My first Warbird for 40 years!

Munkyslut
More than anything looking forward to advice & tips from all the plane building mates 😉

Holger Kranich
Oho you like it big, hu?😢

Tim Heimer
LOL, it's been 4-5 yrs since my last one! Best tip I could give is take your time and think things out. I did research on my 1/48 and did some slight mods to make it The Spirit of Kent. I've got 4 large birds in my stash waiting. Best wishes, I'll be watching to learn as well.

Nathan Dempsey
Wow that is going to be a monster! I'm sure it will be a fun kit though. Wish I had space for one 🙂

Munkyslut
Actually I was surprised how big, the pic shows the contents laid out on a standard 2' cutting mat.
Pretty basic kit tho, just loads of big bits.

Munkyslut
In true over enthusiastic skool boy fashion I've built the engine block up......now I can leave it LOL!

Munkyslut
Bad points already, the moulds are proper crap.....
Flash everywhere, some pieces not even complete (take a look at the front corner of the valve cover) & the fit of even largish parts is sloppy to say the least.
Hope the fuselage, wings, & other larger parts fit better.

Jim J
Sorry to hear about the molding and fit issues. Hopefully you can get through the build without too much trouble.

Holger Kranich
Hang in there. You can make it!😢

Munkyslut
The Humbrol acrylics I just used to paint the engine are awful, what's best to strip it off? Just regular thinners?

Augie
Ahh yes, Munky, your not in for fun with that one.. the mold is 1962 and its never from what I can tell been renovated or updated.

My advice is stick with it, dont get put off and dont be afriad to try new things to complete short shot parts. I have one completed in my albums which you can use as a guide

Munkyslut
Jim, Holger & Augie, I think you've nailed the inherent issues of 60 year old tooling!
I don't think it'll be that taxing to be honest, but it will require extra time & effort.
Thanks Augie I'll check out your pics!

Munkyslut
Managed to soak off the Humbrol acrylic (I'll stick with Tamiya I think) & have laid some primer down.
I'll let it dry off fully before I drop some black back on to the block but I'd like to brighten up the assembly a little.
Maybe highlighting some of the oil & fuel lines by picking them out in copper or brass tones?
I know it would have been 'all business, no frills' under that engine cover during its campaign years but the still flying Spits I've seen at Duxford are nicely prepared with some bright work.

Munkyslut
Basic engine assembly complete & painted Tamiya X-1 Black & Humbrol 11 silver.
The instructions call for flat colours but the majority of paint used would have been an engine enamel, hence the gloss finish.
I'm going to pick out the moulded in oil, breather & fuel lines in copper & brass.

Bozzer
Hey fella. I built that, a few years ago. Be prepared for fuselage warping. My advice, line everything up, then glue from the front, to the back, allowing a day for the glue to dry. I actually think I used some superglue in places. Also, there's a C brace that's for the bottom of the engine. You have to fit that at an angle, for everything to fit right. The instructions are very vague on that bit. Trial and error, before using any glue. Also, the pins for the wheel legs are weak. You might want to replace them with brass rod or even a cut down small nail? Check the cockpit glass fit too, before painting anything. Hope that helps.

Munkyslut
Thanks Bozzer 😉
It's the common consensus that these old Airfix are from ancient & poor moulds, hence the fit, flash & even missing material problems.
I'll take my time & fit everything 20 times & draw on my almost limitless patience........ Yeah right!!!!

Bozzer
No worries mate. The Hurricane is a good kit and I've also done the 109. They're all buildable, just need some TLC. Have fun mucca.

Tim Heimer
The Bismarck I did was the reason I've never bought Airfix again.

Munkyslut
Just started putting paint on the cockpit pieces this evening.
Quick question cos the instructions are very vague here, just how far do I have to paint the inside of the fuselage for the cockpit area?

Bozzer
Mate, just do as much as you dare. Test fit the cockpit, but as memory serves me, it was an ok fit. The gunsight was a pain though, I think.

Munkyslut
Cheers mate I just didn't want to waste the time & paint!
I'll take your advice on the gunsight

Munkyslut
Amazingly the fuselage trial fit proved a clean and easy process! Despite the huge abundance of flash the nose is only slightly warped & just 2 thin wraps of Tamiya masking tape holds it together nicely, hope for it yet 😉

Bozzer
Lucky break dude! I did forget to mention about the rear wheel well too, but that shouldn't be a problem. Just take your time. Also, inside the wings are also painted cockpit green. Gun bays etc?

Munkyslut
Cockpit coming together nicely, seat assembly looks good.
Can't seem to find a decal for the instrument panel tho....

Bozzer
I put a lot into my cockpit, only to have it hidden by the fat ass pilot. To be fair though, I enjoyed painting him. It's all part of the learning buddy. As for decals, I understand Hannant's have sets? I fancy doing the P51 Mustang, at some point. If I find a cheap enough kit, it's gonna happen. For now, I'm kinda tied up with my trucks and trailers.

