Kit: Tamiya
1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb Item 61033
Additions:
-
Eduard Spitfire
Mk.Vb Zoom set FE256
-
Eduard Mask
Spitfire Mk.Vb EX 052
-
Ultracast
Spitfire seats 4802
Construction:
I was looking for a
decent Spitfire Mk.Vb to build, I decide on the Tamiya's Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.Vb. I sent Calum an E-mail and placed an order for one. Once it arrived I
checked out the spurs and parts, the only problem was the lack of detail on
the instrument panel. I needed something to enhance the kits instrument
panel, I sent Craig at Aeroworks and E-mail and placed an order for the
Eduard Spitfire Zoom set, Ultracast seat and the Eduard mask. When I had
everything I needed I set to work on the construction. Apart from the
lack of detail on the instrument panel and seat the rest of the cockpit had
enough detail. I painted the cockpit in Model Master RAF interior green, I had
to sand the kit instrument panel smooth before I could applied the Eduard
instrument panel I used a course sanding stick to achieve the job. Once the
kit instrument panel was smooth enough I super glued the Eduard panel in to
place. I have to say Eduard zoom set have come a long way since I've been using
them, now there coloured with the dials now PE and not the film of
paper like they used to be. I then placed a dollop of gloss clear on
to each instrument cluster to give it that glass effect. Some Tamiya
weathering set A & B was used to highlight and give the cockpit a
little more detail and depth. With the cockpit painted and built it was time to
build the rest of the kit, there was little fuss with the construction
of the kit, it seemed to just fall into place some putty and lite wet
rubbing was needed but over all a good build.
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images below to see larger images
Painting
& Decals:
I used the Model
Master range of RAF colours on the kit, however I still haven't mastered the camo
with the airbrush. Its good but not great by my standards. Now that the Spitfire
was painted I needed to go over the kit with some gloss clear, readying it for
the placement of the decals. The Spitfire represents that of Mk.Vb Fighter
Command, Wing Commander, Adolph G. Malan. With the decals in place I covered the
Spitfire with a coat of gloss clear, then the pastel wash to highlight the panel
lines. Another coat of gloss was applied to seal in the wash, followed up with
airbrushing a coat of matt clear. I used the Tamiya Weathering set A & B to
add exhaust stains and soot around the cannons.
Finish:
I finished off the Spitfire with
adding the landing gears/doors, cockpit windows and the prop.
I added Tamiya's 1/48 Universal
Carrier Mk.II item 32516 to the photo shoot.
Thanks:
Alan Williamson
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images below to see larger images
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