1/48 Airfix Supermarine Spitfire MK XII.

[plasmahal]

1/48 Airfix Supermarine Spitfire MK XII.

Background:


Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII (type 366)

The Mk XII was the first Spitfire powered by a Griffon engine to go into service. The first of 100 Supermarine-built production aircraft started appearing in October 1942; two RAF squadrons in total were equipped with the XII. Mk XIIs were manufactured from Mk VC and Mk VIII airframes: early production aircraft had the fixed tail wheels, Dunlop AH2061 pattern "five spoke" mainwheels and small elevator balances. They had a single 85 gal main fuel tank, giving a short range of little over 380 miles (610 km) on internal fuel. All were fitted with the larger, pointed tip rudder. The last 45 or so Mk XIIs, were based on Mk VIIIs with two wing fuel tanks, each containing a maximum fuel load of 14 gal, and featured the larger horn balances, retractable tailwheel and undercarriage legs with torque-links, "dished" leg fairings and the stronger Dunlop AH10019 four spoke wheels. The wheels were occasionally fitted with disc-style covers. A later model IFF was fitted, replacing the aerials from the tail plane tip to fuselage with a rod aerial under the starboard wing. Another important feature of the Griffon-engine Spitfires was the entirely flush-riveted finish which was progressively introduced on all Spitfires.
The single-stage Griffon engine (II or IV) gave the aircraft superb low and medium level performance, although the Mk XII's performance declined at higher altitudes: because of this all production aircraft had "clipped" wings. In comparative tests with a Mk IX it was 14 mph (23 km/h) faster at sea level, but above 20,000 ft (6,100 m) it had become slower. Handling, however, was considered to be better than previous Spitfire marks, and the clipped wings conferred excellent manoeuvrability through enhanced aileron response.
At low altitude it was one of the fastest aircraft in the world; in one speed trial, held at Farnborough in July 1942 DP845 (now referred to as the Mk XII) piloted by Jeffrey Quill raced ahead of a Hawker Typhoon and a captured Focke-Wulf Fw 190, to the amazement of the dignitaries present.
On reflection the general scheme became clear. The Spitfire was to be a sort of datum pacemaker - 'Mr Average Contemporary Fighter' - and its job would be to come in last, the real excitement of the proceedings being by how much it would be beaten by the FW 190 and the Typhoon, and which of these two bright stars would beat the other and by how much. Outside on the tarmac at Worthy Down stood the inoffensive-looking but highly potent DP485 ...
All went according to plan until, when we were about halfway between Odiham and Farnborough and going flat out, I was beginning to overhaul the FW 190 and the Typhoon. Suddenly I saw sparks and black smoke coming from the FW 190's exhaust ... and I shot past him and never saw him again. I was also easily leaving the Typhoon behind and the eventual finishing order was, first the Spitfire, second the Typhoon, third the FW 190. This was precisely the opposite result to that expected, or indeed intended. It certainly put the cat among the pigeons and among the VIPs.


However pilots found it difficult to exploit this advantage in combat as German pilots were reluctant to be drawn into dogfights with Spitfires of any type below 20,000 feet (6,100 m). When the Mk XII was able to engage in combat it was a formidable fighter and several Fw 190s and Bf 109-Gs fell victim to it.[19] The Mk XII's speed advantage at lower altitudes again became useful near the end of its front line service in Summer 1944, in which it shot down a respectable number of V-1 Flying Bombs, 82.5[20] The Mk XII variant was retired in September 1944.


Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermari ... ype_366.29

Box, Sprues and aftermarket shots.

[Willem]

Nice one. Love the Mk XII and have a couple stashed away so will follow your build with interest.

Lovely bit of history too. I'd not come across that speed trial story before.

[plasmahal]

Update One



As usual, the build starts off with the cockpit. There is quite a bit of work in removing plastic according to the Eduard photo etch instructions.



The majority of the plain brass photo etch that needed painting was added to the cockpit sidewalls.



The instrument panel, seat, rear frames and controls were updated with PE.









Once all the PE that needed painting was fitted, they were primed with black Stynylrez and then with Tamiya XF-71 cockpit green.

This was all then gloss coated and given a pin wash of grimy oil.

Then the rest of the cockpit PE was added.





























Just need to do a clean up and final check before the two fuselage halves go together.

[Avgas]

Looking great so far.

[plasmahal]

Update Two

A big update this time round.

