rotary

Two photos. between pages 96 and 97 in Alfred Price's 'The Hardest Day' one of them showing the 'victory' bars on rudder --with the 18th. August 4 Hurris added. I, some time ago, did the Trump. Hurri as SD-N P3059---one of those unfortunate four. To be honest, they do not show very much else in way of detail Thomas. Dave.

Outstanding Harry Tate build. You are a consumate modeller airtourer. Dave.

We should remember though that 'domed headed rivets' are mandatory for many Spit rear fuselages (though the big Airfix kit got it right----superbly re-released now with, at long last, a new decal sheet offering two lovely alternatives---I could not resist buying it yet again----this is my eleventh since it first came out), and ALL Hurricane wings. Indeed I would say the ONLY failing in the Trumpeter Hurri. is the 'flush rivetted' wings. Cheers, Dave.

Hi Kev., Make another, draped---the idea is to good to waste mate. and a pair of gloves. Is that modelling medium as good as Milliput (all I ever use), it seems to be. Dave.

Hi Kev., Not having visited for quite some time---I never realised you were over here also. Love the coat mate----and everything else---this one is going to have loads of character... Cheers, Dave.

Hi Nick, Yes indeed great pics. but we should not forget that they do not 'represent' a Mk. 1 Hurri. really. It was originally a Canadian Mk. XII, and many details, spinner and tailwheel assembly come to mind instantly (though not only), are quite wrong for a Mk. 1--but very, very valuable photos nonetheless. Cheers, Dave.

Hi Gary, Around August 1941 (15th.I believe) the colour standardised for Spit. undersurfaces was Medium Sea Grey---it belonged to the same family of non-blue-toned greys as Dark Sea Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey, both Naval colours, but was lighter in tone. 'Sky' spinner and 18 inch fuselage band remained. Cheers, Dave.

Just give me mushroom rivets on the fuse--oh yes! and a seperate rudder------I say again, please. I for one would live with loads of 'little errors'------and that Spit looks like the dogs bollcks to me Dave.

Hi everybody, It looks bloody good to me---is it, I wonder, too late to get some mushroom rivets on that fuselage? And, a seperate Rudder PLEASE. Cheers, Dave.

Not so Kevin, Your 'blue tapes topside/leading edges is just the particular decor on that one, with blue upper wing finish---white centre section upper wing--the white can be seen. The 'blue/white wing, red nose, points to Bertholds DV11....but I am loving your build Kevin. Dave.

Beautiful workmanship---to which I would only add that ALL props. were laminated, without exception. Many people think that only German ones were, because the woods used by them show very clearly... Just a point... Dave.

CHUNKY and CLUNKY---a strange mix of superb (engine cowling, guns, seat.) and crude (Wings, tail) alumimium side shield panels behind engine wrong ---which MUST alter the interior a bit as it is linked---the discrepancy here also forces the oval inspection hatches to be too small, very crude lacing on s'board side--and very CHUNKY longerons and upright in visible cockpit area. Cockpit opening is to small (I know variations in this are common ---for easier access to cocking handles---but I don't mean that... All in all I do not think it is a brilliantly accurate rendition--the (too small) inspection ovals look like they are fastened on with, well, holes---representing what? It is as if the designer thinks Dzus fasteners like a Spit or Hurri) were used on the Camel, and has (poorly) represented them......they were'nt anyway! The wheels are very poor (the splay angle looks O.K. in some photos., not so good in others---but that is easily rectifiable. I'm sure it could be worked up---but at the price---I would get a better Camel if I took the spare cash and 'worked up' the old Revell one. Just my 'take' Dave.

New fuselage completely with mushroom rivets back from cockpit-----I just don't think we'll get a Mk. 1 from Tamiya myself. Dave.

The trumpeter Hurricanes are THE best in any scale---without any douby Dave.

I call it a good kit for one simple reason---it has all the essential dimensions and proportions just about spot on. There are absolutely loads of things that need doing on it to make it perfect---but that is true of almost every kit in existence even now, let alone one's from the '60's. The Wing Nuts SE5a whilst near perfection had a featureless and devoid of any detail fin and rudder---and decals just a tad too big..... Perfection is a heady and rare vintage. But how many of us demand perfection? I will always settle for a bit here and a bit there--and all improvements add to the self satisfaction, it's what my idea of being a modeller is all about. Until someone turns out a better kit in, that scale, of a Mk.1 Spit. (and Trumpeters Mk.V is nowhere near as good---I can think of nothing done very much better in that kit, despite it being, what, thirty years on) it is the only game in town---and a very good game indeed. Airfix's Hurricane (which I also loved despite huge outline and proportion errors, that the Spit does'nt have) is now comprehensively eclipsed by Trumpeters gold standard Hurri (decals apart)----I wish they had done a Spit. half as good, but they have'nt. Nor has anyone else. If You, or anyone else want something a bit Spitfire- ish--build Airfix's grand old lady from the box----it'll be as good as any other Spit. in it's scale. If we want to super detail it--it will be better than anything else in it's scale. That's why I have never gone beyond it since the Very first one I built as a teenager---the Week it was first released. Dave.

