Airfix 1:24 Tropical Spitfire Vb

[colin m]

As a little summer project, something I could dip into and out of once in a while as time allowed I built this. The Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Vb. It's apparently well known for a poor fit and needing lots of filler - well, not so. I hardly used any filler in the building of this model. However I did remove quite a few locating pins and fitted many panels individually, if that makes sense. Maybe I should say most panels were adjusted for an individual fit - I've confused myself now.


This is the BBMF Spitfire Vb, but in the giant box are the tropical bits. Well I couldn't help myself, a big tropical Spitfire, it had to be done. The decals are kit decals and some spare ones, lots of artistic license here. And also a pilot. I don't normally do figures (and it shows) but this model needed a pilot.


I did some work correcting the dihedral, although for some reason it was fairly close anyway. Paints are the very nice Ak interactive. Scale effect corrected etc. As is quite typical of my builds, the aircraft is a bit tired. I sprayed aluminium first, dabbed a bit of Maskol stuff on and carried on with the painting, removing the Maskol later.


So here it is, a summers work.  I'm actually quite looking forward to the winter, so proper building can resume once more.


Colin M..

[papa 695]

Great work Colin this looks fantastic and weathered to perfection. 

[peterairfix]

I like it as well nicely weathered to I like the maskol trick for the weathering so I might even try it on my next spit build

[Guest]

Very well done Colin, really like how youve painted it and weathered it, those AK paints really went on fine. The rivets are done up very nicely, its funny how sometimes people review kits and say they can be a pain to build but when you actually build them, their not too bad,.. in your case it turned out to be a work of art mate. 

[Dave W]

Nice build Colin. As for the dihedral problem, I've seen several at shows with no dihedral at all. So when I built mine I wanted to make sure that didn't happen.So I built a wing spar. I've seen a couple of the Airfix 1/24 P51's built with no dihedral as well.So don't know what the problem is. The gun bay panels on mine were Way too thick and needed a lot of sanding to sit flush with the wing. Doesn't look like you had many problems at all.

[PaulTRose]

very nicely done!

[colin m]

Thanks all for the comments.

I like the maskol trick

Do it Peter. It's really easy, probably easier in larger scales.

The rivets are done up very nicely

Good old Airfix. The rivets are quite proud, so easy to 'highlight'.

weathered to perfection

Thanks Ian, something I often over do, but restraint was exercised this time.

I built a wing spar

Same here Dave. But mine looked quite good to start with. I wonder if Airfix have changed the lower wing ?

very nicely done!

Thanks Paul. This was going to live in my garage, but I like it so much, it's going to live indoors.

[Guest]

Nice work mate. painting and weathering look great. A question about the AK paints. what do you use to thin them and by how much? Immersing them on my 109 and they keep going creating gunk in my airbrush and blocking it. A shame because the colours are great.


Cheers. 

[yak face]

Top job colin , it goes to show that a supposedly ill fitting kit can be made to submit with a bit of fettling and thought . I must admit that if a review says a kit is poor fitting it doesnt put me off, I kind of enjoy the challenge! However if it says its really way out in accuracy that does , im no rivet counter but its got to look something like.  Cheers tony

[colin m]

what do you use to thin them and by how much

I use Vallejo airbrush thinners and plain old water, and they give me far less trouble than Vallejo paints do.

it goes to show that a supposedly ill fitting kit can be made to submit with a bit of fettling and thought

As long as I know it's a bit ropey, like some early Airfix stuff, I don't mind. It's the modern ones that should be a good fit that aren't, leave me a touch disappointed !

[Guest]

Thanks Colin. I'll give the Vallejo thinner a go. Might just be me as I've never had a problem with Vallejo paints. Great work on your spit again mate.

[dave]

Great Looking Spitfire.

[Guest]

very nice work colin , love the weathering .

[BarryW]

That certainly looks like a very nice 'proper build' to me Colin...

[BarryW]

Thanks Colin. I'll give the Vallejo thinner a go. Might just be me as I've never had a problem with Vallejo paints. Great work on your spit again mate.

Vallejo thinner works perfectly with AKI acrylics and while I love the Vallejo Model Air the AKI spray even better than them...