Airfix 1:72 Spitfire Mk 1a
Discussion
There is far more moulded detail - even on this tiny kit - than I remember from my childhood kits.
Colour chart on the box:
I am not too keen on the black / sky underside and the sky spinner, thinking of going all sky underneath and black spinner, with no fuselage sky band either, for more of a mainstream Battle of Britain look.
Colour chart on the box:
I am not too keen on the black / sky underside and the sky spinner, thinking of going all sky underneath and black spinner, with no fuselage sky band either, for more of a mainstream Battle of Britain look.
Tried to glean some tips from other build threads (cheers Doc!) and it seems that gloss and matt varnishes are needed, together with filling putty. Got some yellow for the life jacket, some undercoat / primer and some metallic silver for any metallic silver bits. And some paintbrushes.
Last week I bought a similar starter set but the Hawker Typhoon, to complete as my first kit since my youth. The modern airfix kits really are quite nicely detailed and the instructions and decals look good too. I'm a decent way in to my Typhoon now but need to pick up some putty as you have, there's quite large gaps at the wing roots! I guess because of the stressed wing construction. Anyway i'll keep an eye out for your progress, can't beat a Mk1.
Eric Mc said:
It's a decent enough kit although the panel lines are way too deep.
It's a shame, that. I don't know why manufacturers feel the need to put every panel line on – in reality they're extremely subtle, and often invisible. So, in most cases it would be more realistic to have no panel lines, just IMO.Yertis said:
Eric Mc said:
It's a decent enough kit although the panel lines are way too deep.
It's a shame, that. I don't know why manufacturers feel the need to put every panel line on – in reality they're extremely subtle, and often invisible. So, in most cases it would be more realistic to have no panel lines, just IMO.Ayahuasca said:
Lines around the engine cowling / gun access panels or other opening bits seem fairly prominent on period photographed Spits. I will see if a coat or two of primer softens the other lines.
Exactly – I went off to look at Spit photos before posting. My "in most cases" comment was covering me for cowlings etc 
Im looking forwards to seeing your progress on this one. As I mentioned on my MKI thread it’s a kit I built last year and really enjoyed doing so.
On the point of the panel lining, they’re deep, but in my opinion this helps the novice builders this kit is aimed at for a couple of reasons.
1. It means the builder can have a go at removing the seam between fuselage halves without losing too much detail.
2. Brush painting and the thicker coats that it inevitably brings won’t completely lose the panel lines either.
I know this hobby is different things to different people, but for me it’s the fun of the build that matters. I can forgive the odd inaccuracies providing I’m left with a model that I find satisfying to build and aesthetically pleasing.
On the point of the panel lining, they’re deep, but in my opinion this helps the novice builders this kit is aimed at for a couple of reasons.
1. It means the builder can have a go at removing the seam between fuselage halves without losing too much detail.
2. Brush painting and the thicker coats that it inevitably brings won’t completely lose the panel lines either.
I know this hobby is different things to different people, but for me it’s the fun of the build that matters. I can forgive the odd inaccuracies providing I’m left with a model that I find satisfying to build and aesthetically pleasing.
Yertis said:
Ayahuasca said:
Lines around the engine cowling / gun access panels or other opening bits seem fairly prominent on period photographed Spits. I will see if a coat or two of primer softens the other lines.
Exactly – I went off to look at Spit photos before posting. My "in most cases" comment was covering me for cowlings etc Riley Blue said:
Yertis said:
Ayahuasca said:
Lines around the engine cowling / gun access panels or other opening bits seem fairly prominent on period photographed Spits. I will see if a coat or two of primer softens the other lines.
Exactly – I went off to look at Spit photos before posting. My "in most cases" comment was covering me for cowlings etc Shows Spitfire MkVB's so a little later than my model.
Seems the pilot of the Spit named 'Atchashikar' that features prominently was the father of Iain Duncan Smith!
Some great bits in that film - like people jumping on the wings and rubbing all the paint off.... the side of the windscreen not being exactly flush with the fuselage, a strange little post sticking out of the fuel tank cover next to the fuel filler cap in the scene of the Spit being refueled... none of which will make it convincingly onto my model... I liked the bit with the pilot standing up in the cockpit while taxiing, presumably to avoid having to weave left and right.
First shots fired.
Made mistake of diluting paint with water for first application - result, paint does not stick to surface.
Moulding circle needs to be taken out of cockpit side.
No crowbar? No need, was not fitted to Spits of this vintage (model is supposed to be Dunkirk although I like the slightly later look).
Fuselage halves undercoated. Will apply a few coats and sand down between so panel lines are softened a bit.
Fuselage fit is poor so removed the pins (read about boring out the holes, but I do not possess a small enough drill). Without the pins the fit is much better.
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