Spitfire F25

[PR19_Kit]

For some reason this project just seemed to have stopped, no idea why, but I found the box containing it today, half way up the stairs, as you do........

I'm not sure if it's a candidate for the Shelf Queen GB or not as I only started it in April this year, but it may return to the workbench soon.

[Spino]

Kind of a shame, I was looking forward to this one!

[PR19_Kit]

That's why I dug it back out............

[Pellson]

Carry on, good Sir! You have my attention.. 

[PR19_Kit]

Getting back on this build now that my He-119 has hit the wall, literally...............

The Spitfire 25 needed some more PSR around the wing roots and tailplane and that's looking OK, but it's difficult doing the 'S' bit without sanding off some of the lumps and bumps that Spitfires gained as they got more 'developed'. Luckily in Whiffworld that's not so important. 

A care package from the Big H arrived as I was actually typing this (good timing on the part of the PO) much of which will go toward this model. 

The parts listing is in the 'My stash just increased again' thread.

[PR19_Kit]

The resin exhausts I got for this build are SERIOUSLY impressive! Made by a Hungarian firm called SD apparently.

Here they are glued in place with the first rough paint job on the cockpit area too.

[Rick Lowe]

  
Nice. And a lot easier than cutting tubing... 

[Gondor]

I bought a couple of sets of those to replace the exhausts in my AZ MB.5's. They do look great.

Gondor

[PR19_Kit]

More painting going in with the FR25, the cockpit's done now and the entire underside has been painted in Medium Sea Grey. That Hataka MSG is magic stuff, goes on well and has a superb finish to it. 

This Spitfire 25 is a mash-up between an RAF Spitfire 24 and an FAA Seafire 47, so I'm using bits of both versions  from the SH kit which allows you to build either of them from the same sprues, very handy.

Included on the Seafire sprues are two underwing blister tanks that are scabbed directly onto the underside of the wing, there's no pylon or anything to separate them from the lower wing surface and I thought I might stick them onto the FR25 too, but I can't find ANY photo evidence of them ever being used!

Doing a Google Image search on 'Seafire FR47' comes up with a zillion pics, as you'd expect (and well over half of them are of models!) but none with those blister tanks at all.

Has anyone ever seen evidence of these tanks being used?

[The Wooksta!]

I think they were used for ferrying.  Other than prototypes, I've not seen much use either, not that it ever stopped me.

The SH Seafire 46 was the one to have, as you got a spare fuselage.

[PR19_Kit]

The SH Seafire 46 was the one to have, as you got a spare fuselage.

Really? If they'd have slung a pair of wings in too, you could have built TWO complete models! You already get FIVE rudders etc.

[PR19_Kit]

I've got all the basic paint on the FR25 now, Sea Grey Medium undersides and Ocean Grey topsides, bar a small area of Dark Green behind the cockpit as the canopy will cover that, even when it's closed, and I just may model it open for a change. All brush painted with two coats of Hataka Blue Line paints, lovely stuff.



So now it's time to paint the Dark Green camo pattern, to which end I bought a set of masks for doing just that from the Big H and these were made by TopNotch, whoever they are. I've never used masks for the camo before, always doing it freehand, but I thought I'd give these a try. They come on two sheets of pre-cut (obviously....) vinyl sheet and with a masking diagram in the packet.





There's only one problem, the masking diagram bears NO relationship to the suppled masks whatsoever! 

OK, a few bits and pieces are about the right shape, but they're not in the places that the diagram says they are, and some masks seem to be missing entirely. I've emailed the TopNotch people, politely, and we'll see what happens, but until they reply this build's on hold.

Of course if they delay in replying to me I'll just paint it freehand anyway! 

[kerick]

If nothing else you can use the masks on a whiff tank or something. That could include the normally unused parts left between the regular masks. What are the straight pieces colored yellow for?

[The Wooksta!]

I don't see the point of masks if you're painting freehand.  Just more complications at a time when you don't need them.

[PR19_Kit]

The yellow bits are for the leading edges on some Spitfires. Except they aren't actually on the sheet...........

I just though I'd give these things a try, that's all. If they're all like this it'll be a one-off experiment though!