This is my currant large scale aircraft subject,the kit # is 60320, which has the option of A58-602 as RG-V the personal mount of W.Com 'Bobby' Gibbs 457 Sqn R.A.A.F. Unfortunately the kit decals for the upper wing are not correct for this aircraft, as they should be 56" in diameter {as the kit subject is based on the Temora Museum owned aircraft}. My build will be A58-517 "HAVAGOJOE"of 79 Sqn R.A.A.F subject {the personal mount of F.Lt. Norm Smithell, which had sported a White Tailplane.

I have assembled the engine, part of the engine mounting frame, the main wing and test fitted the cockpit sidewalls to each of the fuselage halves and shown other detailed assemblies so far.


The Box Art of my subject.


Main wing and other sub assemblies.


Instrument detail and seat detail {so far}.

Rob,
Looks like an excellent start to a fantastic kit.
Joel

Rob, the interior looks fantastic! I always thought the MK VIII's and MK IX's were the sexiest in-lines ever made. Looking forward to the rest of your progress on this one.

Best wishes,

Ian

Hi All,

Thanks for the kind compliments.

More progress on the Mk VIII to date.


Cockpit sub assembly, opposite side wall and detail highlighting.


Cockpit assembly fixed to fuselage half.


Fuselage halves glued, along with the main wing.
To cover the large gap of the hole for the in board flaps, I CA glued a piece of foil and trimmed to fit.




More to follow.

Nice progress, Rob. How did the nose seam between the engine and instrument panel fit? Sometimes those can be finicky on all Spitfire kits because of the bulkheads and so forth.

Regards,

Ian

Greetings,

Progressing further.

Ian there was a narrow gap between the engine and windscreen, but a little filler was used and I put a pic of that seam here.

The instruction sheet calls out that the windscreen framework is to be painted Black.



seams cleaned up and ready to move on.


reference as to the camo scheme of this bird.


Highlighting the panel lines.


Spinner, backplate and main wing leading edge, now painted White.

Now to mask off the White leading edge and it's ready for the camo scheme.

Hi Rob,
Looking good and as everyone knows, "you just can't have too many Spitfires"



This prompted me to look at the instructions because it seems odd. Black X18 is referring to the the bowl of the rear view mirror, and the handle of the canopy locking mechanism. The framing should be the same colour as the rest of the airframe. Of course you will know to paint the interior colour first?

I like you chosen scheme, I haven't seen that one before

G'day Mal,

I later checked on the instructions and it was my mistake.
Thanks for the compliment on the cammo scheme.

The Kagero sheet has 3 of the 79 Sqn RAAF birds, the one I chose to build, UP-L {which sadly a friend has offered me his un built kit as a swap for my assembled bird}. UP-A is in a similar scheme with the name HAL-FAR under the windscreen and the 3rd is UP-F which is a White Tailplane, Medium Sea Grey under surfaces and a 3 tone Green camo scheme, with the word HAVAGOJOE above a Grey Elephant, {UP-F would be my preference of choice for the Mk VIII as opposed to RG_V}.

Rob,
Looking forward to seeing some paint on the Spit.
Joel

G'day Rob,



Now I like the idea of that, could you send me a scan of the decal sheet? My Mk VIII will definitely be the "Grey Nurse" scheme, but I'm looking for an interesting scheme for a 1/48 scale version, and this could be it

Hi All,

Progress to Date:-

Paint and decals had been applied prior to my absence {short [2 week] vacation break}, all paint used is Gunze Acrylic, one thing I have done but not added as yet, is replace the kit gun port decals, which cracked, with a painted piece of masking tape, which I cut to size after painting.






[b]Note:[/b[ The artwork of the subject.

Mal,
I have the Superscale Decal sheet in 48 scale that covers the UP-F Green/Green/Green over Grey and a White Tailplane Spit of 79 Sqn RAAF as well as the proper markings for RG-V, and will scan them for you in the next day or so.





I hope these two pix help a little.

Rob.

Thanks Rob

Mal,

I hope these are of use too you for your Grey Nurse Spitfire, note the Sharks Mouth on A58-602 and the 79 Sqn HAVAGOJOE Spitfire.








Note:- UP-F is my prefered subject of another Tamiya Mk VIII kit.