PR XIX (S 31) is done!

A final appplication of “flat Future” (Future floor polish with a bit of Tamiya flat base added) knocked down the shine to a nice matt finish.


The exhaust stacks were brush painted Testors silver (small bottle) with some Model master Gunship Gray, followed by a wash of very thin Model Master Military Brown. The little circles where the five propeller blades should be are painted masking tape; the solid props seemed too static for a “flying” model, and the open holes in the spinner were just plain ugly! I should have simply puttied the holes over before painting. Oh, well.


Anyway, the little Swede looks unconcerned as he peers out of his pressurized cockpit...

Nice one Tim

The Spit looks great in Swedish markings.

I've made a bit of progress on the Seafire:





I've used Alclad's Mil Spec enamels again. They go on very nicely, drying amazing quickly with a dead flat finish.

All the best

Rowan

There ya go Rowan, very nice!

Michael

Cheers Michael

I hope to make a bit of progress tomorrow. The dead-flat finish of the Mil Spec enamels is a bit of a double-edged sword: it's great if that's the effect you need, but it absolutely drinks up a gloss-coat applied over it. For the Seafire, I'll be aiming for a semi-gloss finish. Post war Royal Navy kites wore full-gloss paint jobs (which may actually be true for this Seafire too), but I'll knock it back a little bit as it's only just after the war's end.

There's so much I like about the Mil Specs (I must publish my review!), I'd love to see Alclad bring out decal-ready gloss enamels too.

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

No new pics yet - to be honest, you wouldn't want to see them! I'm really feeling jinxed on this campaign, because I've run into decal problems yet again! The Seafire's decals don't match the sizes shown in the painting instructions and are the most fragile I've ever encountered. Following an initial mess-up, I've coated them with Klear, but they are still a nightmare - and to add insult to injury, aren't really snuggling down particularly well.

I know, I could pretty easily have cut some masks (and it may still come to that...) but there's the deadline looming - and, to be honest, I'm just itching to move on to fresh projects.

I'm so fighting my instincts to just be done with it and start my next build! This will probably only ever be a "view from a distance" model - but it'll be an achievement for me (and prove a point to myself) in getting something finished when I'd have normally ditched it.

All the best

Rowan

You can do it Rowan!!

Michael

Hi Michael

To be honest, I don't think I can this time. Not to the standard I set for myself, anyway. I'm looking at the underwing roundel, with all its bumps and lumps to fit over - and I know it'll be a disaster! Judging by the previous decals, it can't logically be anything else. This won't be my finest effort - but it will be done...

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Well, I'm calling this one "finished" - for now at least:



Between my car-crash Spitfire and now the Seafire, it's been one of those builds that went off the rails and stayed there. The Seafire was fighting to the end - I thought I'd solved the markings problem when I found a Revell sheet... only to discover the roundels are different proportions to Special Hobby's.

So, I haven't weathered the model, because I will either look out for Aeromaster's OOP Seafire decals which feature the same scheme, or else cut some masks.

But that's all for the future (maybe) - I'm keen to get on with a different kit in the hope I have better luck.

All the best

Rowan

Cheers Rowan,

Your Seafire looks very nice! I like the decent metal chipping on the wing very much. Did You overspray the metal color after applying the chipping like a filter?

Oliver

Rowan: After all the Seafire turns out really nice - well done! Congrats for overcome your weaker self and finish this build instead of going the easy way!

Tim: Beautiful work on this PR XIX! Have already the Airfix 1/72 and ordered the 1/48 - time to build one...

Thomas

Great work everyone, we're really doing Edgar proud! 10 different Spit models in the gallery (though Rowan hasn't added his yet). Let's see if we can get a couple more before the end next week.

Michael

Cheers guys

My Seafire is definitely fated! I used it as a guinea-pig yesterday to try some weathering washes for review... and even they didn't perform as per the maker's instructions! Sometimes you get the feeling a model is trying to tell you "Just move on!"!

@ Oliver - The chipping on the wing roots is done by applying masking fluid with a small piece of scouring pad over Alclad, then spraying the camouflage colour. Once the masking is removed, it leaves a nice irregular area of "chipping".

@ Michael - I'll pop the photo in the gallery. I'm afraid I only took this one - and the model's now in pieces again for the review-tests.

All the best

Rowan

Here is my completed model. May have over done the weathering. Not got anywhere near like full use of my hand yet but managed to get it finished as much as I can. Thanks for a great campaign Michael.

And so the Edgar Brooks Memorial Spitfire Campaign comes to an end. With 11 finished Spit- (and Sea-) fire models I think we did Edgar proud. We'll miss you Ed, but thanks for the years of inspiration and information.

Ribbons are awarded so if you didn't get one and think you should, let me know. Thanks to all who participated and congrats to all who finished!

Michael

Thanks for the ribbon, Michael, and leading this campaign. I enjoyed taking part in it though the reason for it is really sad.
And congrats to all who have finished their builds!

Torsten

Michael,

as Torsten said, thank You very much for the ribbon and leading this campaign. Though it was for a sad reason, I learned a lot about the Spitfire.

Oliver