Airfix 1/48 PR XIX Spitfire

[Stokesy44]

After my brief dip into armour I'm back among my winged brethren with another of Airfix's new tool Spits. Always been a bit of a Merlin fan but the Mk 17 Seafire showed me what a beautiful bird a Griffon Spit can be.



The 2 versions offered are post-war and I wanted mine to be part of the 39-45 era. I bought some Xtradecals which offer a couple of nice versions including a D-day stripe for the bold. Also bought a Yahu instrument panel as the kit doesn't come with a decal or any PE. Finally, also using a resin seat and harness from Ultracast. Beautiful little seats that come in pairs, already used one on my Seafire.


Plastic looks nice and there's nothing weird about how it all goes together. Obligatory sprue shots.




First up was the instrument panel. Sanded it flat then added the PE. Result looks quite nice, I think. There's also a nice PE compass to add once the paint is down.


Super glued the Ultracast seat on to the armour plate. Drilled out the frame too although I doubt it will be seen as the PR version has no cockpit door. As mentioned, the seat's lovely, up close the detail is awesome.


Cut off the rudder pedals. They were solid blobs that looked like the business end of a spade. Awful. Replacement effort is not much better but will look less heinous after painting.


Hope to get the cockpit done today but you never know. Laters All.

[Ridgerunner]

Fine work so far. The instrument panel and seat look spot on! Yahu is new to me but it looks a very nice panel.

[Stokesy44]

Fine work so far. The instrument panel and seat look spot on! Yahu is new to me but it looks a very nice panel.

Thanks Ridgerunner. I picked the instrument panel because it was a stand alone offering, I didn't want all the other stuff you get when the panel comes as part of an upgrade set. I'm tight you see!

[Stokesy44]

Progress has been slow. Family member has been unwell so my attention has been somewhat diverted. Still, things are brighter now and I managed a bit of kit on Friday. Painted and glued in the cockpit as follows.








Cameras are done, only painted the ends because I'm not opening the hatches - you cant see anything else. A blob of Kristal Klear on the lenses and they look ok through the fuselage glass.

Wings are done with the radiators and ailerons. Wings went together beautifully, the Ailerons were a bit of a faff. Why they're separate pieces I don't know. No one seems to position them so its just an extra bit to do!





The dry fit of the fuselage and wings looks good so that's next up - whenever that is

[tferedo]

Good start and cockpit looks really great. Looking forward to see more progress.

[Stokesy44]

Got some more work done.

Realigned the rads as they had 'popped' after gluing. School boy error.



Drilled out the exhausts - fiddly but well worth it come painting time.



Putting it all together. No real fit problems. Needed a little filler here and there but the fit is lovely.









Filling and sanding pretty much done






Windshield and canopy were very nice fits and once masked, were glued on ready for spraying. Canopy will be in the closed position as it just looks wrong when slid back. way too thick.



Ready for priming, pre-shading and painting. I used this paint on my PR Mossie and it came out a little dark. I'll mix in a touch of white and see how we go. Luvly jubly



Hope to lay down some paint over the weekend - hopefully

[mincemeat]

This looks really nice! Great work, I'm going to have to consider picking this kit up. I think I've been bitten by a Spitfire bug.

[Stokesy44]

This looks really nice! Great work, I'm going to have to consider picking this kit up. I think I've been bitten by a Spitfire bug.

Hi Mincemeat. Thanks for the comments and I know how you feel about the old Spitfire. This is my 3rd Airfix Spit since coming back to the hobby. So far I've done the Mk1 and one of the Seafires. Lovely new tool kits and they go together like clockwork. Decals are great too. I only bought after-market decals for the PR bird because I wanted to do a wartime subject. Nothing wrong with those found in the box. Good value too.

Love the Hurricane too - the Airfix new tool job is a peach as well.

Cheers

[Stokesy44]

Things are moving along nicely now.

Covered the camera windows with Microscale Kristal Klear



Then onto priming and finally the Pru Blue






Changed the paint to Vallejo, didn't realise I had this and it looks spot on to me!
Tidied up the leading edges of the wings and tailplane post picture.



