Clear the Bench! It's Kotare Spitfire time!

[GazzaS]

12 minutes ago, Peterpools said:

PW

Absolutely will be building the new Revell Hurricane and it's on its way right now. Just hard to believe how some manufactures can get parts to fit correctly straight out of the box and others can't. For my money, I really don't derive a lot of satisfaction from fixing part fit ... it's just not what I enjoy. 

 

If you were a 109 builder, you'd really be enjoying playing the angle game.  Because the angles aren't consistent from mark to mark due to continuous weight increases.  I've used a lot of different things to hold those gear in place as they dry.  And often still had to make final adjustments once the glue had set.  Just love that the fit on this spit is more rigid than a drill instructor's spine.

[GazzaS]

Well...   

 

The last detail to finish in the cockpit was to add the shiny glass pieces over each gauge.

 

An enlarged view for those that like enlarged things...

 

I used that clear resin that hardens under UV light to make the effect.

 

Anyway...    after all of that hard work in the cockpit...   including rigging the flying controls with Ushci type stretchy line...  I hid it all by buttoning up the cockpit tub and added the fuselage around it.

 

 

 

 

The cockpit tub fit neatly and went together easily.  Rigging the flight controls was a pain, and is virtually invisible.  But since it's been over 40 years since my last spit...  why not?

 

I'm a little uncertain how to proceed with the dorsal piece.

See the slight gap as it nears the canopy?  That can be squeezed tight and held in place long enough for the Extra Thin to dry.  However...   all of that raised detail...   I'm afraid that I'll ruin it with the capillary action of the glue.  There is one locator inside, but I don't think gluing it alone will be strong enough.

 

How would you do it?

[BlrwestSiR]

The IP looks fantastic. The UV gel over the instrument faces really works out nicely. 

I wasn't sure about the moulded seatbelts at first but they look great from the way you've done them. 

As for the seam, I'd hold the parts together and then apply a small drop of Tamiya Extra thin by the end of the join where the canopy is. Another option is a small dab of thin CA in the same spot. Any excess could be wiped off with CA removed.

[BlrwestSiR]

If you Tamiya Extra Thin Quick Set, that would be another option. It'll flash off and not melt as much. 

[Jeff]

Can you thin the spine piece a bit on the inside to help lessen the gap?As I am assuming it is hanging up on another internal piece ?

[Peterpools]

Gaz

Awesome front office and so glad the Kotare Spit is so far everything we expected. I just posted the last update for the Revell Spitfire and am very curious as to how the two will look side by side in the display case. finished 

[Martinnfb]

She's looking really good Gary, your model building magic is clearly apparent, waiting for the next update.

 

[PanzerWomble]

Looking good , I'd go CA to hold as well . 

[GazzaS]

Well, what started as interesting surface detail coupled with an innovative way of dealing with the dorsal seam has put me into a bit of a conundrum.  

Here is a diagram to illustrate the way the parts are made and fit.  It is not to scale.

You can see that the fuselage halves are beveled down to a flat area on the interior of the fuselage. while E7, the Dorsal spine has flat mating surfaces.  I took some photos to illustrate the parts, but the bevel isn't very easy to see.  I have used white arrows to help make the bevel easier to find.

 

On the first attempt I followed some advice about using CA to tack an area down, then glue the rest with Tamiya Extra Thin Quick Setting.  I followed through, and used a bit of PPP to fill the seam, but wasn't happy with the result.   ...I tested it with a little gray paint to see what it would look like painted.

I wasn't happy with the result.  Sure, it looks like a panel line.  But it's the only one there.  If the rest of the fuselage had panel lines, it would fit in.  But now it sticks out like a sore thumb.  

So, I ripped it off.

And after a day of thinking, I decided to deal with the beveled area and see if I can get a better fit.  I used some Evergreen strip to fill the bevel and give a completely flat surface in hopes of a better fit.

And then I reattached the dorsal spine E7.  And then filled the seam with PPP and removed the excess.  And then painting it gray.

 

It doesn't look any different. 

So, now I have to decide whether to leave it as it is...   or come up with another way.  There is no other way to fill that seam that I can think of that won't involve ruining the rivets.  The only other solution coming to mind at this very moment is to strip the rivets off, fill the seam and then contemplate:  

a.  No rivets, no panel lines.

b.  replacing the rivets with HGW surface rivets which are much smaller.

c.  Inscribing panel lines and adding HGW rivets.

Any ideas?

 

 

 

 

 

[Peterpools]

Gaz

I'm looking at a brand new, unbuilt Tamiya Spitfire Mk IXc still in the part bags and the fuselage has both panel lines and very delicate rivets. 

The sides have panel lines and the very delicate rivets run through the panels, along the fuselage, not next to any of the panel lines and none vertically. The upper fuselage seam that you have been working on is just a well scribed panel line on the Tamiya kit, with rivets only along the inside edge of the rear, long panel line and where it steps up; no rivets along that portion of the panel line. 

I'm not a Spitfire expert, so I have no idea who is right. When I build my Kotare Spitfire, I'm not going to worry about the rivets and the panel lines and build it as Kotare intended. 

