BoB Spitfire X4586
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/4/9/7/575497-30596-79-720.jpg)
Working on the Merlin engine.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/4/1/1/576411-30596-56-720.jpg)
The stock Airfix control stick is not very good, to say the least. I wanted to improve it.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/4/0/9/576409-30596-46-720.jpg)
First cut off the poorly shaped spade grip. Leave the brake lever in place. Gentle work with a razor saw!
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/4/1/3/576413-30596-96-720.jpg)
The firing button housing is made from .093 plastic tubing. Drill a hole .052" at the blue cross then cut at the dotted red line.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/4/1/2/576412-30596-81-720.jpg)
I made the new spade grip from .050" solder wrapped around a round mandrel. Slide the button housing on.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/4/1/5/576415-30596-93-720.jpg)
Make the firing button from .040" rod.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/4/1/4/576414-30596-34-pristine.jpg)
Place a drop of acrylic glue in the hole and drop the button in.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/4/1/0/576410-30596-85-720.jpg)
Fix the spade grip to the stick with cyano (crazy) glue.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/4/1/6/576416-30596-98-pristine.jpg)
Looks more convincing now!
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/1/6/8/581168-30596-37-720.jpg)
Using the Airscale decals for the panel. Scratchbuilt a better compass too.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/1/7/0/581170-30596-88-720.jpg)
The stick looks better now.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/5/3/6/581536-30596-84-720.jpg)
The aircraft only had 37 hours flying time on it when it was shot down, so it wouldn't be too dirty.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/1/8/1/581181-30596-94-720.jpg)
A bit of weathering for the Merlin.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/5/3/4/581534-30596-31-720.jpg)
Test fitting the internals.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/8/8/9/587889-30596-40-pristine.jpg)
This is the kit door. No details at all. In 1970, just having a kit with a door that could be posed open was awesome!
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/8/9/0/587890-30596-35-720.jpg)
Add some scratchbuilt details, a bit of paint and Techmod decals and voila!
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/8/9/5/587895-30596-29-pristine.jpg)
RB Productions Sutton Harness. Time consuming but very accurate.
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/8/9/6/587896-30596-87-pristine.jpg)
After I install the seat I will pose the harness more realistically. Going to dirty it up a bit too.
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/4/4/8/588448-30596-41-pristine.jpg)
Added a starboard cockpit lamp, there is the Sutton harness release cable just next to it.
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/4/4/9/588449-30596-81-pristine.jpg)
And a port side lamp too. Lamps are made from plastic rod and the supply harness is thin wire.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/8/9/0/705890-30596-98-720.jpg)
Reflector sight is in.
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/0/5/2/601052-30596-24-pristine.jpg)
Fuselage glued together!
![Album image #23 Album image #23](/albums/img/3/0/5/701305-30596-77-720.jpg)
Lots of trimming to fit the windscreen.
![Album image #24 Album image #24](/albums/img/3/0/7/701307-30596-43-720.jpg)
Next job, paint the framework.
![Album image #25 Album image #25](/albums/img/3/0/9/701309-30596-59-720.jpg)
"The Office"
![Album image #26 Album image #26](/albums/img/3/1/0/701310-30596-56-720.jpg)
Test fitting the wing.
![Album image #27 Album image #27](/albums/img/3/1/1/701311-30596-65-720.jpg)
A lot of sanding and fiddling was needed to get the wing to sit in place properly.
![Album image #28 Album image #28](/albums/img/3/1/2/701312-30596-29-720.jpg)
Wing now attached permanently.
![Album image #29 Album image #29](/albums/img/8/8/8/705888-30596-35-720.jpg)
Test fit of the cowlings. 50 year old moulds for sure.
![Album image #30 Album image #30](/albums/img/8/8/9/705889-30596-82-720.jpg)
![Album image #31 Album image #31](/albums/img/8/9/1/705891-30596-18-720.jpg)
Had to hollow out the intake, it was horrible.
![Album image #32 Album image #32](/albums/img/8/2/0/706820-30596-40-720.jpg)
The kit exhausts are Mk.V style (top) so I modified them to Mk.I configuration.
