Done: Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. of the Lebanese Air Force, 1951

[Dizzyfugu]

Getting ready to rumble - this will be a rather simple whif kit, no major conversions, rather some cosmetics, an exotic user and an appropriate background story. Had this project on the list for a while, though, and the 1WGB is a good excuse to tackle it.

Here the major ingredients for the next week:

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe with some mods by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Stay tuned, work will start tomorrow.  

[PR19_Kit]

A Spitfire with a HURRICANE upgrade set??? 

[Dizzyfugu]

Keen eye... yes. I take what I can get. 

[JayBee]

...and Frecce markings! 

[Dizzyfugu]

...and Frecce markings! 

It's not as weird as you might think... But I will have to improvise for the markings.

BTW, there are first signs of progress: Bits and pieces of the vintage Heller Spitfire Mk. XVIe.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe with some mods by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The radiators are molded into the kit's wings and feature a blank "box" inside. While the material is thin, that box rather looks ugly, so I decided to add some foamed plastic as protective mesh inside of the radiators.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe with some mods by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe with some mods by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


As per usual, I modified the propeller mount into a styrene tube construction that holds a free-spinning iron wire axis.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe with some mods by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The cockpit - OOB, just painted with RAF Interior Green, a black ink wash and some dry painting with Light Grey. A pilot will be added for beauty pics later.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe with some mods by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Dizzyfugu]

More progress, and confirmation of Kit's observation: it will become a Mk. XVIe trop., with a dust filter borrowed from a Pavla Hurricane conversion kit, since the aircraft's user will be located in the Mediterranean region...

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


And: a neat find in the spares box! These slipper tanks come from a late Griffon Spitfire/Seafire kit (Special Hobby), and I might add them on this one for the odd look?

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Currently I face strong opposition from the fuselage/wings intersection. Nothing fits - shape is O.K., but the thin plastic of the kit makes glueing a challenge and there's a 1mm(!) gap at bot wing roots that don't help with stability... otherwise things look good.

[TallEng]

Must admit I'm not a big fan of that style of Fuel tank, much preferring the simple
Tear drop shape or Fairey Firefly style (as per ye olde Airfix kit)
Mind you they do look awfully like index wing Gun gondola/pods.
Hope the wing joint doesn't cause to much bother 

Regards
Keith

[Dizzyfugu]

More progress... Test fitting of the free spinning propeller:

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Canopy glued into its place - the side door is opened, too, for later 'static display'.
Notice the tons of putty at the wing/fuselage intersection - a 1mm (!) gap had to bridged, on BOTH sides.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


(Basic) Painting started - this XVI Spitfire will be finished in classic 'RAF Tropical Scheme', with an upper camouflage in Mid Stone and Dark Green, and with Light Blue undersides.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The drop tanks will be kept seperately until the end, not certain to fit them yet. Selling point is that they belong to post WWII versions, and the decidedly odd look. Fit is very good, but I will wait how this modified Mk. XVI will eventually look. The dust filter is already dedicatedly ugly, I guess the slipper tanks won't hurt much more... 

Stay tuned!

[Dizzyfugu]

Painting progress. Basic tones applied, as well as some panel shading with lighter tones. Now a thin black ink wash was added.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Dizzyfugu]

More progress, on the lower surfaces, too, with some shading after the black ink had dried and was wiped away with a soft cotton cloth.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional, Levantine post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[NARSES2]

Flippin Ada, he's almost there 

[Dizzyfugu]

Posted from my personal warp bubble... More "Sand & Spinach" painting progress: additional panel shading and corrections before the decals come, probably this evening.

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com - a 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe trop. in fictional, Levantine post WW2 use by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Things run smoothly! 

[Army of One]

Great work......it's evening now.....

[Dizzyfugu]

Great work......it's evening now.....

Thanks for asking. Now I unveil the Spitfire's operator: the Lebanon!  

Austrian roundels from a TL Modellbau aftermarket sheet...

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com: 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe Trop (Type 361); aircraft "١٥٤ ﻞ/L 154" of 2nd Squadron, Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (القوات الجوية اللبنانية‎/Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya); Rayak Air Base, 1951 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

...become Lebanese Air Force marking with hand-made, dark green dots for the roundels' center (just dark green enemale paint on clear decal sheet and a hole punch)!

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com: 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe Trop (Type 361); aircraft "١٥٤ ﻞ/L 154" of 2nd Squadron, Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (القوات الجوية اللبنانية‎/Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya); Rayak Air Base, 1951 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

That's the result:

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com: 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe Trop (Type 361); aircraft "١٥٤ ﻞ/L 154" of 2nd Squadron, Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (القوات الجوية اللبنانية‎/Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya); Rayak Air Base, 1951 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

And with some more markings we have a 1st generation fighter of the Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (القوات الجوية اللبنانية‎/Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya) in 1951!

"One Week Group Build" at whatifmodelers.com: 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XVIe Trop (Type 361); aircraft "١٥٤ ﻞ/L 154" of 2nd Squadron, Lebanese Air Force (LAF) (القوات الجوية اللبنانية‎/Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Lubnaniyya); Rayak Air Base, 1951 by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Some more weathering (exhaust soot, oil) to come, and matt varnish tomorrow. 

[Army of One]

Oh wow.......spanking awesome work.....love it......