Coen's first Spitfire. Cause real men build spitfires.

Post by **Coen** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 2:12 pm

Hey Fellas.
A few days ago I dug this out of the stash and started rummaging through the box to see what I could see and remind myself as to why I had this kit in the first place.
I never really figured that bit out, other than I remember that I really wanted a 32nd scale spitfire to build.
Jermaine announced his buddy build and I thought that I'd hold this until then as he's a good friend and it would be a nice kit to build for him.
I just now discovered that he's giving away prizes for the builds, though I hold no expectations that my work will warrant one, I'll just discount myself from those now. I want to build this without the pressures of competition over my head, I don't build well that way.
So, with that out of the way, I can just build this for fun and for my appreciation of the Hulk.

I started this kit with a fever of 37.9C so I was worried that it would drag on and I would stumble about in the instructions or parts for hours.
Boy was I wrong.
I can't really speak for accuracy, as I'm building this mostly for the fun of it and to learn more of the basics of aircraft building, but the fits and the ease of build for this kit (from my amateur perspective) was awesome. I built almost all of it into paintable sub-assemblies in one day.

Unfortunately that's as far as I got. I got much more ill and couldn't continue work for several days. As it stands, my fever has returned this morning and I won't be getting anything done for the foreseeable future.
So much for the flu shot eh? haha.

So here are some shots of the kit and the work so far.
The kit is HobbyBoss' 1:32 Spitfire Mk.Vb kit# 83205
I picked it up from John at ModelsRGo in the UK, he also found and sent me some nice aftermarket to go with it.

The Aftermarket sets...

A pilot that I picked up here in Canada from Ultracast.

The obligatory sprue shots. They're out of the plastic already as I did a video review of this kit some time ago and you must take the parts out of the bags to do a proper kit review on video.

Here is the review of the kit if it's of interest to you.

[youtube]mAK47vJijUg[/youtube]

I started with the cockpit and the pilot. Both went together really easily without any drama. I had to sand the instrument panel detail off so that I can add the PE AM set after painting, but other than that it was pretty straight forward.
Posing the control levers to match the pilot's hands and feet and then later the control surfaces to match as well will be fun.
Hopefully I'll remember to do it. haha.

Then I ignored the rest of the instructions and painting guides and built the rest of the kit in a couple of hours into paintable sub-assemblies.

These clear parts on the wings, though a clever gimic, I would have prefered a styrene optional part to close them with instead of the clear parts. The clear parts are very brittle and it's really easy to chip them. They don't flex or fit the openings very well either. It's probably my only real complaint about this kit so far.

I also just added some humbrol Maskol to the bubble canopy for the mask set from Eduard didn't bother with a piece to cover the middle. Other than that, she's ready for the first round of painting. Then it's back to the build bench for the rest of the assembly.
We'll see how well that goes. I'm doing this in an entirely different way than I've used to build any of the other aircraft that I've built and I think that it will be more enjoyable for me. I hated all the others.
It's closer to what Paul does in fact.
I figured if he can use some of my armour methods I'll steal some of his aircraft idears.

Post by **Lee** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:28 pm

Nice one Mike. Every one has to build at least one spit

Post by **chief5437** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:43 pm

Great start Coen, I like the look of this kit. I see what you mean about those clear parts on the wings, a bit gimmicky.

Hope you're feeling better soon mate!

Post by **Filmman586** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 3:56 pm

Great start Michael!

Post by **MikeyKb** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 4:04 pm

looking forward to this one!
feel better

Post by **Joesdad** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 6:50 pm

Looking good Coen, it's great to see over here on the light side mate. There's no bloody tracks to worry about dont forget

I've got the tropical version of this kit to start soon, also from ModelsRgo......

Post by **Tangles** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 10:29 pm

Nice going Mike, welcome to the hanger!
The kit looks really cool and yes, everyone has to build a Spitfire!

Post by **gustavlekstal** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:35 pm

Hmm grey and green side of aircraft... I like your dunkelgelb! But ok! Good luck with your fire of spit.