![Album image #33 Album image #33](/albums/img/8/0/2/725802-30596-47-pristine.jpg)
Tamiya Fine Surface Primer White
![Album image #34 Album image #34](/albums/img/8/0/3/725803-30596-61-pristine.jpg)
Tamiya Fine Surface Primer Gray
![Album image #35 Album image #35](/albums/img/8/2/1/706821-30596-15-720.jpg)
Test fit of exhausts.
![Album image #36 Album image #36](/albums/img/6/1/5/711615-30596-85-720.jpg)
Add some paint.
![Album image #37 Album image #37](/albums/img/7/9/9/725799-30596-14-pristine.jpg)
I often construct a cardboard jig to hold large models for detail work
![Album image #38 Album image #38](/albums/img/7/8/6/725786-30596-72-pristine.jpg)
Tamiya AS-22 Dark Earth first
![Album image #39 Album image #39](/albums/img/8/0/1/725801-30596-98-pristine.jpg)
Waxed paper applied and cut to shape
![Album image #40 Album image #40](/albums/img/7/8/7/725787-30596-78-pristine.jpg)
Malfunction of the Dark Green.
![Album image #41 Album image #41](/albums/img/7/8/8/725788-30596-13-pristine.jpg)
The correct Dark Green
![Album image #42 Album image #42](/albums/img/7/8/9/725789-30596-40-pristine.jpg)
Camo complete on upper side
![Album image #43 Album image #43](/albums/img/8/0/8/725808-30596-95-720.jpg)
All masked for the Dark Green
![Album image #44 Album image #44](/albums/img/8/0/0/725800-30596-35-pristine.jpg)
Masking with poster tack rolled into ropes
![Album image #45 Album image #45](/albums/img/8/0/7/725807-30596-97-pristine.jpg)
Sky Type S
![Album image #46 Album image #46](/albums/img/7/9/3/725793-30596-80-pristine.jpg)
I always start with the bottom decals
![Album image #47 Album image #47](/albums/img/7/9/0/725790-30596-17-pristine.jpg)
All of the roundels came from a Hobbycraft Mk.V kit
![Album image #48 Album image #48](/albums/img/7/9/1/725791-30596-61-pristine.jpg)
Looking better
![Album image #49 Album image #49](/albums/img/7/9/2/725792-30596-80-pristine.jpg)
Fin flashes from the Airfix decals
![Album image #50 Album image #50](/albums/img/7/8/3/725783-30596-36-pristine.jpg)
I sprayed the codes with Montex Masks
![Album image #51 Album image #51](/albums/img/7/8/4/725784-30596-63-pristine.jpg)
Starboard codes are done
![Album image #52 Album image #52](/albums/img/7/8/2/725782-30596-89-pristine.jpg)
The poisonous gas patch on the port wing
![Album image #53 Album image #53](/albums/img/7/8/5/725785-30596-32-pristine.jpg)
The cockpit
![Album image #54 Album image #54](/albums/img/7/9/4/725794-30596-33-pristine.jpg)
Opened up the cockpit door
![Album image #55 Album image #55](/albums/img/7/9/5/725795-30596-19-pristine.jpg)
Installed the exhaust manifolds
![Album image #56 Album image #56](/albums/img/7/9/6/725796-30596-23-pristine.jpg)
Ugly fuel filler hole by Airfix
![Album image #57 Album image #57](/albums/img/7/9/7/725797-30596-79-pristine.jpg)
I punched out a disc and detailed it
![Album image #58 Album image #58](/albums/img/7/9/8/725798-30596-95-pristine.jpg)
Looks much better now
![Album image #59 Album image #59](/albums/img/8/0/4/725804-30596-67-pristine.jpg)
Rudder details
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/8/1/0/725810-30596-71-pristine.jpg)
I used Krome Foil for the rear view mirror
![Album image #61 Album image #61](/albums/img/8/0/6/725806-30596-72-pristine.jpg)
I printed the serial numbers on clear decal paper
![Album image #62 Album image #62](/albums/img/8/0/5/725805-30596-42-pristine.jpg)
Serials applied
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/7/7/9/725779-30596-93-720.jpg)
The gun patches are Tamiya 10mm masking tape painted Insignia Red
![Album image #64 Album image #64](/albums/img/7/8/0/725780-30596-56-720.jpg)
Looks ok to me
![Album image #65 Album image #65](/albums/img/8/0/9/725809-30596-76-pristine.jpg)
Antenna wires are EZ Line
Commentaires
5 28 March 2017, 18:55
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
Gareth, here is the E-Bay sale I bought my LED`s from. They have lots of colours, just be sure to order 0402 lights, they are the tiniest ones. I use warm white for the white lights, they look like an incandescent bulb. Cool white would be better for landing and search lights, I suppose.
