610 Squadron Spitfire Mk I, 1/48 Tamiya

[aidy]

This build was inspired by this model here:



It was built while I was waiting for my PMR result 18 years ago (wow, I don't feel so young anymore now ) using Testor's tube glue which smelled of oranges and brush painted with mixed Tamiya paints. It's my oldest surviving model.

One day I looked at the the model and thought it would be nice to see what I could make of the same kit after 18 years, so a trip down to Tamiya Underground got me this:



I've decided to make this build as OOB as possible-no resin or PE, no matter how tempting those Ultracast bits could be.

[aidy]

So the journey begins...

The cockpit was painted interior green mixed from various Gunze colours. The colours were then lightened a bit with white and yellow and sprayed in the middle of the panels. A very dilute mix of Tamiya NATO black was sprayed in recesses and around details.



Tamiya didn't provide any decals for the instrument panels so I just put a drop of clear gloss in each dial. If I had had more patience (and money ) I'd like to have used some of Mike Grant's detail decals but that'll be another story for another time la.



Seat and 'bottomless' cockpit.



Overall, I'd be OK with the kit cockpit especially if I were to leave the canopy shut... but no, I had to watch Battle of Britain while waiting for the paint to dry and started thinking of making a diorama. The doors had to go. ICM makes a delightful figure of a pilot climbing into the cockpit and after getting one from Mr Low I plan to use the figure with this model.

Fuselage sans-door.



The door was molded with a crowbar which only started appearing on the Mk.V so it had to go. Here's the original door (right) and my modified one (left).



Not as nice as resin ones but it'll do.

[aidy]

This being one of Tamiya's first shake-n-bake kits, construction went smoothly. Things moved so fast (for me...) that I hadn't even taken any more in progress pictures.

Now it's just come out of the paint shop. Bits of touch-ups here and there to do but it's nearly there. Next will be some weathering then wait till the masks for the markings arrive.





Oh yeah, I cut and dropped the elevators too.



The paint, by the way, is Humbrol acrylics - the ones that Mr Low just brought in. I thinned it with HHQ thinner. I had to make it very dilute the filter the mix because it clogged the airbrush nozzle. I believe this may have been because it wasn't too friendly with HHQ thinner. I tried thinning with water but as the Kelantanese would say - it 'kennot go'. Even so, I had to make about 15 passes before I got decent opacity for the colour. The results, however, are good. It dried fast (bit slower than Gunze, faster than enamels) and smooth though the brown was a bit prone to scratching. I'd buy more if I can get a more compatible thinner.

[rtfoe]

Good progress there Aidy,

Must have been a challenge to keep it strictly oob. I've been there.

I'm going to keep you company with my Spit build as well but not so changgih kit like yours...mine Airfix lar...real men must scribe and restle with fitting one.

Definitely can see vast improvement with 18 years of experience put in.

Cheers and Tally-ho,
Richard

[seelianglim]

Super build. I am building the Mk IV (i think)..anyways, very much similar to yours. WIth only 2 sprues , it will be a quick build.. I am pretty bummed by the fact that it doesnt come with any decal for the instruments.

sllim

[aidy]

Thanks Richard and See Liang!

Yeah la Richard, very hard to keep it OOB... someone needs to make an ointment for itchy fingers for modelers surfing online shops. Was very very tempted to click the 'Add to cart' button on so many resin/PE accessory but I resisted and in the end common sense prevailed... I bought another kit instead Anyway, I hear that the Airfix kit is more accurate. Would love to compare the two side-by-side.

See Liang, I have an old Reheat sheet for the instruments but you've got to paint the plastic panel white first. I was too lazy to do it, but you're welcome to the sheet if you want.

Ordered masks from Maketar for the markings, hopefully it will arrive soon so I can continue.

[landyshah]

Classic subject and looks great brader

May I ask is this the one which has one black and one wing underside?

BTW I considered those Humbrol acrylic - you gotta use the right thinner which I think can either be Tamiya or Gunze acrylic thinner or IPA. Ive used this paint with Tamiya thinner with decent results. Even water possible up to an extent. HHQ thinner is for lacquer thats why kennot go

[masterqq]

Aidy, check the dark earth, look a bit too light for me, or maybe just the camera, I think Gunze one have batter tone...

[mr b]

Wau Cigku PMR ?.....

I wish I kept some of my old builds....way back.....really would be nice to see........them now.......

Very fast and very nice.......shame about the dials/instruments........but nevertheless as up to your normal A standards........

Go for one more maybe the opposing force i.e Jerry ME

Best Regards
Mr b

[enghui]

It looks great Aidy , even the old one has that Masa Lampau feeling you know , it's a
Classic in its own right.I m a bit itchy to grab a Mk1 Spit from Tamiya after seeing this
but the stash is huge.

[aidy]

LOOK WHAT POPPED UP IN THE MAILBOX!



My masks finally arrived today. The package contains 5 pre-cut kabuki tape sheets with enough roundels and alphanumerics for at least 2 Spitfires (lots more if you're careful and re-use the masks). I didn't measure the sheet, so I posed it with the Gunze bottle for reference.



Hopefully I'll get to try it out on Thursday or Friday.

About the camo colours, I've tried out the paint with other types of thinner but the dark earth always dried the same. Maybe it is a bit light but with it being a British colour, I'll just trust Humbrol's accuracy for now.

[aidy]

Decided to repaint the whole plane yesterday. Bits of masking tape used during touch-up left very visible marks on the dark earth so 5 minutes with a 1500 grit wet'n'dry under the tap gave me this.



It's been coated with primer earlier today. Might get some airbrush time next weekend, so hope to get it done soon.

[Mr. Engineer]

Nice! Guess what I found fro YouTube...

Tamiya Spitfire Exhaust Flicker - Scale 1/32

[aidy]

Wow!That is AWESOME! With sound some more. Now I know what those Circuits classes in college were for... wish I'd paid more attention.