Gnarkill1984
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Posted 1487348560
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#1
Hi guys,
With the c-17 well under way (hopefully get more done this weekend) I opened the stash cupboard and right in front of me was my spit. I am really excited to start this one. I may even start before I finish the c-17.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.iia, P7666, EB-Z 'Observer corps' was built at Castle Bromwich and delivered to 41 sqn on the 23rd November 1940.
During the Second World War the Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps asked for £5,000 to purchase a Spitfire for the RAF. A large sum of money today, a massive sum then. The ROC raised nearly double this amount and the Spitfire was purchased with "Observer Corps" and the ROC badge on the side. They also purchased P7837 and was coded QJ-B of 616 Squadron.
P7666 was flown by Don Finlay, a former Olympic Athlete. He joined the RAF in April 1935, and was posted to No 17 Squadron, and later in 1936 to No. 54 Squadron RAFbefore attending the RAF School of Aeronautical Engineering at Henlow.
In World War II he was posted to fly Spitfires as commanding officer of his old 54 Squadron, then based at Hornchurch, on 26 August 1940, during the Battle of Britain. He was shot down over Ramsgate two days later and was wounded. After recovering he was posted to command No. 41 Squadron in September. He claimed his first victory, a Messerschmitt Bf 109, over the Channel on 23 September, and by the end of October 1940 he was credited with a 'share' in a second Bf 109 and a Dornier Do 17 bomber, and had also damaged a further three Bf 109s. His aircraft was damaged in combat with Oblt. Hans-Ekkehard Bobof JG 54 on 9 October 1940. He added to his tally on 23 November, shooting down the Bf 109E-1 (Werk No.3868 "Black 3") of Obgfr. Günther Loppach of 11./JG 51, who was taken prisoner,[6]and another Bf 109 on 27 November 1940.
In 1985, Battle of Britain Memorial flight, spitfire p7350 wore the EB-Z and ROC markings in recognition to this prestigious aircraft.
A replica of the aircraft, built by gate guardians U.K. (Based out of my home county of Cornwall) now resides as a gate guardian the RAF Air Command (formerly Bomber Command) standing proudly next to Douglas Baders Mk.i hurricane LE-D.
The connection to my place of work and the link to my home are what drawn me to build this specific spit.
Onto the kit. It's cheap, has lots of detail and apparently builds really well. Three massive plus for the kit. There is however some inaccuracies that need addressing if you want it to be 100% accurate, these include the seat (no cushion), lack of seat armour, incorrect spinner and props, later model oil cooler, metal alierons. These can all be fixed easily with aftermarket parts.
I went for..
MDC corrections kit that comes with resin oil cooler, radiator and exhausts, I also grabbed a correct spinner and prop set and some seat belts. All great quality and very reasonably priced.
I picked up a barracuda seat with armour plate.
The Kits IP looks very well detailed but I'm lazy so went for the Yahu IP which is simply stunning.
Marking have been taken care of by kits-world war birds set 132101 which is actually for the BBMF p7350 but I will use the OG decals for the P7666 tail number.
There's also a set of canopy masks somewhere.
The kits detail is a little heavy but I really don't mind it. There is very little flash, the main problem is the clear parts that have massive amounts of flash,however they are clear and nice once they have been taken care of.
I have decided not to change the metal ailerons, I'm no rivet counter and can cope with this discrepancy.
So onto the pics.
Hope you enjoy, I'm looking forward to this one.
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vdbo76
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Registered:1407796279 Posts: 3,360
Posted 1487355620
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#2
Excellent choice :-). I can understand that you can't wait starting this one!
__________________Fabian Amsterdam, The Netherlandshttps://www.instagram.com/vdbo76/
Alba83
Wing Commander
Registered:1424566107 Posts: 1,707
Posted 1487356427
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#3
Well looking at that it doesnt look any worse than my Tamiya one.... Thanks for the background info too il need to give it another read later Just get stuck in now... Want to see more of that instrument panel... i keep saying im gonna get one them
__________________Steven Glasgow, Scotland
Gnarkill1984
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Posted 1487360427
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#4
Cheers guys.
The IP is a whole other ball game compadres to your standard etch
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Alba83
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Posted 1487371388
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#5
Yeah ive seen them built up and they look great i think... I actually thought they were 3D printed, must have been something else though
__________________Steven Glasgow, Scotland
Gnarkill1984
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M.Brindos
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Posted 1487393962
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#7
That IP is fantastic!
Gnarkill1984
Squadron Leader
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Posted 1487420736
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#8
Cheers bud.
Tiny bit of scratch building and started putting the cockpit together, whilst the kids play minecraft.
Will sort out the seat tonight and get it all ready to close up.
Question!
If using brass belts do you install before painting? Or paintvthe seat then add belts then paint the belts?
Cheers for looking
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Alba83
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Posted 1487431032
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#9
Im not sure but i think the paint would crack if you painted it before mate
__________________Steven Glasgow, Scotland
Alba83
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Posted 1487431132
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#10
And yeah £17 worth every penny and more, honestly not much more in mine... its looks great though
__________________Steven Glasgow, Scotland
Gnarkill1984
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Posted 1487434768
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#11
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alba83 Im not sure but i think the paint would crack if you painted it before mate
Yeah that's what I thought tbh. Gluing if down before is no different to a resin seat with belts mounded i suppose.
TBH I can see little differences between yours and mine. Some I prefer on the revell kit but the Tamiya has a lot more subtle detail and I'm sure the fit is a lot better (not that I know for sure yet)
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Gnarkill1984
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Posted 1487442429
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#12
After doing some research I have come to realise that the rear of the cockpit is incorrectly painted! It shouldn't be green but Alu.
Luckily I haven't got that far into the build so should be and easy fix.
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Gnarkill1984
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Gnarkill1984
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Posted 1487468929
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#14
Just realised I messed up the harness the belt that goes over the top and down the back of the seat should have been folded and go down the front and through the hole. Doh!
Never mind, still looks ok
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Alba83
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Posted 1487514476
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#15
I did mine the same way ...hmm
__________________Steven Glasgow, Scotland