Munkyslut
Cheers Bozzer I'll look em up!
I'm just amazed the kit don't come with a decal for the instruments, it's got pretty much every other decal.
I've taped the fuselage halves together before I lay some green down on the inside.
While it's strapped up I've also taken a small file to the edges & mating surfaces to ensure a good fit, I installed the cockpit bulkhead frames to true it up, doesn't actually seem that bad.
Pretty happy with today 😉

Bozzer
Part 48 is that part I was referring to earlier. If you don't get that right, the engine is a pain to fit. The instructions kinda give you a guide, but it's trial and error buddy. If I remember correctly, I wedged it in, got everything sat pretty, then added liquid poly later. Once you button everything up, you can breathe and give yourself a pat on the back. Just be prepared for a bit of filler for the wings.

Munkyslut
Yeah pt.no 48 I think you mentioned before, it fits to the engine cradle & goes under the sump & looks like a pain in the arse 😉

Munkyslut
Some progress! I say 'some' cos it's a bit one step forward & two steps back.
The fuselage halves are painted inside, cockpit fittings painted & installed, engine cradle fitted & motor dropped in. That's where the good news ends....... the thin spars going around the engine block were so distorted I thought they were gonna snap!
Under closer inspection the gear drive on the right side of the engine block was jammed hard against them, also the infamous pt.no 48 engine cradle girdle
won't allow the motor to sit against the nose cone where it should be.
So I've removed the gear drive & snapped the girdle in to 3 pieces so I can just glue on the parts visible to the eye.
I'm whinging a bit but in all honesty it's coming on ok😉

Bozzer
Keep at it fella, don't let it beat you! Read back on this thread for the other tips I gave you and bash on 🙂

Munkyslut
Hahaha!!!! I've read back your comments so many times I'm saying them in my sleep!

Bozzer
Lol, good man! Also, don't forget to put the tiny clear part in the wing base, before you button her up. I know someone who did that and they ended up using Micro Clear. You've done the hard part now though buddy, the rest is basically modelling. Keep that cockpit glass in mind though!

Nathan Dempsey
Munky, that beast is looking great 🙂 Its looks like a great project.

Chaz Gordon
That is an OLD kit. I've got a few 60's airfix kits (recent runs) and those tools are in poor shape. I guess that's why they are re-releasing everything bit by bit. Just got the Blenheims & Beaufighter retools, they are clean and nice.

Munkyslut
Cheers lads, it's finally shaping up!
The mouldings are appalling but workable, still amazes me that an old & established manufacturer can puts its name to sub standard products.

Bryn Crandell
Looking good so far Munky.

Chaz Gordon
They nearly went bust a few years ago, so they need to put out as much of a product line as they can. I'm reassured that they are going through existing products and creating brand new tooling and increasing the detail at the same time. I've bought their new tool 1/72 Beaufighter, Blenheims, Lightning and Spitfire in the last 12 months, the quality is superb, ZERO flash, no idea what the fit is like though, they are waiting on a clear build slot. ( I have build slots for 2 aircraft, 1 sci fi model, 1 car and one restoration -They are currently all full and all have a queue)

Bryn Crandell
I built the 1/48 scale Spitfire. Very pleased with the fit and assembly. Overall a very enjoyable kit to build. I have three more of the new boxings to build. Looking forward to building them.

Munkyslut
Question please mates.......
In the pic I just loaded of the admittedly very vague instructions, it shows 2 cut out pieces on each of the upper wing halves.
Why? Is it an option? I don't know enough about these birds, can someone educate me please?

Tim Heimer
To me it appears to be another version of this plane. On the Spirit of Kent it had 2 air cooling boxes under the wing when most others had 1. So I know there must be other versions.

Munkyslut
I think I'm getting it now......
These are on the top half of the wing about a 1/3rd of the way from the fuselage,, they look like teardrops.
I've checked out the box artwork & they are on there so I'm gonna do it anyway.
Was just interested why they just weren't moulded or the opening already cutout but I think atoms nailed it😉

Augie
access panels for reloading IIRC

Chaz Gordon
Augie is correct, they are removable panels over the cannon magazines. the 1/32 matchbox spit had these removable too. You should find parts in the kit for the magazines and ammo belts. Great opportunity for some detail work.

Chaz Gordon
At a guess, the bulges were for the Cannon equipped aircraft, and plain for the one fitted with the original .303 Brownings. (7.62)

Munkyslut
Thanks for the info! I'll check out the parts sprues

Munkyslut
Yeah, I can do it!
Augie & Chaz you're both dead right, it covers the cannon & magazine to the side of it.
The pieces are moulded much smaller than the aperture, if I cut em up as directed they'll fall thru the wing surface so they might have to stay in one piece.