Ran out of time today, so the Klear coat goes on tomorrow

[patrickroos]

Looks like a really nice build so far!!
Very clean and crisp build and the paintwork looks awesome.
My only challenge with this one was the wing root gap, my gap was a little bigger (interesting).

[Stokesy44]

Looks like a really nice build so far!!
Very clean and crisp build and the paintwork looks awesome.
My only challenge with this one was the wing root gap, my gap was a little bigger (interesting).

Hi Patrick, thanks for the encouragement. As for the wing root, I glued the wings on in the 'stressed' position with the wingtips being pushed upward and pulled towards the fuselage, that took care of the gap on both sides, only a tiny amount of filler was then needed.

[patrickroos]

Looks like a really nice build so far!!
Very clean and crisp build and the paintwork looks awesome.
My only challenge with this one was the wing root gap, my gap was a little bigger (interesting).

Hi Patrick, thanks for the encouragement. As for the wing root, I glued the wings on in the 'stressed' position with the wingtips being pushed upward and pulled towards the fuselage, that took care of the gap on both sides, only a tiny amount of filler was then needed.

Ok, good to know (my kit was normal then), well I did not, hurried it a bit a had to take the filler route...

Yours would look great in the Swedish crown markings now in PRU blue and all...

[Stokesy44]

Ok, good to know (my kit was normal then), well I did not, hurried it a bit a had to take the filler route...

Yours would look great in the Swedish crown markings now in PRU blue and all...

I followed the link and checked out your version with the Swedish markings. If I copied you I fear my effort would come a distant second

I'll slap some good old RAF roundels on her and see how I go

[Stokesy44]

After the painting I applied a coat of future then on went the decals. They went on like a dream!

Another future coat then on with a dark pastel wash. Wiped off with a very damp cloth as I didn't want to dirty the kit up too much. I wanted the panel lines and a bit of streaking / discolouring but nothing more. Aded some brown stain for exhaust and washed down the wheels for dirt. Here's the final result.














Really enjoyed this one. Next up is a change of pace. Off to the Star Wars SIG with a Snowspeeder

[mincemeat]

Beautifully done sir, beautifully done!

[Stokesy44]

Beautifully done sir, beautifully done!

Thanks Mincemeat! Starting to love those Griffon powered birds. Gorgeous but deadly.

[patrickroos]

Excellent!!!

[Stokesy44]

Excellent!!!

Thanks mate

[Avgas]

That's an absolute peach. Just bought the 19 and if it turns out anything like that I will be very happy.

[PhotoPhil]

It has now given me an interest in starting the one that is in the box on my bench...it looks a really nice build so far...

Phil

[Stokesy44]

It has now given me an interest in starting the one that is in the box on my bench...it looks a really nice build so far...

Phil

Thanks guys, Airfix have really hit the mark with their new 1/48 series releases. There are more expensive offerings out there (Eduard...) but these things are just a joy to make.

I'm hoping for another Hurricane from them soon, given what was on the sprues in their mark 1 release we may be seeing a Sea Hurricane!

Next up for me is a 1/48 Corsair from Tamiya, after I finish off my Bandai Star Wars AT-ST walker!

[Avgas]

Which Corsair is it, the one with the Moto Tug?

[Willem]

Very very nice. I agree with you on the state of most of the Airfix new toolings. Have you tried the Seafire?

[Stokesy44]

Which Corsair is it, the one with the Moto Tug?

Hi Avgas, no its the F4U-1A, kit number 61070 https://d26qn1y84zs32g.cloudfront.net/t ... A61070.jpg

Bit too pricey and I'm not yet ready to get into a diorama. First diorama effort for me will probably be an armour subject with a bespoke base I can paint, you know the kind, road track over broken ground with a bit of broken wall in the corner etc.

[Stokesy44]

Very very nice. I agree with you on the state of most of the Airfix new toolings. Have you tried the Seafire?

Thanks Willem. As for the new Seafire - yes indeed I have. Loved it. Have a look at the gallery entry for my attempt.

http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 45&t=13319