 

 

 

[GazzaS]

39 minutes ago, Peterpools said:

Gaz

I'm looking at a brand new, unbuilt Tamiya Spitfire Mk IXc still in the part bags and the fuselage has both panel lines and very delicate rivets. 

The sides have panel lines and the very delicate rivets run through the panels, along the fuselage, not next to any of the panel lines and none vertically. The upper fuselage seam that you have been working on is just a well scribed panel line on the Tamiya kit, with rivets only along the inside edge of the rear, long panel line and where it steps up; no rivets along that portion of the panel line. 

I'm not a Spitfire expert, so I have no idea who is right. When I build my Kotare Spitfire, I'm not going to worry about the rivets and the panel lines and build it as Kotare intended. 

 

 

 

Thanks, Peter.  I'm going to leave it as it is and continue.

[rjones]

Gaz,

I pulled mine out and dry fitted the 2 fuselage halves with the spine. I had about half the gap near the cockpit as you had. I did not install the internal frames. It may have been a combination of some paint where the frames meet the fuselage ( as someone else observed WNW kits had some tight tolerances) and/or a bit more "warp" in the spine. For what it's worth, it doesn't look that bad-I know you're not happy with it but as you said, time to move on. On a happy note, those of us who haven't started the kit will benefit from your experience 🙄.

 Keep going, It's looking good!

v/r,

Rob

[Peterpools]

36 minutes ago, GazzaS said:

Thanks, Peter.  I'm going to leave it as it is and continue.

Gaz

Best way to go and when your Spit is done, she will look awesome.

 

[Peterpools]

Rob

Sure, seems like the best approach as for me. it's the overall look and feel of the model when done that's important. I get a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment looking at my completed builds in the display case.

 

[GazzaS]

OK...     some enquiring minds minds wanted to know how the Malcolm hood fit in the open position.

The answer is...   like a dream.  Just dry fitted here...

The windscreen seems to want pressing down to fit perfectly.  I got a little paint on the joint, so I'll remove that before I begin sanding.

and the engine covers and armored fuel covers...  all sweet.

And finally...   a solid clear reflector sight.  with no seam running down the middle.

I painted a thin layer of clear green around the outside of the glass reticle to give some depth.  But my crappy photography kind of nullified the effect.

More thoughtful workmanship by Kotare. 

[Peterpools]

WOW - love the way the Malcolm hood fits ... the Kotare Spit sure looks like a winner🏆

[BlrwestSiR]

Great progress Gary. Interesting in that the fuselage has that bevelled edge. I wonder if that's a result of the moulding process. 

To me, the fit you've achieved seems ok. The canopy looks impressive in its fit too.

[CANicoll]

On 3/17/2023 at 11:30 PM, GazzaS said:

G'day!

    The would-be Kotare Spitfire builder will have to place 49 decals into the cockpit before they can weather it.  The decals are wonderfully thin and perfectly in register.  They also lay in very well and conform to surfaces easily...  unlike Tamiya or Hasegawa's.  Some are very tiny though, so my hat's off to anyone who can avoid losing any.  I lost two, both of which were the size of an average comma. 

 

I found a tiny mistake in the directions.  It involves the placement of the large compass decal 142.  They accidentally  tell you to put 141 in that location.   Fortunately, I had already placed 141 in the correct position.  

 

These pictures aren't very good.  But I wanted to show the decals before I weather the pit.

 

Gary,  This is amazing work!  Great job and making me want to try and afford the kit!  Super work and great pictures.  Thanks!!

[PanzerWomble]

9 hours ago, GazzaS said:

OK...     some enquiring minds minds wanted to know how the Malcolm hood fit in the open position.

The answer is...   like a dream.  Just dry fitted here...

The windscreen seems to want pressing down to fit perfectly.  I got a little paint on the joint, so I'll remove that before I begin sanding.

and the engine covers and armored fuel covers...  all sweet.

And finally...   a solid clear reflector sight.  with no seam running down the middle.

I painted a thin layer of clear green around the outside of the glass reticle to give some depth.  But my crappy photography kind of nullified the effect.

More thoughtful workmanship by Kotare. 

That looks a good close fit , but without wishing to be a git , you know it's on backwards in those shots ?

[PanzerWomble]

Re the spine - for me I'd just fill it.

It will be covered with markings and won't  be noticable post paint. Certainly doesn't draw the eye even at this stage unless you're a Spit rivet watcher . 

[CANicoll]

2 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

That looks a good close fit , but without wishing to be a git , you know it's on backwards in those shots ?

This is something I would do!!  LOL

[GazzaS]

11 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

That looks a good close fit , but without wishing to be a git , you know it's on backwards in those shots ?

No need to worry...   somebody else already point it out at TOS.

[PanzerWomble]

Just now, GazzaS said:

No need to worry...   somebody else already point it out at TOS.

That's a low blow 🤣

[GazzaS]

11 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

Re the spine - for me I'd just fill it.

It will be covered with markings and won't  be noticable post paint. Certainly doesn't draw the eye even at this stage unless you're a Spit rivet watcher . 

I already filled it with perfect plastic putty.

[GazzaS]

Just now, PanzerWomble said:

That's a low blow 🤣

I did reiterate that it was only my second spit since 1978.