repeater Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Hi all, time to get started on the Spitfire GB. After waiting patiently (to no avail) for Tamiya to release a Mk. V, I've decided to make my own. The old Hasegawa kit is fine for its age, but was not released as a Mk.Vc, and the Hobbyboss Mk.Vb has a few issues. What better starting point than the Tamiya Mk.IXc? After all, the first Mk.IX's were converted from the Mk.V airframe. I'm building a Spitfire Mk.Vc Trop - I haven't decided on the scheme yet, but clearly it will be something from the Mediterranean or Pacific theatres. Suggestions/ideas are welcome. in the literal sense this build is a Tamigawa - I'll be using parts from the old Hasegawa kit to backdate the Tamiya Mk.IXc. I haven't compiled an exhaustive list yet - but there are a number of changes required to make a reasonably accurate Mk.Vc Trop: - Mk.IXc had a longer nose to accommodate the Merlin 60 series engine - Spinner and 3 blade prop (DeHavilland or Rotol)- this will depend on the scheme chosen - Fishtail exhausts - Tropical air intake filter - oil cooler arrangement (underwing) - various minor changes in the cockpit (eg. addition of headrest, IFF transmitter) - cannons? not sure - Elevators and rudder material/composition ? Research continues. Material used for this build - HGW harness - Aires Mk.IXc cockpit (apparently for a later Mk.IXc - changes will be required to backdate to Mk V) - decals/masks - TBD - Tamiya Mk.IXc kit - Hasegawa Mk.Vb Trop kit - other - TBD The biggest challenge for me will be shortening the nose. I covered this in an earlier post here: http://forum.largescalemodeller.com/topic/3691-converting-the-tamiya-spitfire-mkixc-to-mkvc-trop-feasibility/ I've decided to graft the Hasegawa nose complete with trop filter. They should matchup reasonably ok and it means that rescribing and riveting of the nose will be necessary. Hopefully it also means no issues with the exhausts, cowls, spinner and prop. Stay tuned! Cheers, Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wackyracer Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 This should be good. I wanted to do a Vc but chickened out. Got a couple of HB Vb's (1 trop, 1 std) to do instead. Will watch with interest. Aaron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Lovely project, but beware of the difference between the Tamiya fuselage fuel tank cover and the Hasegawa nose. There may be a mismatch. In reality Supermarine ( or Rolls Royce) converted Mk V spits into early Mk IX by lenghtening the cowling pieces. If the Hasegawa nose cannot be made to fit, you might do the reverse. Good luck. Definately following this one. Cees 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted May 12, 2015 Share Posted May 12, 2015 Tim this is going to be an very interesting build for sure! Knowing your skills you will be able to pull this off! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahunaminor Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Now this will be interesting. I look forward to viewing your efforts and wish you good luck! Regards, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG26 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I'm certain you'll make Castle Bromwich proud. Good luck! Regards, Dan M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 13, 2015 Author Share Posted May 13, 2015 Thanks all for the support.. I'll definitely need it This should be good. I wanted to do a Vc but chickened out. Got a couple of HB Vb's (1 trop, 1 std) to do instead. Will watch with interest. Aaron Aaron.. I'm quietly confident the Vc conversion will be easier than I feared.. let's see.. I considered using the HK Vb, which is a nice kit, but sorting out the canopy was a blocker for me.. I'll still keep the Hasegawa canopy for that purpose on a future build... Lovely project, but beware of the difference between the Tamiya fuselage fuel tank cover and the Hasegawa nose. There may be a mismatch.In reality Supermarine ( or Rolls Royce) converted Mk V spits into early Mk IX by lenghtening the cowling pieces. If the Hasegawa nose cannot be made to fit, you might do the reverse.Good luck.Definately following this one.Cees Thanks Cees, that's exactly what I'm worried about.. so I'll start with that first. Tim this is going to be an very interesting build for sure! Knowing your skills you will be able to pull this off! Now this will be interesting. I look forward to viewing your efforts and wish you good luck! Regards, I'm certain you'll make Castle Bromwich proud. Good luck!Regards,Dan M Thanks Dave, Kent, Dan.. now .. time to get started! Cheers, Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 13, 2015 Author Share Posted May 13, 2015 Time to get started.. obligatory pic of the starting kit.. no surprises here: The donor Hasegawa Mk. Vb kit is from the shelf of doom.. actually it is my first ever 1/32 kit... I had vague notions of eventually finishing it, but it will serve a better purpose now. It also has the Eduard interior set so I should be able to use a few bits and pieces for the cockpit: This is the trop boxing with the fantastic USAAF scheme of Major Levine - now this aircraft was also (incorrectly) reported as a Mk. Vc in some publications. A shame because it really is an interesting scheme. But not for this build Cheers, Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 13, 2015 Author Share Posted May 13, 2015 As previously mentioned I'll start with the risky bit first - grafting the Hasegawa nose on the Tamiya kit. Time to get the tools out. I've sprayed a visible colour (primer) to mark where the cut is required. I'll cut behind this line using a hobby saw and then file back to the line. The Hasegawa nose is off now and I haven't tidied up the edges but it's good enough to see how it'll match the Tamiya fuselage: Tim. