Hi All, here is my next build, Pacific Coast Models Spitfire IXc in 1/32 scale:

At first blush, it looks pretty decent, some nice Eduard PE:

Lots of resin for the cockpit, wheel wells, two different types of wheels and exhaust stacks:


But closer looks reveal a fair bit of clean up is required...and this:

That's a helluva bubble! Well, we'll see if I can fix it up. Cleaned up the cockpit resin, seems more brittle than other resin I've dealt with, a few breaks that needed fixing but ready for primer:

Some of the pastic mouldings seem a bit suspect, a fair bit of flash and large sprue attachment points. I'll have my work cut out for me.

Ouch... that's quite an air bubble alright. Good thing it's a smooth tyre - should be relatively easy to fill with milliput and sand to shape.

Good luck with the build. I've heard Pacific Coast kits can be a handful to build.

Oh my , that is a nasty air bubble . Will follow on your adventure with this build . Any idea on a scheme ?



Terri

I've actually built this kit a couple of times. Tamiya, it ain't. But it's a good solid kit, rather better than some other limited runs I've dealt with. That's the first time I've seen a bubble like that, hope you can fix it.

Take your time, test fit a couple of times, and you can come up with a very nice model!

Michael

Yeah, I did a lot of research on this before buying the kit, so I had a pretty good idea what I was getting myself into (except for that bubble!), but it was only about 1/3 the cost of the Tamiya offering, so figured it would be good practice. I am building it as a surprise for my brother who is an airplane fan and loves Spitfires. I will either do Wing Cdr Johnnie Johnson or Wing Cdr Jack Charles, probably the latter, Dark Green and Dark Sea Grey with D-Day stripes. Just going to have to be patient as you say with lots of test fitting.

Pilots office is pretty much done, maybe some touchups and dry brushing to go, then see if I can get the fuselage to fit together over it all. The instructions are rather vague about the placement of the control stick/rudder pedal assembly...

Hi Colin

Nice work on your Spit! If you haven't already closed the fuselage, there are a couple of points that might be worth checking:

The area behind the seat was usually left unpainted originally (it's often painted Grey-Green on restorations) along with the rear face of the fuselage frame that the pilot's seat attached to.

Also, the pre-coloured instrument panel does look rather grey in your photo. Maybe it's darker to the naked eye? Going by the photo, though, I'd be tempted to carefully apply a black wash because the real thing was finished in black.

All the best

Rowan

Thanks for the tips Rowan! Unfortunately I have already closed up the fuselage but I will file for future reference - hopefully Tamiya's 1/32 Spit which will seem like a dream after this one!

Wow You have some courage to get into this kit. I know Michael said its solid, but Im suspecting he would say the same thing about a short run limited copy of a 50 years old vacuform

Much filing, fitting, filling and f*cking about has ensued...along with significant adult language (and beverages).

Hi Colin

I'm sorry I was too late with my post, but going by the quality of what you've done so far you're going to have a great looking Spit! And, yes, the Tamiya kit is in a different league of fit and engineering. I'm also really tempted to get the Revell Mk. IX, because that does seem to be a great value alternative, but there are just so many kits competing for attention and so little time available at the workbench these days.

All the best

Rowan

Your progress is coming along nicely so far Colin . The Tamiya spit will be a dream to build , built one already with another in the stash .

Colourful language hitsas all when sitting in front of the bench ...I'm pretty sure of it ..


Looking forward on your next up-date .



Terri

Yup, the hobby can be frustrating at times. Some significant wing root gaps that needed to be filled (seems to be a common problem with this kit), started off with styrene strip for bulk fill and using Mr. Surfacer for the final touches - fill, sand, prime, wet sand, repeat until I'm happy. Rescribing a lot of the panel lines as well, some just because they are just not there...also have to try to close up those wheel well to top wing joints better...




Cheers

time for an update, been doing a lot of filling, sanding and scribing, plus I got a set of turned brass 20mm barrels to replace the rather sketchy kit ones:

Some of the crud i've been dealing with, pour plugs on the outside surface of the wingtips, plus various other flaws and the ever present flash:

More extra-thick flash on the radiator scoops:

It's fit, trim, fit, trim, fit, fill sand, repeat...bit of a bear this one, but it's looking like a Spitfire!


Aerial and pitot tube then it's ready for primer and paint, far from perfect but should look all right when painted up as long as you don't look too close .

Got the paint down.

Added some post shading to get a more worn look:

Nice job on the camo and post shading Colin , really starting to shape up now . Looking forward to the next up-date



Terri

Latest update, decals on and clearcoated, panel line wash and chipping...inching towards completion.

Fantastic job all around so far Colin




Terri

Thanks Terri!

That's quite a transformation Colin! Looks very nice!

Gaz

Thanks Gaz!

OK, think I'm calling it done, markings are for Wing Cmdr Jack Charles.








Not perfect by any means but I'm still pretty happy with it for my second wing thing.

Excellent job Colin! Told you you could do it.

Michael

Thanks Michael! Yep, lots of test fitting (followed by lots of sanding, filling and more sanding).