PRXIX airframe assembly is complete!


I cheated a bit though... the pilot is an Airfix guy, but he’s an already painted up leftover from a previous project.

Tim,

nice kick off for Your Spit. I always wanted to built this kit. How do You judge it. The canopy seems crystal clear and the pilot looks really good!

Oliver

Thanks Oliver,

The PRXIX kit isn't bad, and the canopy is well done, if a bit thick. Nothing a dip in Future won't fix!

As for the pilot, he is the ancient, but nice, figure that has come with many Airfix 1/72 kits since the 1960s (this guy came originally with their TBD Devastator kit). There is a different one that comes with the PRXIX. I actually like this older one better.

After masking off the canopy and camera lenses with Tamiya tape...


...the reconnaissance Spitfire gets dressed up in her coat of slightly lightened Model Master Royal Air Force Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (P.R.U.) Blue enamel.

Hi Tim

I think you should do a figure-painting Feature article for us! That pilot is streets ahead of most that I see and a How-To would encourage a lot of us (me included) to have a try.

I squeezed an hour in on my Seafire today. No pics, but it's not looking too bad. Looking at my work schedule for the week ahead, though, I doubt I'll get a chance to get back to the workbench before weekend-next, so there's realistically not a hope I'll bring it home by the deadline.

All the best

Rowan

Damn it Rowan, never give up!

Speaking of which, paint on the 1/32 Pacific Coast Spit XIV. Gloss coat for decals on tomorrow!





Michael

Thanks Rowan, but in all honesty, I really don’t do figures that well at all!

One simple trick I can share is to simply turn the head a little. In the pic below the two figures on the left are the ones provided with dozens of 1/72 Airfix kits over the years:

They are identical except that I’ve turned the head of the middle one to the left. For some reason, that simple change makes figures look so much more animated and natural! The pilot I used in this PRXIX build is like that one (the figure on the right is the one that actually came with the PRXIX kit).

And Rowan, one should never let real-life work get in the way of one’s model building ... just sayin’!


Michael, your big Spit is looking really good (love the splotchy underbelly)!

One week left everyone, let's get going!

Michael

Hi Tim

Your tip about turning the pilot's head makes a huge difference - it looks far more natural.

Michael - your PCM Spit is looking superb! It's not a kit we see built often these days, so it's great to see it get its turn in the limelight.

Thank you both for your encouragement. Here's where my Seafire's got to:



There's still a lot to do - probably about solid three days' work in my terms. Realistically, between a busy week at Oxfam and writing reviews, I just won't have time to finish it by next weekend. I won't give up on it, but I've paid the price for my ball's-up with the Tamiya Spit.

All the best

Rowan

Sorry to hear that Rowan, you seem so close. If more time is needed, I'm easily persuaded...

Meanwhile, not a bad weekend's work on the PacCoast Mk.XIV:





I may pull this off yet!

Michael

I'm considering a short (two week?) extension of this campaign. Anyone interested?

Michael

Hi Michael

The Mk. XIV's looking excellent. It's always been one of my favourite marks - a great blend of the Griffon with the classic airframe.

I could certainly use the extra couple of weeks if you're kind enough to grant them. I'm hoping to squeeze in an hour on the Seafire in the morning before a late start tomorrow at Oxfam. If I can get all the building side of things down this week, and maybe even some basic painting, I'll be quite chuffed.

All the best

Rowan

An extension would be good. I have had an operation on my dominant hand and the swelling is yet to go down. Near to finishing and I will see what I can do before the 19th.

How about until the end of November? Or do you think you'll need longer?

Michael

Im not allowed to drive until December 5th and stitches out after that. Hand kind of numb and swollen. I will try and have it done by then. Time to learn to paint left handed.

Thanks.

This simple build is close to the finish line, but not quite there yet... the extension is most welcome!

At this point the kit decals are on, applied over a Future gloss coat, with another coat to seal them in.

It is fun dressing up the familiar British Spitfire (known as the S 31 in the Swedish Air Force) in these unusual markings!

Ok, with each everything going on I'm granting a one month extension to 19 December. But that'll be it,so get going!

Michael

Cheers Michael

My heavy period at work got heavier (I guess that's only to be expected after an Area Manager's visit ), so I might need the extra-extra time...

@ Brian - I totally sympathise with you after your hand surgery. I had a carpal tunnel op last spring and, while I got back to the workbench still sporting the bandages, it's only just lately that my good hand's begun to feel approaching 100% again.

All the best

Rowan

Tamiya 1:48 Spitfire Vb "Lima Challenger"

I actually managed to finish in time. I'll get some photos taken tomorrow and post for the campaign gallery.

Tamiya 1:48 Spitfire Vb "Lima Challenger"

I built this mostly OOB with the addition of the Eduard PE Zoom set. I wanted to try some new painting techniques so didn't waste too much time adding tiny details. This was my first experiment with oils for adding dirt and grime. I like the effects.







I finally managed to finish a campaign!

Congrats Paul, and very nicely done too!

I've also finished my Pacific Coast 1/32 Spitfire XIVc. Like most PacFront kits it fought me in certain places (notably closing the fuselage around the cockpit and the resulting fuselage/wing fit) but turned out pretty well. The instructions had the numbers reversed on the landing gear/gear doors combination, which I think may also be true on their Mk.IXs but that was a fairly easy fix.





I do like the somewhat brutal Griffon nose and think the kit captures this well.

Hope the rest of you can use the extra time. Keep up the great work!

Michael

Great result on your Spit, Paul! And congrats on finishing this campaign.

Tim, your Flygvapen Spitfire comes along really well. I have seen an original in the Royal Swedish Air Force Museum in Linköbing during my holidays up there in 2013.

Torsten

Really nice builds guys,

My entre is a Spitfire MK.V which i started some time ago.


This Tamiya model is a straight forward built, i added the apropriate Eduard set which makes the office more alive




Once all things are put together i realized that i made an error with the seatbelt,.. these are not fitted to the seat itself but to the fuselage,..


so i corrected this by using a small strip of coffee filter,.. and a stretched sprue


So it looks better when looking inside, (also added the battery and some plumbing.)

Painting


For the decals i had a bad surprise,.. first one cracked under my finger,..


Never realized that this could happen with reasonably new decals,..bit of a challenge, decal softener did not help either,..


anyway,.. i made an attempted to do a bit of restoration with first a bit of white glue to seal the decal crack and then paint over the crack,.. it looks alright (from a distance),..

This is the end result, markings are of the "Dutch" 322 squadron flying for the RAF




For Edgar.

Wow,
great results are coming in fast!

Paul, Your Lima Challenger looks excellent. I like the decent fading very much!

Michael,
Your Spit comes out as well very nice! Congrats to You, too!

Jan,
What an amazing speed and cool result! Is this the Mk. V in 1/72 scale. Built the Mk.I in this thread. It was real fun.

Rowan and Tim,
Nice progress. Your birds will be fine! Keep on posting!

Oliver

Hi Jan

Nice save on your Spit! You're not the only one to come a cropper with Tamiya's decals.

I can't claim any major progress on my Seafire - it's been "one of those weeks" at work, so I hope to get properly stuck in next Sunday. By hook or by crook, with the extended deadline, I'll have something to offer as a mark of respect for all Edgar did for us.

All the best

Rowan