up to your excellent standard.