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 13, 2015 Author Share Posted May 13, 2015 Here are the results.. it's a reasonable match... actually not too bad! I've got something to work with now.. As mentioned earlier I haven't tidied up the Hasegawa nose but here's how it looks blutack'ed to the Tamiya kit Still, it's not 100% match and the Hasegawa nose seems a fraction narrower, and some work will be required to align the curvature of the cowling and fuel tank cover.. Overall I'm very pleased so far. All things considered it's a pretty good match and the conversion seems feasible so far.. All comments, suggestions & criticism are welcome. Cheers, Tim. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kahunaminor Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I'd be happy with that so far! Nice saw work Tim. Regards, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kagemusha Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Great stuff, I'm chuffed it's such a close fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Fantastic Tim! I really love that scheme in the Hasegawa box! Could you cheat a tad, and split the center a tad and insert a shim to widen it out? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rieser Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 Big stones Tim! Watching with interest. Cheers, Ralph. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 Tim, That looks indeed a nice fit. The mismatch isn't that great then. Good start. Cees 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JG26 Posted May 14, 2015 Share Posted May 14, 2015 Brave man indeed. Looking entirely plausible to me. Regards, Dan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 15, 2015 Author Share Posted May 15, 2015 Thanks all for the comments!! Dave I might try your suggestion about the split and shim. Work continues. Pics tomorrow. Tim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cib2265 Posted May 16, 2015 Share Posted May 16, 2015 Fantastic! definitiely following your progress here, i love kitbashes! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 17, 2015 Author Share Posted May 17, 2015 I'll put the nose aside until the fuselage is buttoned up, which means getting the cockpit sorted. In the meantime I'll tackle the oil cooler conversion - I'll graft the Hasegawa Mk. V oil cooler onto the Tamiya wing. A fairly simple approach as per below. Firstly removing the Mk. IX part Removed with a saw. I cut the oil cooler and surrounding wing section from the Hasegawa kit and attached to the Tamiya wing. I started removing the oil cooler but realised part way through the process I should also use the surrounding wing so it was a very rough job! Filling/sanding is required. Next a coat of Mr. Surfacer 1200 was airbrushed to check for seams. You can see a few touchups are required. Now please don't tell me the Hasegawa Mk V oil cooler is innacurate! The shape seems ok but I couldn't find good pictures of the rear! If anyone has any pics/links please share. Rescribing/rivetting will also be required down the track. Comments/feedback/criticism is welcome. Cheers, Tim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingco57 Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Looks great to me. Cees 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave J Posted May 17, 2015 Share Posted May 17, 2015 Looking great Tim! So far this is looking to be a simple process! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 Thanks all for the comments and feedback Dave yeh so far it's been fairly simple... I'm waiting for something to go wrong !? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepper-Mint Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 ...I'm waiting for something to go wrong !? No you don't. That's the dark side, nothing there to wait for... Fantastic conversion protocol and process. I can see a winner. Cheers, Laurent. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
repeater Posted May 20, 2015 Author Share Posted May 20, 2015 Thanks Laurent. I've made good progress with the Aires cockpit install and backdate, also using kit parts and bits and pieces from the Hasegawa kit and Eduard. I'll post a detailed update with pics in the next few days. cheers, Tim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonathanReed Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 This is looking fantastic and will be awesome when finished! Keep it up! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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