Bozzer
Yeah dude, the MK1 had 4 browning machine guns, so the cannons were a later Mk option. Mine is the tropical version, but I built it as a Mk1. I used Tamiya Titan Gold for the ammo belts, it was a pretty close match.

Augie
Hehe a know am right, i might be lass, but i know me warbirds😉

Derek Huggett
A1 Augie! 👍😉

Munkyslut
Mods done to wing tops & cannons look great exposed, pleased I did it.
Also mocked up wing halves & fuselage, looks like a bird!

Tim Heimer
Looking good!

Chaz Gordon
If you want to go mega detail, the shell casings on the belts would be a lightly tarnished brass (result of fingerprint blueing from handling in manufacturing) with a gunmetal for the disintegrating links on the belt (middle of the cartridge). Bullet end of the shell would be Copper, as lead is coated in copper for high rate of fire weapons (full metal jacket)

Chaz Gordon
Scratch that last, i see now the cannons have drums, hence the bulges. I was getting mixed up withe the .303 belts

Munkyslut
Big step forward!
Wing lower halve glued to fuselage & wing tops glued to lowers.
Right hand side upper was a total pain in the arse...... must've been on & off a dozen times
Left hand side a breeze by comparison.
Now all strapped up with masking tape & load of wooden pegs.
Time to leave it for a few days to set & then start filing & filling the wing edges & fuselage seams

Munkyslut
Just adding the finishing touches to Sqn Ldr Jan Zumbach, he's looking pretty good even if I say so myself

Munkyslut
Schoolboy error#1
Thought I was clever leaving out the pilot so I could drop him in when I liked, but he don't fit!
I'm sure I have to take off one arm & glue it back once installed, bugger.....

Nathan Dempsey
Oh I've done that before (on a smaller scale)!

Tim Heimer
I hate when that happens!!

Bozzer
I think I left both arms off, then positioned them after I fitted his fat ass in the seat? There's definitely not much room in there!

Munkyslut
Advice please.....
I've filled the fuselage & prepped for paint.
I'm going for a Tamiya Flat Medium Grey for the upper half & a light grey for the underside.
I'm just presuming that all the colours are flat, no sheen or gloss?
I was planning on laying the greys down first before putting the green camouflage on the top.
I just thought the grey would make the green a little darker.
My real concern is how the camo will affect the large decals.

Tim Heimer
My opinion...….Always start with the lighter colors, then the darker ones. Depending on the decals, most will cover with no problems. I would try one on the underside of the wing to test 1st to see if there is any transparency. My 2 cents worth.

Munkyslut
I'm with you Tim, thanks for the confirmation 😉
Laying down the green, is it OK to mask the camo pattern so I end up with sharp paint edges? Or more realistic to spray a soft edge?
Box art shows both......

Tim Heimer
That to me is a personal preference. Personally I don't think they used a tape line on the camo, so I soft edge.

Bozzer
Monkey, that's a well argued question. Some guys mask and have a hard edge and some guys use blutac around the edge of the masking tape, for a feathered edge. My advice there is, do a sample of each, then go with what you prefer. It's kinda the same debate as invasion stripes? Also, everyone seems to advise gloss clear coat, before decals, then you can lay a matt clear coat on top. I sing the praises of Winsor & Newton clear varnish. Hobbycraft, WH Smiths and any decent art shop. Also online! All my armour is done with the Matt and it goes a long way buddy.

Chaz Gordon
I do my camo freehand with a 0.2 fine airbrush. Ligjt first all over, then dark when dried. I the go in with the light while the dark is still wet and clean up any overspray of the dark. On the hard vs soft debate, there were two methods used to paint aircraft in ww2, brush and spray, brush ended in dead matte and hard edges, spray ended with a light satin finish and soft edges. The underside is always a hard line from the top though.

One important factor to remember is that until very recently, matte finishes were not moisture proof, so most protective "matte" finishes were actually satins.

You'll notice that all intact museum aircraft are satin finish and mostly feature soft camo lines.

Munkyslut
Thanks Bozzer, Chaz, some good info there!
Just finished putting the 2nd coat of Ocean Grey on the underside.
I'll leave the air ducts etc till last, paint em separately & glue them on last.
Top side just getting another coat of Tamiya XF-66 Light Grey, looked a lot better than the factory recommended colours, I liked the slightly blue tint, looked very RAF 😉

Chaz Gordon
I find that there are a lot of "Matt" varnishes that actually have a slight satin sheen to them, and this really helps give a good scale effect on museum finish aircraft, which is my preferred style.

