Airfix 1:48 'Dogfight Doubles' Spitfire Mk.Vb & Bf109E

[BonsaiWarrior]

Hi guys,

I've just recently joined ISM having found it via the youtube channel.

I’m a returnee to the world of scale model making after 26 or so years.

I bought the Airfix ‘Dogfight Doubles’ box in 1:48 (the smallest scale I now want to work in) as a gentle way back into the hobby.





I don't particularly like the cheap plastic base so I will be treating these as two separate builds.
I started with the Messerschmitt, as I wanted to get all the experimentation out of the way before trying the Spitfire.

The Spitfire I will build with undercarriage down and canopy open.
I wanted to do something different for the Bf109E, so I’m going to have it just taking off with the undercarriage in the process of retracting, something like this;


So I've brush painted the cockpit and pilot, as I do not have an airbrush yet (but I've just ordered my Ultimate Apex).
I used a mixture of the tiny cute Humbrol pots that came with the kit, and my existing Citadel paints from Games Workshop (as I used to collect and paint Warhammer 40,000).
Assembled as much of the airframe as I can before painting:










I do seem to have an issue with the wing root fit though. When I dry fitted everything it all seemed fine, but now that the wings are glued together (but not glued to the fusalage) there is quite a pronounched step at the wing root:


I do have a question, I suppose for future builds...
The gunsight in the cockpit is a transparent part, which is partialy painted. However there is a moulding seem (split line) right down the middle of the section that is left unpainted.
My question is, how would I clean that up and still have the part transparent after cleaning?

This build will be quite slow, as I do not have my airbrush yet, and it will take me a few months to get it all set-up.
So I think I'll park the Bf109E for the time being and crack on with the Spitfire, again going as far as I can without an airbrush.

Thanks in advance for any advices offered.

[alextheblue]

Great work so far and I love the figure. You can always tell someone that is skilled at figure painting as skin tones at 48th scale isnt the easiest thing to achieve.

As for the seam line, I'm probably not the best one to answer this, but buffers and polishing compound with a soft rag is probably the best way to go. The thing is, once you've partially painted the sight, will you actually still see the seam?

Best of luck with it and welcome back!