Tamiya Spitfire MK XVIe

[Kaireckstadt]

Great looking Spitfire Peter. Can’t wait to see her move into the painting cabin. 

[Peterpools]

Thanks Kai, I'm pretty sure I finished all the final sanding and am doing the final cleanup and masking - then it's air brush time.

 

[KevinM]

Nice Peter I need to get back to the Mossie!

[Peterpools]

Thanks Kev. Oh, the Mossie - can't wait to see her back on your bench and underway. I built mine when the kit first came out and she is one of the gems of my collection.

  

 

[JohnB]

10 hours ago, Peterpools said:

Thanks Kev. Oh, the Mossie - can't wait to see her back on your bench and underway. I built mine when the kit first came out and she is one of the gems of my collection.

  

 

Great looking 'skeeter Peter! (No pun intended! LOL)

[Peterpools]

Thanks John

No question in my mind, the best 1/32nd aircraft scale kit Tamiya has made - just wish they would have continued with the Mossie series, but I guess the sales were just not there to go ahead with another version.

 

[JohnB]

39 minutes ago, Peterpools said:

Thanks John

No question in my mind, the best 1/32nd aircraft scale kit Tamiya has made - just wish they would have continued with the Mossie series, but I guess the sales were just not there to go ahead with another version.

 

I agree it's a great kit but I have to say I think the Corsairs, all 3 issues, are at least as good.

[Peterpools]

John

I've only built the single Mossie and I know you have most likely built more Tamiya Corsairs then anyone in the hobby, so your opinion goes a long, long way. Throw the Mustangs into the mix and they are all superb, but I still think I would cast my vote for the Mossie, just due to the complexity and groundbreaking engineering.

 

[JohnB]

11 minutes ago, Peterpools said:

John

I've only built the single Mossie and I know you have most likely built more Tamiya Corsairs then anyone in the hobby, so your opinion goes a long, long way. Throw the Mustangs into the mix and they are all superb, but I still think I would cast my vote for the Mossie, just due to the complexity and groundbreaking engineering.

 

Yes indeed the Mossie is a winner. As far as the Mustangs are concerned, I think they too are really good kits. The only "fly in the ointment" with them is the rivet patterns on the wings. Most '51's wings were coated (with epoxy I think) and the rivets weren't visible. Otherwise no problems.

[Peterpools]

John

Completely agree - those rivets just shouldn't be there.

 

[Peterpools]

IT’S PRIMING TIME

Hard to believe but the Spit has finally reached the paint shop and the crew is finishing preparing her for priming. Just prior to the paint shop, I completed the Merlin and the entire engine bearer assembly as far as I was going to go, keeping it OOB. What surprised me when I wanted to check out the Merlin engines I had previously built over the years to be consistent in finish, I was stunned to see that both of the previous Tamiya Spits, a Mk IXc and a Mk VIII both had their cowlings off and the engines completely exposed. So, this would be number three and the last Spit I would plan on building with the Merlin engine cowlings off.

As with all the previous seven Merlin’s I’ve built, the most delicate and finicky part is adding the copper cooling pipes to the engine bearers and then hoping they line up, attach to the coolant tank at the front of the engine later on in the assembly process and this Merlin was no different. After all this practice over the years, I felt quite lucky as the fit was pretty good. The next finger crossing part of the assembly is adding the cowling frames and their fit is precise and no wiggle room at all. Thank goodness for Tamiya’s awesome and accurate engineering, as both the right and left cowling frames went into place with just a bit of coaxing over two nights, with one side being taped in place and left to dry overnight and then the other side.

The air filter and oil tank were primed, air brushed with MRP Super Gloss Black paint and the NMF was Alclad Aluminum. For just two small parts, I didn’t feel like mixing up a small batch of either Tamiya Lacquer or Acrylic and thought I would give MRP Super Gloss Black straight out of the bottle a try – I was very impressed.

The Merlin is an excellent example that Tamiya kits have very tight tolerances of the parts and if the paint is not removed from the mating surfaces, there will be an alignment issue down the road. Just go slow and remember to remove the paint were needed and you are halfway home.

The Spitfire was wiped down with gauze and Isopropyl alcohol and then brushed with a Tamiya anti-static brush just prior to painting to help eliminate and minimize dust from being attracted to the model surface and trapped in the paint.   MRP Light Gray Primer was used and after letting the primer dry for a good few hours, a few seams showed they needed attention. All six leading edge wing inserts had some small issues and would need to be cleaned up a bit more. Surely looks like there will be filling and sanding going on in Mudville the next few days.

The main gear was primed, the oleo’s treated with Alclad Chrome and now drying. All four cowl sections were cleaned up, magnets CCA'd into place and the interior painted with MRP RAF Interior Green.

Thanks for checking in.

All the fastener holes have been drilled out and well worth the time as they add a lot to the overall effect. 

Interior engine cowl panels - painted MRP RAF Interior Green

One ugly canopy masking and primed

 

[JohnB]

Looking good!

[Peterpools]

Thanks John

Making progress and started to work on the few seams that have popped up. maybe in a few days otr by the end of the week, I'll have the Spit back in the paint shop and start the cammo color coats

 

[JohnB]

35 minutes ago, Peterpools said:

Thanks John

Making progress and started to work on the few seams that have popped up. maybe in a few days otr by the end of the week, I'll have the Spit back in the paint shop and start the cammo color coats

 

I look forward to that!

[Peterpools]

Thanks John

[GazzaS]

I always love your detail shots.  Such a pleasure to look at.  Between your painting and photography skills you've really nailed the ability to present well, consistently.

[Spitfire]

9 hours ago, GazzaS said:

I always love your detail shots.  Such a pleasure to look at.  Between your painting and photography skills you've really nailed the ability to present well, consistently.

What he said !

[DocRob]

I'm officially jealous Peter, not only for the perfect presentation of your progress, but even more, that you have a full crew at hand, only for preparing priming .

The engine and plumbing looks absolutely great, makes me want to build one as well.

Cheers Rob

[Peterpools]

Thank Gaz, so very much appreciated. I try to present my builds as best I can, high lightening the work being discussed for the update.

  

[Peterpools]

Thanks Dennis

A bit of post priming cleanup work and hopefully it's off to the paint shop.

 

[Peterpools]

Thanks Rob

It's so much easier having' the crew' do the prep work, so I can keep on building and making progress. 

Very much appreciate your comments on the presentation, engine and plumbing. Of the three, the plumbing on all the Merlin's has been the hardest to do but, in the end, is a real eye catcher. 😉

Of course, compared to your DoK, the Spit is pale in comparison.

 

 

 

[Bomber_County]

Makes my ham fisted attempts at this hobby look quite diabolical against your finish and presentation. Looking forward to the next stage……..

[Peterpools]

Thanks Phil for the very kind comments on my Spitfire build.  Just enjoy presenting build threads this way and I'm very lucky at my stage of the game, I can still paint without shaking too much.

 

  

[JohnB]

Glad to know I'm not the only ham-fisted klutz around here! LOL 😄

[Kaireckstadt]

Your  Mossie is really awesome Peter! I have one in my stash and yours is an inspiration for me.

The same applies for your Spitfire. Great progress, interesting description of what you are doing and perfect professional fotos. That’s why I love following your builds here.