Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire

[strawnobi]

IMG_4958 by Matt Strawn, on FlickrIMG_4957 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr

IMG_4955 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr

IMG_4953 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


IMG_4950 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


IMG_4949 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


IMG_4948 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr



IMG_4946 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


IMG_4945 by Matt Strawn, on Flickr
22089556_10214130818653725_369330573512783341_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr



22089193_10214130819173738_5762969728016792786_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr

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22195546_10214130819693751_6816002304198619673_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


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22195246_10214130818813729_1308207191817540535_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22089706_10214130823933857_5289793704408635798_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr



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22089653_10214130824173863_7613966330517492862_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


19511461_10214130822053810_3405516199500920522_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22089628_10214130819853755_5653578623320739625_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


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22089256_10214130825053885_5475787555176235824_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22089086_10214130822813829_3868365215760023235_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22089031_10214130820253765_8566813553751529270_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22090001_10214130825853905_7480023331966137113_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr

22141290_10214130825093886_4466076265770896251_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr




22141031_10214130823013834_8891844064037255389_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr

22141294_10214130820853780_9092384664879307475_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr

22154147_10214130821093786_654420869487833779_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr



22196240_10214130824813879_3421177354610835206_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22154599_10214130822133812_1375805728791957582_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr


22154564_10214130824733877_2542066510609600716_n by Matt Strawn, on Flickr





I completed this build before I did the Camel. The Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire. This build is a little challenging. But the fit is beautiful. The only real tricky fit issues are as follows:

1. The frame work around the engine needs to be just right so the cowls fit correctly. So take your time in assembling the engine. Be very careful about any wire work you do as to not interfere with the frame. I added some of the ignition wiring and that's it.

2. The other tricky part is gluing the metal rods in the control surfaces as there are tiny photo etch parts. But again, take your time and it will go fine.

I painted the Spit using the Mr. Color RAF paint set for Middle-late period. I chose to pre-shade it. I also panted some browns in the pre shading to give a little more depth. The camo was masked using Tamiya Bendy tape and masking tape. Other various colors were used as well.

I also painted the figures and mounted them on wood blocks that I painted and shaded also.

The real fun of this build was that I painted the roundels and stripes. I found a tutorial on YouTube. I made the masks using a cutting compass. The roundels on the side are about 95 percent of what I was aiming for.

Note: I realize the pitot is on the wrong side. I will fix it one of these days. I've just been too lazy.

This was a blast to build and paint. I hope you enjoy the photos and that of the Camel. Cheers and happy modeling from Japan!!

Matt

[Kevthemodeller]

Very nice build mate very nice

[Twokidsnosleep]

Oh Wow, that displays very nicely
Lovely job

[Vindicare]

nice!

[WallyInStittsville]

Brilliant rendition of Johnny Johnson's ride. That engine detail is just too beautiful to keep covered up!

[xgrumpy1x]

Nice work there.
I finished this kit late last year. It's a fanastic bit of plastic although the decals are a modelling 'challenge!'

[strawnobi]

Nice work there.
I finished this kit late last year. It's a fanastic bit of plastic although the decals are a modelling 'challenge!'

I painted the roundels and stripes because of the decal's reputation. It's a bit of a challenging process but worth the effort. Thank you for your comment.

[sheppsea]

A beautiful piece

[strawnobi]

A beautiful piece

Thank you so much!!

[DrSprue]

Wow thats nice. Love the engine work you did on that plane too.

[ElCapitan]

Brilliant work!

[demarcation]

Great work. Looks superb!!

[strawnobi]

Thanks for the kind comments gents!! You guys are the best. I figured is was about time I built a Spit considering it seems to be standard repetoire amongst modeler's these days.

[DrSprue]

To me aircraft like Spitfires or Mustangs or .... will never be standard to me! Love seeing them all the time.

[strawnobi]

To me aircraft like Spitfires or Mustangs or .... will never be standard to me! Love seeing them all the time.

I agree with what you say. I had never built a spit prior to this other than a guillows kit when I was young. And it seems everybody builds one and a BF 109 at some point. Nothing boring about it at all. It's a special bird. But, it's a great build for teaching a lot of standard techniques and that was what I was getting at.

[DrSprue]

Oh I agree totally as well strawnobi. I was not being critical at all what so-ever. Man that Spitfire is truly awesome! When I thought about it (like the BF 109) and all of it really, man all of those flying birds we all love so much is just great. Aircraft, Rockets.. anything that fly's is and always will be amazing to me. Yea me too with a bit of guillows stuff (hmm seems most of my hobby was balsa) and Ive never made a spit as well, I just love them.... all of those winged wonders. Still working on my Hurricane and I have my eye on my BF110 in my stash as well.. gotta do more styrene! haha!

To add in more about your build.. outstanding bud!

