Airfix 02081/A02065 Spitfire mkIX hybrid.

[Telegraphist]

This is another project that I am currently working on. The main part is the old tooling 02081 MkIX spitfire but I have removed the small carburettor and replaced it with the bigger carburettor from the newer tooling of this kit. I have the decals from the new tooling to use for this machine, so a hybrid I shall call this build though most plastic is from the old tooling 02081 kit and the carburettor and decals are from the newer A02065 kit.
I also had to use undercarriage spares from a MkI spitfire and had to cut and shape them to fit this kit, the issued wheels from the old tooling LFIXb spitfire are well known to be not the best to use.
New carb installed.

Old carb

Hand painted the invasion D day stripes. Turned out better than expected.


Masking up


All I have to do is add the decals, varnish over, repair the broken blade from the propeller (again!!), and wire up the longwire twig, weathering and it finished. I shall depict this kit as being from the dogfight doubles kit, same markings as the aces kit but goes with the Bf110 kit on the mount. Not quite historically correct but could update the other fighter while I am at it if it gets that deep. The kit originally came from the A50036 dogfight doubles kit from Airfix, it is just 02081 doubled up with a Bf110, same decals basically.

Interesting details about the decals. The original decals are for the 'Aircraft of the aces' 02081 kit build but serial EN398 and markings JE@E for the pilot.
The A02065 markings are for the same pilot but with a different serial MK392 (therefore another Spitfire), with the bigger carburettor installed.
The pilot depicted is Wing commander Johnnie Edgar Johnston, hence the personal markings for both Spitfires, being LF.IXb spitfires I believe in both cases.

Please feel free to post up with any advice, ideas, or thoughts on how to make it a better build. Thank you for reading.
Dave.

[Paul]

Great job Dave, one thing I haven't built yet is a spit with invasion stripes, they look so good like that.

[Telegraphist]

Great job Dave, one thing I haven't built yet is a spit with invasion stripes, they look so good like that.

Thanks Paul, you can 'cheat' with the A02065 kit, they do issue invasion stripes decals, check to make sure as some kits do not have them for some reason. They are easy to paint in anyway, Tamiya tape is the exact size width wise to use for 1:72 kits, just cut to size. I had only a few small minor repairs to the paintwork to do after I removed the masking.
It is the first time also that I have applied the d day stripes to a plane, turned out way easier and better than I expected it.
Dave.

[Telegraphist]

Got the decals on this plane at last, been a while to get to this stage but all decals on, used Micro Sol to help get a better fit to the plastic, added the canopy, and the mast, just to paint the canopy and varnish over then weathering, maybe wire up a longwire later, just want to finish this old tool Spitfire and get finishing the other stuff on the bench.


Maybe tomorrow shall see the finish of this fighter, been a while since it was started.
Dave.

[Telegraphist]

Finally, the finished Spitfire, excuse the state of it, I have lost heart with the building, painting, and weathering, just want to finish it and get it out the road. Propeller keeps braking off, time to put it out the way where it will be left alone.





This is a old kit, just a few parts to glue together, not the best Spitfire produced by Airfix I feel. Just glad to have finished it and get on with new project.
Dave.

[Paul]

Nice one Dave, looks good mate, another one to add to your collection

[Telegraphist]

Nice one Dave, looks good mate, another one to add to your collection

Thanks Paul, I would normally do some age/weathering to my work, neaten up the paintwork, wire up aerials but I really have hit the wall with this project, just glad to have it finished. If I could be bothered, I would give it a few coats of varnish and bung it in the fish tank. Not my best work, just glad to have it out the way now.
Dave. (Lazy old git)

[Paul]

Nice one Dave, looks good mate, another one to add to your collection

Thanks Paul, I would normally do some age/weathering to my work, neaten up the paintwork, wire up aerials but I really have hit the wall with this project, just glad to have it finished. If I could be bothered, I would give it a few coats of varnish and bung it in the fish tank. Not my best work, just glad to have it out the way now.
Dave. (Lazy old git)

Ha ha yeah models can get hat way sometimes and you just want them finished.

Maybe a change of pace for your next one?

[Lee]

Go for something completely different outside of your comfort zone Dave. I find that usually re-envigourates my modelling mojo

[Telegraphist]

I have thought about trying something different and I went and bought a load of the small figures in 1:72 but that never sparked anything, I thought it would but not to be. It has mostly been fighters with a few small bombers and tanks that I have built so I thought I would try the scenery side with the Airfix plastic bases, I have allready built 2 RAF fighter pens, nearly finished them, just the details to the RAF ground crew figures left to do (pics shortly). I have enjoyed making the Luftwaffe North Africa diorama so far, but I cannot get the urge to paint these ground crew figures, I might even leave them out for now and add them later.

Maybe a complete break away from it all would help, say a week or two with nothing to do with the hobby, it worked before but will it work again? Maybe a change of scenery or change away from warfare might help, I have the beam engine kit but maybe for later, it just does not appeal right now. I do have plans and ideas about getting things done, some kits and figures do get an interest but that is all, no follow on to build them once I open the box. Maybe the old wildlife series of wild birds kits might help, but even they do not appeal to me right now. ( I do have an interest in wild birds too!).
What else is out there that I could try to get me 'over the wall' and back into the hobby again?

Thanks for taking an interest and trying to help out.
Dave.