With the cockpit all finished up, it time to move on with assembly and get the cockpit fitted in to the fuselage.

Test fitting helped here as the addition of PE made some areas a little tight fitting so some sanding was needed.

Once the fuselage was together, any gaps were filled with styrene filler and left to cure for at least 24hrs.

Then the sanding and re-filling ensued until I was happy. A check with some black paint show the seams to be
acceptable.




Assembly continued with out any major dramas with the wings being added, the prop and spinner assembly made up and the PE being added to the exhausts and undercarriage legs. Canopies were masked and attached with canopy glue.



Painting started with STYNYLREZ grey primer. I lightly sanded the primer coat and then did some panel line pre-shading.






The underside was then painted with thinned layers of Tamiya Xf-83 Medium Sea Grey. This was then weathered by adding a little of Tamiyas XF-2 white and XF-57 Buff. This was applied to the centres of panels.



The top side camo pattern work started with Tamiya XF-82 Ocean grey RAF. This was masked off for the other colour,
XF-81 dark green RAF.



The prop tips were painted XF-4 yellow and masked off then sprayed with XF-85 rubber black. The props were masked
and then spinner painted XF-21 sky and also the tail stripe was added with XF-21 sky.

The undercarriage legs were painted with model air silver.

[Stokesy44]

That cockpit is superb. Love all that wiring. The detail parts make the controls really pop. Superb work for a 1/48 job.

Painting's not too shabby either!

[Stokesy44]

That cockpit is superb. Love all that wiring. The detail parts make the controls really pop. Superb work for a 1/48 job.

Painting's not too shabby either!

[plasmahal]

Update Three

Prior to the decals being applied, I gloss coated with Alclad Aqua Gloss and left to cure for at least 24hrs.

Decals were applied using Microsol set and sol and the another coat of Alclad Aqua Gloss was applied.

[Avgas]

This looking superb.

[Cymru]

Stonking job!

[Stokesy44]

Tis a thing of beauty Sir.

Great stuff

[Richp1969]

Great looking build. Absolutely fantastic. The cockpit detail is out of this world.
What did you use to tape off for the camouflage design?
It almost looked like gum or something of that consistency.

Great job!


Sincerely,

Richard

[Cymru]

What did you use to tape off for the camouflage design?

It's White Tack. The less sticky cousin of Blue Tack.

[plasmahal]

Great looking build. Absolutely fantastic. The cockpit detail is out of this world.
What did you use to tape off for the camouflage design?
It almost looked like gum or something of that consistency.

Great job!


Sincerely,

Richard

Thanks.

I used white tack worms and washi tape for the camo masking.

[AndreFerro]

Awesome job, man !!
Congrats!

[Willem]

Beautiful Hotrod Spit. Really classy build.

[Always48]

very nice, i need to build a spitfire now seeing this

[e4rly1982]

looking great.

[plasmahal]

Update Four

The decals were sealed with another coat of alclad aqua gloss.

Once cured, i used a pin wash made of raw umber oil paint and some low odour thinners.
This was added to the panel lines and recesses.
Any excess was cleaned up with a cotton bud dampened with thinners.
Once the oil paint had dried another coat of aqua gloss was aded for the next weathering phase.

[Avgas]

Pin wash came out great particularly on the underside.

[Stokesy44]

Very nice. Love those big Griffon Spits.

[plasmahal]

Update Five

For the rest of the weathering i used similar technique to dot filtering and blended different oil paints with low odour thinners.

Once that was cleaned up, it was all sealed with some vallejo matt varnish.






I added all the U/C parts, flaps and aerials. Cockpit was unmasked and the door attached with canopy glues.

A few touch ups here and there and the Spitfire is basically done. I'm now working on the grassy base for it.

[demarcation]

Awesome work mate!!

[NorthernModeller]

Stunning work. well done

[plasmahal]

Update Six

The final detail touches have been added.

For the base I used a picture frame with the glass removed and the hardboard backing glued in.

Then this was masked and filled with wall filler and left to dry. Then this was painted with a dark earth colour.

Then I used some mixed earth flocking and some static grass for the airfield look.

[Timmie]

Lovely job. That's one stunning spit.

Grtz Arjan

[ambientdan]

Wowsers, that's a lovely thing

[ArmouredSprue]

Looking nice!

I'm doing one of this myself but will do on the other paint scheme.
Regards

[sheppsea]

This looks amazing - especially the cockpit