Munkyslut
Actually I took your advice earlier & got some Tamiya Aircraft sprays & they give a lovely sheen.
I like that restored museum look too 😉

Munkyslut
Airbrushed on the camo pattern copying the box art pattern, but then making it look nicer to me, may not be strictly accurate but I like it.
I sprayed Tamiya XF-67 NATO Green, came out pretty good, or should that be "camo out pretty good"......sorry!
Couple days for it to harden off and maybe Sunday lay down the yellow wing leading edges etc

Munkyslut
Few little details completed over the weekend.....
Painted on Yellow leading edge on the wings, Sky Type S (cheers D!) band around back of fuselage & exhaust headers painted & fitted.
The bits you can't see are the fuselage, tailfin, landing gear & back wheel repairs after my two big white boxer dogs decided to have an epic play fight that saw Mk-Vb attempt to really fly! FFS.......

Derek Huggett
For those in the know, 'greenish cream' is often better known as 'Sky Type S' (sorry Munkeyslut!) 🙂 👍

Munkyslut
Brilliant bit of tech schooling Derek!
I love info like that, now watch me edit the previous post so people think I know what I'm talking about LOL! 😉

Derek Huggett
ROFL 😄

Chaz Gordon
Not sure what happened, but I did post that the camo would really pop once you apply a coat of clear, it really evens out the tone on the edges of the camo where the paint is a little thinner

Chaz Gordon
I have that Tamiya Colour "Sky" since when was the sky THAT colour on THIS PLANET!

Munkyslut
Hi Chaz yes you did post that & I'm waiting to finish some more detail, nose panels, air ducts, ariels etc before I lay down some sheen.
Yeah I dunno what mushrooms they found that made them think that one up, I don't really want a slightly green cream sky either LOL!

Chaz Gordon
To be fair, it is the colour of the sky on Venus!

Munkyslut
I started putting decals on today after I'd laid down a mist coat of Tamiya clear.
Trey seem to be going on ok, I've never tried any setting agents or solvents, I'll leave that to a future build.
Looks good though😉

Chaz Gordon
Microsol is amazing where you have panel lines, or raised detail, i'm not convinced with microset, but I have discovered a spray lid that fits directly on the bottle, so I can mist large decals.

Derek Huggett
Late dropping penny! I see now your putting on the markings - it's airframe AB910! That is one of the preserved, still flyng, Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfires. It was painted in the markings you are finishing it in (Spitfire Vb, RF-D) in 2007 which it then wore for a season or two. 🙂

Munkyslut
I wish I could say it was intentional Derek but sadly just the way it happened 😉
I'm pleased with the back story tho, read up on the man & the machine.

Chaz, I will try out a form of setting & softener fluid soon, just didn't want to practice on this one!

Bozzer
Monkey, I swear by Micro Sol/Set. It's wicked on thick decals! When you get paid next, pick some up. Also, treat yourself to a Molotow 2mm chrome paint pen.😉

Munkyslut
I think I got some Revell softener in my tool box, might try it out on the big round wing decals.
How do you know I need a 2mm Molotow Pen Bozzer?
Have you been spyin???

Bozzer
LOL Monkey mate! That's the problem with our hobby right now. Technologically, advances are coming thick and fast, and it's hard to keep up. We get so far, then find we are behind again. I remember when we just had a knife and tube of glue. I have that many tools now, I honestly don't know what I've got?

Munkyslut
Hahaha! What made me laugh Bozzer was that I DO need a 2mm Molotow & my 4mm one is running out too......
Spooooky!

Bozzer
You do know, that you can get refills for them, don't you? Also, it can be airbrushed. I thinned some, with cellulose thinner. Took a couple of coats, but looks ace.

Chaz Gordon
Set of 3 1,2 & 4mm Molotow on a deal on Amazon.co.uk at the moment

Munkyslut
Ah yeah I'm all over that, thanks Chaz 😉

Munkyslut
For anybody interested there's a 2018 movie called 303 Squadron showing on U.K. satellite TV at present.
It tells the story of the struggles of a group of Polish flying officers in England during WW2.
The main character is none other than Jan Zumbach, the pilot of this very Spitfire!

Nathan Dempsey
I watched that. Good show.

Munkyslut
Going to finish this week, just a couple of fiddly final bits, another coat of Tamiya semi gloss clear coat & we're done!

Munkyslut
Nice sunny day so out the side yard for some daylight pics.
Pretty happy with the result, been a lot of fun & got me doing something other than muscle cars, street rods & superbikes 😉
It ain't perfect, my skills are definitely at the lower end of the scale,its already had some damage thanks to the Three Stooges masquerading as my dogs, but I'm calling this one DONE!

Jim J
Looks great! Congrats. It was fun following along. 👍

Derek Huggett
'Happy with the result, been a lot of fun' - don't think anyone should argue that isn't the point of a hobby! Nicely done after 40 years, and some nice pics! 👍 🙂

Munkyslut
Thanks lads, it's the best I can do for now but I've enjoyed learning stuff so I can move up a level on the next one