Jump to content
The Great LSM Twins Group Build ends July 3, 2024 ×

Tamiya Spitfire IXe with ModXXX


Recommended Posts

I made up the lap belts and installed them on the seat. I forgot to take the picture earlier.

IMG_20181119_115444-L.jpg

With the cockpit finally done, I closed up the fuselage. I had to use a tiny bit of filler, mostly in front of the cockpit.

IMG_20181118_110540-L.jpg

Then I joined up the fuselage and wing assemblies.

IMG_20181119_113426-L.jpg

It's starting to look like a Spitfire now.

Carl

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Well, with all my posts in "What's on your Bench?" I thought it best I find and update the actual build thread. 

First up are the barrels themselves. On the original pair I did, I had sanded off the bands that hold the barrels together. Whoops. Thankfully the barrels came in sets of 4 so I had an extra pair. 

IMG_20200224_113005-L.jpg

I gave the barrels a quick stain using a Vallejo wash.

IMG_20200224_113724-L.jpg

They were then airbrushed with Tamiya clear orange. 

IMG_20200224_155028-L.jpg

I then masked off and painted the cooper bands in black. 

IMG_20200224_161006-L.jpg

IMG_20200224_161847-L.jpg

IMG_20200224_162216-L.jpg

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Turning to the plane, I finished assembling the engine cradle. 

IMG_20200225_221456-L.jpg

The Merin was then installed and I finished the kit included plumbing. 

IMG_20200225_225539-L.jpg

The power egg was then installed onto the fuselage. 

IMG_20200316_001834-L.jpg

I also fitted the fixed sections of the canopy and masked them off. The removable cowl panels were put into place to act as masks for the engine and to get a consistent camo scheme.

IMG_20200317_230058-L.jpg

Working a bit differently this time from an painting perspective, I started with the in stripes. I've generally done these after the camo scheme. 

IMG_20200317_231833-L.jpg

After masking off the borders, I started on the camo. I'm using AK Real Colors  for this. 

MVIMG_20200319_153109-L.jpg

I should have started with the Ocean Grey as I ended up with some touch ups over the green. 

IMG_20200320_002809-L.jpg

For the RAF roundels, I prefer to use masks and airbrush these. The ones I used were a mix of Montex and Maketar ones. Some were used on previous builds but still fine. 

IMG_20200320_001457-L.jpg

 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I then used some mixed Tamiya paints for the roundels colours. 

IMG_20200320_004002-L.jpg

IMG_20200320_005146-L.jpg

IMG_20200320_005208-L.jpg

I then finally painted the undersides and removed the majority of the masking tape on the fuselage.

IMG_20200320_140109-L.jpg

IMG_20200320_140839-L.jpg

IMG_20200320_140832-L.jpg

Next up will be finishing the invasion stripes and the fuselage codes. 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So it turns out I either made things really difficult for myself with the fuselage codes or there really was no other way around doing them. 

First step was to mask things off for the codes. 

IMG_20200320_232040.thumb.jpg.6953adf547bc91253d763e0a91e78f68.jpg

I then sprayed the Sky for these. 

IMG_20200320_233325.thumb.jpg.3743fafd9609602bad386e893083d0cc.jpg

IMG_20200321_000144.thumb.jpg.7d6df22823f92509e96204d5ed056cfb.jpg

IMG_20200321_000200.thumb.jpg.65015791b05f42de1970e657e1cf8ec1.jpg

Then I masked over these and painted the black stripes. 

IMG_20200321_000826.thumb.jpg.3a819f311a645b94bab376fd721350f5.jpg

Once the black stripes were done, I masked over those and filled in the negative spaces where the base camo showed through. 

IMG_20200321_003213.thumb.jpg.f8eecf1c9a42a843f9474223253c2142.jpg

IMG_20200321_003224.thumb.jpg.6f4fc19f0dd8a4f2deb06b06677fea44.jpg

 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's where it really got fun. The tail number  for JE-J Jr was MK 329. For some reason, Profimodeller made their mask for the tail number MK823. Not sure where they got that one from. 

IMG_20200321_105416.thumb.jpg.391f84bd266d037f6d45d482aa1f7ab1.jpg

So I had to make that into the proper number by taping off individual bits of the mask and getting the correct number. 

IMG_20200321_105419.thumb.jpg.f8c0be90d4bfc8e9ef14ba9cbcf840f4.jpg

IMG_20200321_105506.thumb.jpg.ac62c0199e411345370cf4381ecc5b56.jpg

IMG_20200321_105517.thumb.jpg.c055894104167da111a732aa3278c10f.jpg

Now all that's left are the wing stripes. 

 

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A small update. I assembled the lower cowl and intake but didn't get the intake aligned correctly so there's a step in it that would be a bit of a pain to fix. Thankfully I have extra Spitfire parts so I pulled out another cowl and put that one together. 

IMG_20200322_165929.thumb.jpg.9510b56aafcb2ed6c01636671cb3fcc5.jpg

The misaligned one is on the left while the new intake is yet to be joined to the cowl. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice paintjob and lots of masking involved. May I ask about the grey camo triangle on the right side of the fuselage. On the left side you have full black stripes and on the right there is mentioned grey triangle. Did they paint the original that inconsistent?

Cheers Rob 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Rob!

I followed the instructions included with Victory Productions decal sheet which shows the irregular cutouts. 

I think the Spitfire was painted that way so as to avoid painting over as much of the fuselage codes as possible. 

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, shark64 said:

impressive markings painting. where did u get the metal round template?

It's made by Hasegawa. I use it for cutting quick circles but mostly for masking off wheels. The diameters go up in 0.5mm increments which makes it easy to find the right size. 

https://www.hlj.com/cutting-template-c-hsgtp-7

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 minutes ago, Bomber_County said:

That’s a lot of masking, me and masks nearly always lift the base and top coats, I clean before priming etc etc.......the spit is look fab.......

Thanks Phil!

Try de-tacking the paint masks first. Some folks will gently apply the mask to their hands or another clean surface first so that the adhesive isn't as strong. I generally don't do that as either the masks are too tiny and potentially fragile or I've repositioned them a couple times which helps reduces their adhesion. 

Here's my favourite mask that I've used so far:

IMG_20180724_145811-L.jpg

Just need to build the rest of the model to go with it. 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably won't be a problem Carl and it saves a lot of cursing. I used masks for the fin flash on my MkXVIe and they were a pain in the ass to get aligned correctly. The 'spare' bit hanging over the front edge stuck to other things, the other side and me!! My wife wasn't impressed by the vocabulary. :lol: 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/30/2020 at 4:40 PM, BlrwestSiR said:

I got lazy and used decals for the fin flash. Worse than lazy, I used the kit decals...

At least, the Colours seem to match, more or less.

Cheers Rob

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3/30/2020 at 4:22 PM, GusMac said:

Probably won't be a problem Carl and it saves a lot of cursing. I used masks for the fin flash on my MkXVIe and they were a pain in the ass to get aligned correctly. The 'spare' bit hanging over the front edge stuck to other things, the other side and me!! My wife wasn't impressed by the vocabulary. :lol: 

That's usually what happens to me as well.

On 4/1/2020 at 9:54 AM, DocRob said:

At least, the Colours seem to match, more or less.

Cheers Rob

They are a close enough match thankfully.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...