USMC spitfire lives!!!

[noxioux]

Okay, I had to break down and do the most unlikely version first.  This is the low-viz MkII.  I had thought of doing one as a Pappy Boyington bird, but according to my meager research, Boyington was flying P-40's in China when the MkII was being adopted in 1941.  Which leads to some interesting ideas about flying tigers and Spits, but that's a whole other can of worms.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong on my timeline.  From what I gathered, the MkII's were still being adopted pretty much until very late in '41.  So no USMC Pappy Boyington MkII.  Unless you go with the old adage of the Marines getting old worn out junk most of the time (which would be valid).

I think I like the idea of the Marines buying license-built Spits from the Aussies or Canadians.  I am still toying with the idea of using exhausts from a 1/48 P-51 I have, supposing that the engines might be license built by Packard.  Can't really decide on that one, but since the exhausts will be one of the last things to get put on, I have time to make up my mind.

The low-viz scheme is basically an adaptation of a USMC Harrier low-viz scheme.







Yes those are guns on the wings.  I don't yet know how to explain their size or presence yet.  But I will.  Maybe.  The last pic shows the 1/48 spit next to that big pig of a 1/32 thud.  And some 1/35 jarheads I just started.

[Captain Canada]

Cool....can't wait to se her all done up !

And some of the nicest looking Spits ever were those yankee ones, all tan and brown with the stars.....sweet !

 

[dragon]

Okay, I had to break down and do the most unlikely version first.  This is the low-viz MkII.  I had thought of doing one as a Pappy Boyington bird, but according to my meager research, Boyington was flying P-40's in China when the MkII was being adopted in 1941.  Which leads to some interesting ideas about flying tigers and Spits, but that's a whole other can of worms.

Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong on my timeline.  From what I gathered, the MkII's were still being adopted pretty much until very late in '41.  So no USMC Pappy Boyington MkII.  Unless you go with the old adage of the Marines getting old worn out junk most of the time (which would be valid).

I think I like the idea of the Marines buying license-built Spits from the Aussies or Canadians.  I am still toying with the idea of using exhausts from a 1/48 P-51 I have, supposing that the engines might be license built by Packard.  Can't really decide on that one, but since the exhausts will be one of the last things to get put on, I have time to make up my mind.

The low-viz scheme is basically an adaptation of a USMC Harrier low-viz scheme.







Yes those are guns on the wings.  I don't yet know how to explain their size or presence yet.  But I will.  Maybe.  The last pic shows the 1/48 spit next to that big pig of a 1/32 thud.  And some 1/35 jarheads I just started.

The Guns? Perhaps Tank-busting cannons.  As I understand it, Japanese Tanks tended to be thin skinned.  Besides, USMC always has some Air-to-Ground function.  

[Ollie]

Whoa!

Noxious,  get some Ultracast ejector type exhaust for your Spit, they are the one fitted to the Packard-engined Spits.

 

[Ollie]

As I said, Ultracast 1/48 ejector style exhausts.

Exhausts

 

[OldHooker]

Sounds like this is going to be a nice one, can't wait to see it come together!  

Dang... that Thud's engines are bigger than the Spits!    

Take care,
Frank

[noxioux]

Thanks for the link Ollie, I think I'll get two sets of those, so I can do the second USMC spit in the pretty blue paint as well.

Thanks for the historical info, Wooksta.  I've got a good spitfire book laying around somewhere, but it's definitely not what I needed here.

Thanks for all the comments and crits everyone.  This forum kicks donkey.

[Keith Diamond]

That's the RM kit correct?  It looks like you have the box in the background.   I can't wait to see that kit finished, especially in such an attractive camo scheme.

BTW, can you update us on the Thud progress?  I'm building a single seater this summer.  Everything will be OOB except for a Black Box cockpit.

[Radish]

FANTASTIC.
Oh it's SO GOOD.
AAAarrrrggggggg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

[noxioux]

Okay, the first one is done!







I got a Hasegawa MkVIII for the second one, which will be the classic dark blue scheme.  Since it is a later mark, I may make it a Pappy Boyington Spitfire.  I'm about halfway through the construction process with that kit.  Since I don't have to rescribe panel lines, or do any major filling/sanding,  the second spit should be a much quicker build.

[John Howling Mouse]

LOVE it!  Can't wait to see "Gramps" version, too (what Boyington was actually called by his younger pilots until the US press decided post-war that "Gramps" just wasn't "heroic" enough).

     

[retro_seventies]

simple and stunning - spit looks great in those colours....  

[nev]

Wow, that looks amazing!!!  

Fantastic job    

And do I spy some rising sun kill markings under the canopy...?

[Ollie]

Amazing job buddy!

She's a lovely beast!

 

[Leigh]

Oh yes, oh yes, baby, baby, oh yes, right there thats it, oh yes.

It just looks  "right". That really is an awesome model. Thank you.