DonH

Oh boy, oh boy. I don't understand why I am so excited about this, but pre-order done.
Can't wait, want it now, now, now, NOW.

Oh boy, oh boy. I don't understand why I am so excited about this, but pre-order done.
Can't wait, want it now, now, now, NOW.

Oh boy, oh boy. I don't understand why I am so excited about this, but pre-order done.
Can't wait, want it now, now, now, NOW.

Oh boy, oh boy. I don't understand why I am so excited about this, but pre-order done.
Can't wait, want it now, now, now, NOW.

Peter, this is magnificent and is already bringing hours of joy to many people. You are pushing the boundaries of quality and detail.
 
I am daydreaming about how you could apply all this skill and experience to a Spey Toom....

Yes

I found this reference on Hyperscale including some insight from the late, great, Edgar Brooks. To answer your question, I think the lights were there on some and not on others. I guess, check your reference and if Airfix have them painted over, i am not sure anyone can disagree with that with any degree of certainty.
 
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hyperscale/downward-identification-lights-on-mk-viii-spitfire-t164323.html
 

...although I might consider the Barracudacast control column.
I have the resin exhausts with the kit.

Really essential?
Canopy masks for sure.
For me, that's it, the rest is nice to have in my opinion but not essential.

If I may be so bold, there is no way that this Spitfire does not have an antenna post. 
 
Upon what do I base this assertion? Gut feel and the conviction that these Spits were never fitted with the equipment that meant no antenna post. Show me a picture of another MkIX of this vintage without antenna post, and I will waver but until then...no way.

Really essential?
Canopy masks for sure.
For me, that's it, the rest is nice to have in my opinion but not essential.

Peter, this is magnificent and is already bringing hours of joy to many people. You are pushing the boundaries of quality and detail.
 
I am daydreaming about how you could apply all this skill and experience to a Spey Toom....

Peter, this is magnificent and is already bringing hours of joy to many people. You are pushing the boundaries of quality and detail.
 
I am daydreaming about how you could apply all this skill and experience to a Spey Toom....

You could always build another one...

Why? Because Kotare hasn't got around to it yet.

Why? Because Kotare hasn't got around to it yet.

Why? Because Kotare hasn't got around to it yet.

Work has snuck up and destroyed my time for modelling. There is not way I am going to get this done by the end of May. I am on a plane tomorrow and away from the bench for two weeks. If a mod can move this thread to the main WIP forum, I will reconvene when time allows.

Sorry to say, this build is on hold for a month while I go travelling for business. The cockpit is stuck together and I have taped all the main bits together so it looks like an aeroplane. It has reached the stage where I can run around the room with it going RRROOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRR.
 
When I get home, it should be a fast assembly process and then paint.

I was expecting to be well on with this by now. My plan was to have the cockpit buttoned up and the main airframe together. But no.
I made the mistake of using the Kits World 3D cockpit decals, without adequate checks. They went on OK, but they are a horrible browny grey colour that really doesn't resemble the coal hole of the real thing. What to do? Well, I have several options for the dashboard, but chose the kit part. I swift dry brush and volia. I prefer my version to the 3D decals...

This photo really doesn't show the marked contrast in colours. Of course, they look different, but in the flesh, the 3D version is horrible.
 
Here's another view of the Don's version:

 
I prefer the look of this, and it took the same amount of time, possibly a bit quicker to dry brush and clean up.
 
This is the problem area:

 
Guess which fool scraped off all the kit part's details and stuck on 3D decals....
All is not lost - I have a resin cockpit tub that I will use. It also looks a lot better. No pics this time because I have spent a glorious afternoon grinding the casting block off the tub, so I can get it to fit inside the cockpit. 
 
One poor decision = hours more work. 
 
On a happier note, I have started gluing together the main bits, like the wings. I am taking this carefully to ensure a good fit of the various inserts. More on this another time. until then, on with the assembling!

I am in with this:
 

 
It will slowly emerge before your very eyes as an F74S Hawker Hunter. 
Extra weapons pylons, some aerials to scratch up, and a nice SEA type camo scheme.
And a lovely kit for me to play with.

Done!
 
Kev

Work has snuck up and destroyed my time for modelling. There is not way I am going to get this done by the end of May. I am on a plane tomorrow and away from the bench for two weeks. If a mod can move this thread to the main WIP forum, I will reconvene when time allows.

Work has snuck up and destroyed my time for modelling. There is not way I am going to get this done by the end of May. I am on a plane tomorrow and away from the bench for two weeks. If a mod can move this thread to the main WIP forum, I will reconvene when time allows.

AHHHH, NO!!!!!!
 
I have both kits and was not aware of any issues (at least almost unaware). Now I can't unsee the issues with the HK version. I am going to build it with one eye shut and the other squinting, enjoy the experience and put it on the shelf. At least I know not to put a lot of effort into detailing it 
 
Of course, if it was a Spitfire, I would be ranting about all the issues.