Post by **SteelScooter** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:12 am

Hey Coen,

Great start buddy

Just one small thing the tail wheel assembly needs to be flipped 180 degrees, compare it to the box art

Scooter

Post by **Paul** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 10:17 am

Looking good Mike

Post by **Schoof** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 12:39 pm

mmmmmmmmm. .... So I'm guessing I'm no real man. ..

Post by **eightfooticeman** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 5:22 pm

Mike is their anything you can't build? She's looking great so far. I'll make an aircraft modeler out you in no time, LOL!

Post by **Coen** » Sat Mar 07, 2015 6:53 pm

The most recent work that I've done on the spitty has brought her all the way up to the first base coats of paint.
Here's the progression up to then. This afternoon I'll give her a rub down with some uberfine sandpaper and try to mask and paint her.

Firstly, I had to deal with the interior elements and the painting as you do.
Everything is built, so it was a matter of sub-assemblies.

The PE cockpit set was amazing, I'll be using these from now on whenever I can. It looked totally wicked.

Then I detailed the interior as best as I could.

Then I painted up the figure. I'm really happy with how he turned out. The colours just seemed to want to work for me that day.

I had to hack away quite a bit of the cockpit to get him to fit, but he's in. The canopy will never fit closed though.
Time to button it up. I didnt' bother with any washes to the interior as no one will ever see it. I'll come back and touch up anything that's still visible once I unmask the canopy.

For the most part the halves fit together well. A couple of the seams popped later, after some of the painting was done though.

Next I primed it in the black badger primer.

Then I started with the base coats

That's were she sits now, as I said, this afternoon I hope to try to get some camo colours on her. But we'll see.
I feel a nap coming on.

[youtube]q4_IDl9dMGI[/youtube]

Post by **rwsmith14** » Sun Mar 08, 2015 2:53 pm

Awesome work Micheal !! the pilot looks realistic.Especially the the pilot's facial features those eduard cockpit P.E. sets are great. sometimes depending on the aircraft, I'll lightly dry brush the side consoles and instrument panels to show some wear and put a drop of Future on the dial faces.

Website · Post by **Gav0909** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:08 pm

Looks great so far Mike. I have the Revell 1/32 Spit in the stash and had I the time I would have entered it in this GB, but alas, time and mojo aren't on my side right now.

Cracking job though mate.

Post by **LordFarnswaller** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:32 pm

She's mighty pretty, my uncle is currently building one out of timber. must get some pictures off him

Post by **Coen** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:38 pm

Thanks Fellas.
Well... things are certainly not going well with this build.

I totally pooched the camouflage on it, then the decals decided that shattering is the new grey.
I decided that I didn't care and carried on anyway. I didn't have the patience or the interest in fixing the camo, and I didn't have enough suitable replacement decals to fix the shattered ones.

So the camo... at first I was going on the information that the camo patterns on the spitfire were non-uniform and unique to each aircraft. After painting it I was told that there was very little difference in the patterns, and any variance was due to what factory produced the spitfire.
I also had to deal with using silly putty as a masking tool. This wasn't the first time that I've used it, but it was the first time that I've used it on an aircraft. I'll admit that I need a lot more practice with it.
Either way, the errors with the camo aside, I like the colours and I didn't have any interest in fixing it. It's only a teaching tool for me anyway.

Next I gloss coated it with Alclad's Aqua Gloss and added the decals. As I mentioned... the decals did not go quietly.

Some close ups of the craped out decals.

Then I sealed what was left of the decals and added a Ultimate Dark Dirt wash.

That's where it sits at the moment. Later today I may hit it with a matte coat and do a pin wash. We'll see.

Post by **Hillbilly** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 2:06 pm

Tough luck Mike

.....If all else fails....weather it to hell and back!

Post by **schweinhund227** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:28 pm

Nice work on the Pilot Mike !

Too bad about the Roundels ! it happens !

Post by **Aliktren** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:37 pm

wow even with the decals screwing up it looks great Mike - I love the pilot, does he have eyebrows ?!? - the colours look ace. I think the camo after the decals are applied looks great to

Post by **Coen** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 3:51 pm

Nah... it's a stinking pile of crap.
I hate this thing to bits and back. But I'm going to finish it.
I just put the matte coat on and it went all nice and fuzzy on me at the wing roots.
I really love building aircraft hahahahahahahahaha!