Ebay.ca Item - 10 pcs Pre Wired Red 0402 SMD LED scenery Lights Pre soldered Micro LEDs Lamps
29 March 2017, 20:02
![](/profiles/img/20442-422-s.jpg)
Very interesting Norm. I was only thinking about LEDs in models this morning and now I have a tutorial. 🙂
30 March 2017, 06:41
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
These lights are awesome and (China, unfortunately) cheap. I'll post a picture of them illuminated in my album in a bit.
30 March 2017, 18:29
![](/profiles/img/25672-115-s.jpg)
Nice! I am going to watch where this is going for sure! If I may suggest, if you have not already considered it, using a reed switch for the power switch. You can put it in the kit and turn it off and on with almost any magnet.
30 March 2017, 18:31
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
Thanks Taarna! I'll check that out. That's a great idea! (I never thought of it.)
30 March 2017, 18:59
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
Due to technical issues, the light experiment is cancelled. I'll do it on a future project. This model will be completed without them.
13 February 2019, 11:47
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
I'm enjoying the extra detail work, the scale is big enough to make it fun!
17 March 2019, 20:48
![](/profiles/img/25672-115-s.jpg)
This is looking nice for sure. May I ask what the technical problem was with lighting?
18 March 2019, 16:31
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
I put 5 micro LEDs in the model and when I hooked up all the wiring I accidentally applied 9V and burned some out. I'm going to do another project with lights down the road. Just a 64 year old brain fart issue. Bummed myself out!
19 March 2019, 14:19
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
Yup, those brain farts just sneak up on you, the foul gaseous mixture builds up in the frontal cortex until the pressure is too great and POOF, you screw something up totally!
19 March 2019, 20:54
![](/profiles/img/25672-115-s.jpg)
I'm sorry that happened. I've done it as well 😄
The build is really looking nice!
29 April 2019, 01:29
![](/profiles/img/23938-707-s.jpg)
Great progress Norm. This will be a BIG bird, hope you are adding on a room for it... About those brain farts: I worry about those too, until I think back about all the doozies I performed as a young-brained lad. Sometimes I think that attainment of wisdom is just nature's way to keep the snafu frequency constant throughout life 😄
12 February 2020, 15:28
![](/profiles/img/48798-450-s.jpg)
Ahh mate this is just incredible!
I really enjoyed my Airfix 1/24 Spit, appalling fit & moulding issues aside, this is so many levels above my modest efforts though 👍
The detail in that cockpit is simply staggering!
12 February 2020, 15:44
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
Thanks for the compliments guys. I have been building for 57 years now, and finally retired from daily labours, so the output will move up a notch. It is truly a horrible kit in many ways but the shape is definitely right. And it is for a customer, so I don't have to store it afterwards!
12 February 2020, 23:19
![](/profiles/img/11503-886-s.jpg)
very nicely done! I know the pain of this kit so really this came out well!
23 March 2020, 00:06
![](/profiles/img/18540-402-s.jpg)
I came across your build here after looking at Andy's build yesterday. Very excellent build yourself here.
Ah, these were so cutting edge when they came out.
Really grand to see them still being wrestled with, eh?
22 April 2021, 21:28
![](/profiles/img/36121-874-s.jpg)
Hi Norm! Great result, I wish I'd watched this earlier- would help with my 1/24th Spit build too! I hope I can get close to your superb work!! Well done!
22 April 2021, 22:29
![](/profiles/img/30596-820-s.jpg)
I really enjoy building the old kits and even though I made a few errors as usual, they always turn out fairly well.
23 April 2021, 11:27
![](/profiles/img/33079-346-s.jpg)
Pretty impressive build Norm! Very impressed with the steering stick thingy.
24 April 2021, 08:22
Album info
This will be a replica of the Spitfire Mk.I that shot down German Ace Helmut Wick in November of 1940. I am using the old Airfix 1:24th scale kit, with some changes and improvements.