Airfix 1:72 Spitfire Mk 1a

[Ayahuasca]

Beginning to look a bit like a Spitfire. A bit of filler and sanding needed on the engine coweling, behind the cockpit and the wing roots. Covered the whole thing in brown then sanded a bit to get worst brush marks out, then on went the green. The prop shaft snapped off so using a long steel shaft - which has the advantage that I don’t need to fit the prop until later, and it will still spin. Never used filler or sandpaper on a model before. Never used varnishes either so will see how that goes.

[Ayahuasca]

dr_gn said:

How come you left off the tail planes and rudder? It’s best to fix them and deal with any gaps before painting.

Yep, I suspect you are right. Left them off to faciltate painting the fuselage. Need all the room I can get to sand brush marks off. Actually that is half lie - the rudder actually dropped off during manhandling!

[Ayahuasca]

Quite like the gloss look! Everyone suggesting Vallejo paints and airbrushes etc - yes but I am building this in darkest Central America and the nearest model shop is thousands of miles away. Gotta make do with what I have. Don’t have any decal solution but I read that its principle ingredient is white vinagar so used that. Not sure it worked. Next task: see if masking tape coloured with felt tip will work as the gun covers.

[Ayahuasca]

Spitfire over the Panama !

[Ayahuasca]

To do:

Fit canopy properly. May need filling under the front, but that will be a challenge.

RT wire. Melted spue?

Pitot tube

Re-do gun patches (masking tape works, but I can make them neater).

Undercarriage.

Toning wash

[Ayahuasca]

[Ayahuasca]

Given up with the main RT wire - it breaks too easily when whirling the Spit around going ‘dagga dagga dagga’.

Dr - thanks for the kind offer - I do get back to the UK a few times a year so can pick up more stuff then.