Post by **Filmman586** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 7:50 pm

looks good from here!

Post by **Coen** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:06 pm

Well I finished it.
I managed to remove the fuzzy matte coat and I added some pigments and chipping.
Then I called her finished.
I'm uploading the video as I type this but I'll post everything in the Reveal post following this one.

So here's the final bits. Done a lot faster than I thought it would have been. I expected at least another week on this build, but when you don't have anything else on the go things tend to move quickly. haha.

Unmasked and dull coated with Alclad Flat coat.

The engine unbuttoned. I didn't do much with this, mostly because I didn't intend to make the cover removable, but the kit had other ideas.

Then I added some pigments... they reacted with something that was on the surface of the cowling I think as it went all oily, but just on this side. The rest worked out just fine.
In some of these shots you can see just how well the Ultimate Dark dirt handled the panel lines and rivets.
I was really happy with that.

[URL=http://s1317.photobucket.com/user/Lord_ ... l.jpg.html]

So the rest is just the reveal, which will follow this post.

Post by **Filmman586** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:08 pm

looks great Michael!

Post by **Coen** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:13 pm

And here's the reveal.

[youtube]5Z29388My9Y[/youtube]

Post by **wappynutter** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 8:22 pm

Looking mighty fine to me Mike...

Well done Sir... The Pilot is excellent!
He is so life-like mate...

Well done again...

All the best...

Post by **Filmman586** » Mon Mar 09, 2015 10:57 pm

Awesome work Michael!

Post by **EasyEight96** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 12:39 am

That's so awesome!!!! I can't even make it so beautiful to that stage.

Post by **kiwigav** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 1:04 am

Very cool mike. Love the detail on the pilot

Post by **Goose** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:39 am

Very Nice Job on this plane.

When you say that real man build spitfire...do you mean that only pussies build armour...and especially Tiger???!!!

no, no not on the head please...Aaaaw

Goose

Post by **Coen** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:56 am

Hahaha!!!

Post by **JediBoer** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 6:30 pm

Damn, just love what you did with the pilot figure! That is one of the best looking pilot figures ever on the forum!

Post by **rodrant** » Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:37 pm

That Pilot ! Very good ! I agreed that is one of the best pilot figures I had ever see

oh , by the way the plane is also very nice too

Post by **Tangles** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:01 am

Very nice Spitfire mate and yes I agree with the others, excellent pilot!!

Post by **fly1ngdutchm4n** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 10:37 pm

Never build a Spitfire myself, seeing this I makes me want to build myself too.....

And man.... That pilot is looking amazing!
I hope my Arado is going to look as good as this!

Post by **Coen** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:41 am

Thanks Fellas.

and yes Frans... it will

Post by **billlarisa** » Wed Mar 25, 2015 11:02 pm

WOW

exactly like the real thing.. awesome work,, and the pilot is fantastic,,ready to fly.

Post by **Goose** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 4:23 pm

Hello Mike,

I was fooling at you about armoured stuffs, i just ordered a meng merkava and the same spit as you but in the tropical scheme....we're all the same, my girlfriend gonna tell me (once again) grow a bit you little boy!! And my answer is always the same...at least you Do know what to offer for birthday and easter and christmas no?!?

See u

Bruno

Post by **Coen** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:12 pm

I tell my wife that she never has to worry about me being out with my loser friends all night drinking and messing around with strange women.
Instead I hang out at my bench drinking too much coffee and shooting the shit with a bunch of wanker modeller's.
She says she much prefers the modeller's, but only because I know how to fix a toilet.

Post by **patrickroos** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:14 pm

Coen wrote:I tell my wife that she never has to worry about me being out with my loser friends all night drinking and messing around with strange women.
Instead I hang out at my bench drinking too much coffee and shooting the shit with a bunch of wanker modeller's.
She says she much prefers the modeller's, but only because I know how to fix a toilet.

+1

Post by **EricM** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:38 am

Great build Coen! Although i must respectfully disagree with your title, Real Men build CORSAIRS, lol

Post by **Coen** » Sun Nov 29, 2015 11:45 pm

Only after the operation,

Post by **Tangles** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 11:08 pm

Nice Spitty mate.