1/48 Tamiya Supermarine Spitfire MK.Vb

Gallery Article by Alan Williamson on Aug 5 2009

 

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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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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Photos and text © by Alan Williamson