Before continuing with the other projects, I've found that that one Tamiya Spitfire is sitting idle for 7-8 years (I think ) in my stash. It's started and I had assembled and painted the cockpit, using Eduard PE for the inside.
I decided to make the plane of Lt. Don Gentile "Buckeye-Don", an ace with 21 kills. Standard camouflage of Ocean grey, Medium sea grey and Dark green with overpainted national insignia. Decals are from Aeromaster sheet.
I will use also RB Hispano 20mm cannons and Quickboost exhausts (en route).
So this will take priority, kind of unfinished business, more pictures later











Cheers!

Primer and Gunze MC silver over the walk area (for chipping)







Thanks!

Main colors and marking with custom masks
The overpainted British insignia is with darker shade of the main colors.
Yellow is Gunze RLM 04 and is darker in reality, same is with Sky (H-74). The black background is because my camera doesn't catch very well the Ocean grey and Medium sea grey and they appear bluish on light background.









Regards,

Nice job on the camo




Terri

Thank you, Terri!

Resin exhaust arrived, compared to the kit ones. Only a bit of surgery is needed for removing the small bump on the front.

Painting the exhausts by the following way:

-Mr.Surfacer 1500 black primer;
-Mr.Metal color "Iron", polished with cotton swab;
-spraying highly diluted paint Red brown, like filter, then again polishing a bit;
-pigments Brick and Rust (Dark) here and there;







Regards,

I finished painting the markings, only the black stripes on the wings left to do, then varnish and stencil data.







Thanks!

Stencils applied, black and red stripes are airbrushed with masks. I only have to find the correct Rotol propeller for Gentile's Spitfire.







Venelin

Venelin,
A most impressive camo paint scheme. Your black lines came out perfectly. Decals and stencils both looks spot on. You're doing one excellent build on the old Tamiya kit.

Joel

Very nice Venelin! Your attention to detail in the paint work is outstanding. I really like how your black wing walk line is still faintly visible through the green on the oversprayed roundels

Thanks, Joel, Mike!

Tamiya doesn't provide the correct Rotol propeller for that Spitfire. There's only one aftermarket option from Ultracast that I know, but it's very hard to find and I didn't like the shipping cost
So I added those things-"cowls" may be (don't know the English word, sorry) by cutting plastic tube and gluing them on the spinner. They have to be at slight angle on the right. Also I modified the spinner's point with sharpened brass tube.





Cheers!

Propeller is ready

Dark grey wash for the underside and brown for the upper surface.

She is really shaping up nicely so far , looking forward on seeing the next up-date .



Terri

Continuing with oil fading (I didn't catch it quite well on pictures), engine oil and fuel streaks. I will add more on the belly when it dries.
The bad news is that I've lost one of the wheel well covers, so I will search replacement.

Venelin,
A most impressive build to date. Nice detailing the prop cuffs, it's those small details that make a big difference.

Joel

Thank you, Joel!

Adding the small details-antenna, rear view mirror, Pitot tube and lights. More streaking on the belly with Lamp black oil paint and exhaust stains.
Only the wheel well covers left to add.

















Cheers!

Venelin,
Impressive to say the least. Almost at the finish line, and getting there in style for sure.

Joel

Hi Venelin

Really great build! The fairings on the spinner caught my eye when I shot a walkaround of the RAF Museum's Mk.V when I volunteered there, so it's great to see you add them. It's those sort of little points that make for an outstanding model. I really like the way you've handled the distinctive oil-staining on the belly.

Do be sure to submit this beauty as a Feature once you've finished the build - it really deserves to be on the Frontpage.

All the best

Rowan

Thanks, Joel, Rowan!

Strangely, those fairings are omitted even on aftermarket spinners, and from my understanding, that type of spinner is very common on Mk.V .

Rowan, I will be glad to submit my Spitfire as Feature, but can you explain me how to do that, thanks!

I've found replacement for the lost wheel well cover, with some modification they will be OK. And a reason to buy another Spitfire



Venelin

Well, I think it's ready

I slightly modified the spare wheel covers from the Eduard kit, also replaced the cockpit door with their resin one. Some dirt and splatter on the belly:













Cheers!

Venelin, as always from you a wonderfull build of an icon. A bit too dirty for my taste but that's subjective. Good to see that you have found a substitute for the lost wheel cover. I would have suggested to write to Tamiya Germany and ask for a replacement but Eduard Spits are also first choice. You're right, you can never have too many Spits. When I look at my stash I think the same ....

Torsten

very nice build. :-)

Thanks!

I can't wait to start the Eduard Spit, looking even better

Cheers!

Venelin,
Sure glad I was along for the ride on your build. The final presentation is really perfect for a operational aircraft. Just one thought; I'd lighten up the weathering on the tires some as a lot of the mud and dirt tends to get rubbed and blown off once it dries unless it's within a treaded pattern.

Joel