Spitfire Mk.1a- a human story
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/0/1/656801-36121-17-720.jpg)
it's these little human stories that add another dimension to why you make models.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/4/4/0/661440-36121-77-720.jpg)
looks awful on my iPhone at this distance...but I am pretty happy with it. Airwaves harnesses and Yahu instrument panel
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/4/4/1/661441-36121-40-720.jpg)
another wash to go over this, then we'll close her up
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/4/4/2/661442-36121-21-720.jpg)
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/4/4/3/661443-36121-83-720.jpg)
Airwaves harnesses and Yahu instrument panel to replace Airfix's decal. Overall happy with fit and detail in this scale.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/1/9/0/663190-36121-89-720.jpg)
note the port ventral gun hatches are in black- repurposed from another b&w winged Mk.1a?
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/1/9/3/663193-36121-62-720.jpg)
Rob Taurus canopy in profile
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/1/9/5/663195-36121-94-720.jpg)
Timeless profile
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/1/9/6/663196-36121-89-720.jpg)
Airfix have captured the sleek profile of the Spit
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/1/9/7/663197-36121-59-720.jpg)
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/1/9/8/663198-36121-82-720.jpg)
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/1/9/9/663199-36121-44-720.jpg)
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/2/0/0/663200-36121-20-720.jpg)
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/2/0/1/663201-36121-44-720.jpg)
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/1/8/663918-36121-78-720.jpg)
will tone down the metallic weathering : too garish at this scale
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/1/9/663919-36121-91-720.jpg)
a little more attention to detail on the exhausts, the pilot's middle canopy needs mirror adding, and the aerial/rigging to do.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/2/0/663920-36121-84-720.jpg)
dirty the wheels, add the red gun portal tapes, lower light and a bit more toning in on the weathering- all to be done.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/8/4/2/664842-36121-18-720.jpg)
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/8/4/3/664843-36121-17-720.jpg)
happiest with canopy, mirror and seat harnesses to add to the already detailed cockpit
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/8/4/4/664844-36121-43-720.jpg)
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/8/4/7/664847-36121-44-720.jpg)
pleased with the undersides too
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/8/4/5/664845-36121-99-720.jpg)
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/8/4/6/664846-36121-83-720.jpg)
still not sure of that nose at the conjoining of the prop hub...have Airfix got it wrong?
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/8/4/9/664849-36121-15-720.jpg)
here's their earlier tooled 1a - I prefer their interpretation of the nose lines.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/8/4/8/664848-36121-88-720.jpg)
both 1a's - around 25 years' worth of tooling between them
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/8/5/0/664850-36121-11-720.jpg)
still strikes a wonderful silhouette irrespective of tooling
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/9/5/9/741959-36121-57-720.jpg)
a couple more shots- testing my new light box/Canon EOS 5D Mk IV and 135mL lens
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/9/6/0/741960-36121-51-720.jpg)
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/9/6/1/741961-36121-65-720.jpg)
Comments
1 27 September 2019, 14:19
![](/profiles/img/13136-468-s.jpg)
Being proudly Canadian too, I am looking forward to following your build, Andy!
5 October 2019, 17:40
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Thanks Gordon and Mark...Gordon if I wasn't a Brit, I'd be a Canadian beautiful country/friendly and you have the best rock band in the world....Rush!
11 October 2019, 09:17
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Some extra photos: not great but I'm perfecting my photography skills
11 October 2019, 09:18
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
I'm going all out: trying the Rob Taurus canopy to allow it to slide back (seen in photo). As this is a starter kit, I'm adding stencils too. Finally, Airwaves will complete the canopy's rear-view mirror and the harness straps.
So far build is OK, a little mis-alignment in the fuselage halves (aft of cockpit area), and during the wing-to-fuselage dry-fitting I needed some sanding to get them married together. Great step up in quality and detail from the old Airfix (see re-purposed project) offering of the previous tooling.
14 October 2019, 16:20
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
I will post better lit photos...despite having a Canon 5D Mk4, I need a better lighting rig!, anyways, we'll have this dispatched for front-line duties soon! Now moving into decals and stencils with Xtradecals and TechMod respectively.
16 October 2019, 13:11
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
nearly at the end, really pleased with the kit. Glad I went for the vac-canopy too.
19 October 2019, 16:50