Spitfire Mk.Ia (Eduard 1/48) - In progress
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/3/8/1661838-116305-87-720.jpg)
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/8/3/9/1661839-116305-88-720.jpg)
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/8/3/0/1661830-116305-18-720.jpg)
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/8/3/1/1661831-116305-99-720.jpg)
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/8/3/2/1661832-116305-33-720.jpg)
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/8/3/6/1661836-116305-35-720.jpg)
Cockpit assembled and ready for installation into the fuselage. I have to admire Eduard's engineering, they really did a superb job out there, everything fits together like a Lego so far 🙂.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/8/5/2/1661852-116305-82-720.jpg)
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/1/6/4/1667164-116305-54-720.jpg)
All main kit parts glued together, only a minimal amount of putty and sanding was needed (which anyway, I think, was caused by a build error on my end..).
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/1/6/5/1667165-116305-32-720.jpg)
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/1/6/6/1667166-116305-52-720.jpg)
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/1/6/7/1667167-116305-42-720.jpg)
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/5/2/1672952-116305-89-720.jpg)
Model got primed by Mr. Surfacer 1500, I fixed all minor errors I found after that and polished the whole surface. It also got a subtle marbling/preshading, ready for its livery now.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/9/5/1/1672951-116305-35-720.jpg)
Bottom surfaces finished in RAF "Sky". I'm using the AK Air Series acrylics (3rd gen) for the first time and so far the experience was "mixed" at first. But I finally figured it out, those paints are rather really thick out of the bottle and need a proper dilution (way more thinner is needed for airbrushing compared to the standard Tamiya or Gunze acrylics I am used to).
Also, I have a habit of diluting the paint directly in my airbrush cup, not the best idea for AK 3rd gen acrylics 🙁. You get a lot of clogging and other lovely problems if you do that... So, prepare your paint outside and fill the airbrush once you are certain you got the right mix. Also, I found out that a drop or two of Vallejo airbrush cleaner helps them not to dry fast on the nozzle/needle and will give you much longer work time on your model. When you lay thin layers of the paint on the model you will get a nice satin finish in the end (4 layers of paint on the picture) and you won't kill all of the preshading you did before.
Also, I have a habit of diluting the paint directly in my airbrush cup, not the best idea for AK 3rd gen acrylics 🙁. You get a lot of clogging and other lovely problems if you do that... So, prepare your paint outside and fill the airbrush once you are certain you got the right mix. Also, I found out that a drop or two of Vallejo airbrush cleaner helps them not to dry fast on the nozzle/needle and will give you much longer work time on your model. When you lay thin layers of the paint on the model you will get a nice satin finish in the end (4 layers of paint on the picture) and you won't kill all of the preshading you did before.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/5/0/1672950-116305-36-720.jpg)
I searched the depths of the internet for some help with masking the upper surfaces of the Spitfire. All of the forums I visited recommended to go to the yolo.net website to get printer-ready Spitfire masks, but the site seems to be dead for quite a long time. Thankfully, we have the archive.org/"Wayback machine" and it saved the day 🙂. If anybody would be searching for the masks, go here --> web.archive.org/web/..plates/SpitTemp.html.
It's made ready to be printed in the 48th scale on a 8.5x11 inch paper, however it fits quite nicely the European standard A4 paper sheet as well. I tested it on the horizontal stabilizer to see if I have the scale right, it fits like a glove.
It's made ready to be printed in the 48th scale on a 8.5x11 inch paper, however it fits quite nicely the European standard A4 paper sheet as well. I tested it on the horizontal stabilizer to see if I have the scale right, it fits like a glove.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/4/4/6/1690446-116305-39-720.jpg)
Camo is finished, working on stencils and markings now.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/1/1/8/1692118-116305-20-720.jpg)
The Spit is nearing completion, I hope to get it finished tomorrow, next photo will show it hopefully on its own legs 🙂
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/1/1/7/1692117-116305-27-720.jpg)
![Album image #18 Album image #18](/albums/img/3/8/6/1692386-116305-72-720.jpg)
![Album image #19 Album image #19](/albums/img/3/8/7/1692387-116305-35-720.jpg)
![Album image #20 Album image #20](/albums/img/3/8/8/1692388-116305-41-720.jpg)
The Spit is finished, I'll be adding a proper gallery soon.
![Album image #21 Album image #21](/albums/img/3/8/9/1692389-116305-35-720.jpg)
![Album image #22 Album image #22](/albums/img/3/9/0/1692390-116305-97-720.jpg)
Comments
18 12 February, 10:24
![](/profiles/img/116305-658-s.jpg)
Thanks J35J! I just finished this project, adding couple of quick phone camera photos here. I'll add a proper gallery later on.
25 March, 12:41