[Stokesy44]

Beautiful work mate. Great effort all round.

I made one of these before I got into airbrushing and using modern methods and products. I have another in the stash now, if I can make it look anywhere near as good as yours then I'll be well chuffed.

[strawnobi]

Beautiful work mate. Great effort all round.

I made one of these before I got into airbrushing and using modern methods and products. I have another in the stash now, if I can make it look anywhere near as good as yours then I'll be well chuffed.

It's a great 1/32 from Tamiya. I will say I recommend going with aftermarket decals or buy pre-cut masks for the roundels. I did mention this above but this was my first real attempt at it. I did used masks for my zero and liked the result. I made my own masks but it's difficult to be precise enough even with a cutting compass. But it is worth the effort. I've built one each of the big four 1/32 kits and they are all fun. The most complicated is probably the Corsair and I want to build that one again in the pacific version that was released awhile back.

[strawnobi]

Oh I agree totally as well strawnobi. I was not being critical at all what so-ever. Man that Spitfire is truly awesome! When I thought about it (like the BF 109) and all of it really, man all of those flying birds we all love so much is just great. Aircraft, Rockets.. anything that fly's is and always will be amazing to me. Yea me too with a bit of guillows stuff (hmm seems most of my hobby was balsa) and Ive never made a spit as well, I just love them.... all of those winged wonders. Still working on my Hurricane and I have my eye on my BF110 in my stash as well.. gotta do more styrene! haha!

To add in more about your build.. outstanding bud!

You mentioned building balsa stuff. I've got about 20 years of R/C aircraft experience prior to moving to Japan in 2008. I miss it terribly. But there is nothing like building a box of sticks and planks and turning it into a functioning aircraft!!! I visit the local club here in Japan every once in awhile when the weather is decent. Maybe I'll get back into it this year with a small electric plane or something.

[DrSprue]

Yup so true with flying them strawnobi, with me R/C aircraft for many (many) years as well, Rocket clubs, even was a member of a Helicopter club too and we all just beat the hell of of the air (vertically) for hours! Yup made hundreds of flying rockets from the scout all the way to the Saturn 5 1/100th scale. I still have this small spitfire in my stash too! Balsa and cardboard followed me all my life, as well as styrene more now tho. Its all just fun.

[strawnobi]

Yup so true with flying them strawnobi, with me R/C aircraft for many (many) years as well, Rocket clubs, even was a member of a Helicopter club too and we all just beat the hell of of the air (vertically) for hours! Yup made hundreds of flying rockets from the scout all the way to the Saturn 5 1/100th scale. I still have this small spitfire in my stash too! Balsa and cardboard followed me all my life, as well as styrene more now tho. Its all just fun.

I flew model rockets when I was a kid as well. I built quite a few of them but quit when I got into R/C. I grew up in Colorado and the Estes company is based out of Penrose, Colorado. They are definitely one of my first loves in the hobby. One of my favorites was the Der V-3. I have many stories from flying them as well as R/C. Your photo is the kit I remember building. Very cool!!!

[DrSprue]

So cool about Estes strawnobi. To me as a kid (and even now) Verne Estes gave us so much cool stuff back in the day. I think 90 percent of my builds were all Estes. A few that were OK was MPC, Quest and Centuri, but Estes made them a bit better. Yup did make the V-3 once. I loved that one too. It was a really a well balanced rocket. I made quite a few V-2's tho. Estes had some very real looking ones as well. I still have quite a few in my stash and hope to do that soon too, even if I am a bit older.. hehe!

[strawnobi]

So cool about Estes strawnobi. To me as a kid (and even now) Verne Estes gave us so much cool stuff back in the day. I think 90 percent of my builds were all Estes. A few that were OK was MPC, Quest and Centuri, but Estes made them a bit better. Yup did make the V-3 once. I loved that one too. It was a really a well balanced rocket. I made quite a few V-2's tho. Estes had some very real looking ones as well. I still have quite a few in my stash and hope to do that soon too, even if I am a bit older.. hehe!

I got into it because my brother built some when he was in High School. I had the mean machine. I'm trying to remember. I think that one was 6 ft. tall. My next door neighbor built the space shuttle kit but never launched it. Another one of my favorites that I built a couple times was the nimbus. Incidentally I loved the pig German decals that were on the Der V-3. But anyway, we used to launch them in the field across the street from my house and I've got some fun stories about our adventures. What was sad to me was when Estes started producing all of the pre-built rockets because again building and flying something with your own two hands is so rewarding. I still prefer building R/C aircraft that way to someone who just buys pre built.

My father and brother started flying R/C in the seventies and so when My Brother got back into it in the late 80's I couldn't resist. Started flying when I was 14. It's really my true love in the hobby. But I credit model rocketry for teaching me a lot about patience and building.

[pitbuilder]

Great job love the weathering