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Revell Spitfire Mk.II


Nic C.D.

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I have followed with a lot of interest the comments on Revell's new Spitfire Mk.II here on LSP. I think it is great that we have this kit, especially at the fantastic price it is. The oob kit looks pretty good to me... 

 

A lot has been said about the kit, but kits are made to be built, so here goes! I am not a specialist on the Spitfire, I just like the looks and history of the aircraft. And the sound it makes! I'll be imitating the sound throughout the build! Some of you might have great knowledge on the Spitfire, so feel free to suggest modifications. See it as an experiment: if I'm able to do the suggested modifications, I will. I like the list Edgard Brooks made in LSP Discussion, so I'll focus on that, but if you have info, ideas or photos of details, please post them!

 

I hope this LSP assisted build will work...

I'm building another one oob, so it'll be cool to see the difference in the end results.

 

First step: cockpit. I found a few photos online of the Mk.II cockpit and some of them are quite different (huh?). So where do I need to ad details? This is what I have so far: 

  

Foto-4PKW3USY-D.jpg

 

I've added a few bars and some lines on the side wall, but that's it so far.

 

Foto-TVKZNGHF-D.jpg

 

Part of the cockpit detail is molded on the fuselage. This is what it looks like when they are together:

 

Foto-GJ4SJXQ6-D.jpg

 

The seat: I'll have to get some seatbelts for it though... I like the opened-up details of the oval part! No need to get a drill out!

 

Foto-PWCVD7ER-D.jpg

 

And this is what everything looks like so far when put together: 

 

Foto-SPIVT4OE-D.jpg

 

Not bad ! Now, what to add?

 

I'm looking forward to your feedback and suggestions!

 

Nic

 

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Hi Nico, personally, I'd at least do the following easy changes:

 

- add the seat cushion with Magisculpt or lead foil. This would hide the odd seat back.

 

- if you built an OOB version, remove the flare cartridge holder located on the seat front edge. They were used on Westland Spitfires but as far as I know all MkIIs were built by the Castle Bromwich factory.

 

- add the missing hoses (copper wire) on front of the control stick.

 

- and even if this is not as obvious as the prior changes, adding the seat armor is also recommended.

 

HTH

 

Thierry

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Hello Nic,

 

Many thanks for taking the time to detail your build. I'm eager to see how this kit builds and what it looks like as you go along.

I hope that you will be able to show us photos of the component parts so that we can all see if anything might warrant our attention.

I am moderately surprised that no pilot figure is supplied in the kit but I think aftermarket figures are available so no real problem.

I am particularly keen to see what the surface treatment looks like when you get that far. A recent review on another site had somewhat damning close-up shots that may have made the rivet detail appear more pro-nounced than it actually is. I hope your build will reveal more.

Additionally I am looking forward to seeing how the wheel bays and gear legs look as again, in photos on the web, that area looks a little simplified.

 

I want to like this kit and I'm attempting to view it with an open mind although I admit my enthusiasm for it has taken a minor knock. Your dry fitted parts a neat start so hopefully this thread will rekindle my desire.

Good luck and enjoy yourself.

 

Cheers,

 

Guy

 

Edit* Would it be possible to make your images a little larger Nic? I think the forum permits 700pixels wide without re-sizing the images.

Edited by geedubelyer
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It's good to see one being built instead of endlessly argued about!  Spitfires I'm afraid don't especially do it for me but I'll be watching this one as it progresses.

Max

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I found some time tonight to get some extra detail in the cockpit (thanks James for the info !) and here is a little progress:

 

Foto-HHSGJ333-D.jpg

 

Not the best of photos, I've got bad light at the moment. The cockpit oob is good, but as with so many kits, details can be added. I added a lot of tubing and extra instruments on the side wall (and a very small lever on the I.P). Some card on the floor got the punch & die on it, you'll probably won't see it when the seat is in, but hey: it's there! 

 

With the progress, the first questions come too: Thierry wrote that I should leave the flare cartridge holder at the front of the seat off, but in the photos in the link Brad gave, the holder can clearly be seen. So: on or off ...? 

 

Guy, about the surface of the kit and the much talked about rivets; it looks pretty good to me! I'll make some photos of it, but I think a lot of photos that have been posted online show these in extreme detail. I would compare them to the rivets of the trumpeter A-6 or the Hobby Boss P-61. About a pilot: I will build and paint one (at least, I will try) but I don't know which one yet. For this too: suggestions are welcome!

 

I hope you like the progress so far!

 

Nic

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Well, I told you that no MkII had the flare holder. I'm not sure this period picture shows a production MkII. Indeed, it has the early MkI landing gear lever... Compare the first and the last pictures.

Last, period pictures often show modified airplanes or prototypes rather than the detailed features of normal production planes.

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