Done it a few times myself Tony----pity the fuse. mushroom rivets vanish in the process BUT at least time to get rid of all those strakes on wing root fairings and wing tips. As I mentioned elsewhere, Contact Resine used to do (and may still) super resin Spit wheels---and if you can beg, steal or borrow Hurri exhausts they are just the ticket (the one's in the kit of course are NOT mk.1 type. The decals are the weak point even now (more so) as the last one I bought had oversize type 'B' roundels and were very dark and thick---in a word, unusable. Model on Tony... Dave.

Although (i remember posting it here some months ago for one of the guy's doing a build) there is a very easy and very passable mod. that looks as good, almost, as MDC's resin replacement oil cooler---and (am I just lucky) I have never down all the years since either came out needed to bother with a wingspar. I can't understand the requirement. The Hase/Revell one does'nt need it, and the big Airfix lady (I must now be into my ninth or tenth build since it first came out) just needs the wing roots and fuselage mating surfaces filed back a bit to give a perfect dihedral angle. Although I used to trim off the bottom of the bulkheads in cockpit a bit to assist--but this is not even essential... Just my observations --- Dave.

And grab a set of exhausts from either the Airfix or Trump Hurri (not easy, but someone MAY have some from an old, and now broken, build) as this is THE main error in the otherwise largely SUPERB Airfix Mk.1. Contact Resine Used to do (and possibly still do) super wheels which are slightly better than stock one's---but it's a bit of a luxury and not essential.. Spinner is better if it is reduced a bit and made a bit more pointy (but careful scrutiny of photos. to 'get it right'. Dodgy, and oversize wing type 'B' roundels and DARK , thick decals on last one I did.....need chucking. Cheers, Dave.

Hi Ralph, You might want to make it the 'dogs bollo--s' by using MDC's part no. CV32002 (Jablo props and 'petite' D.H. spinner) --utterly superb and 'spot on'--or use the pic. of same on MDC's site to reprofile a bit, the alternative spinner in kit to a smaller more pointed profile. I do this even on the big Airfix Spit always. You are unquestionably the Spit. King here at the moment my friend----benchmark build Ralph.. Cheers, Dave.

Hi Derek, Great work, as expected, on the cockpit up-grade my friend, sales of the 'nupe' kit are going to sky-rocket.. Now what about that Bristol.... Dave.

Hi Ralph, Exquisite Spit. my friend--simply superb. Someone made a valid observation re. the spinner choice---you MAY want to re-visit that some time, but that said, still as gorgeous a Spit. as I've seen. Dave.

Tricky (for me anyway) but here goes, for what it's worth- Possibly a yellowish/ greenish zinc primer--translucent. This based on a WARTIME colour picture of a Spit. with root fairing removed and a definate yellowish colour underneath!! But possibly a silver anti-corrosion paint. Not much help i'm afraid, but, as always, caution when looking at modern restorations... Dave.

Hi Alan, I agree most heartily--the Airfix Spit is sadly in need of new decals. The last one I bought (only about six months) had VERY dark printed and thick decals (I called them transfers way back when the kit first came out) and the type 'B' roundels were oversize--I used Techmod for all decals---and Carpena (modified) for squadron codes... Dave.

Hi Alan, Still a Mk.1 though, X4067 was with 610 from August '40 -- flown (according to my records) by Sgt. Arnfield, and on 24th August by P/O Gray. It was lost at sea in transit overseas on 8th. Jan. '43!! Remember that plenty of Mk. 1's were in the 'X' range------X4386 LO-G X4722 LO-E both of 602 squadron ----and X4028 of the same squadron all definate mk.1's--X4474 QV-I of 19 squadron...and during the 'battle' they were just Mk.1's---the designation '1a' not coming into general use until 1941 Cheers, Dave. EDIT, Just as a possible interest how about this for a Mk.1 longevity-- X4272 started out as a Mk.1 in August 1940--modified to mk.1b standard in Sept. '40--used in action by 92 Squadron. In '41 converted (as so many were) to Mk. VB and serving with 222 Squadron. Then converted to LF Mk. VB (with 501) flying two combat sorties over the D-Day beaches!!! She continued to fly operations until July '44......Not a bad old record for an original old Mk.1

Hi Derek, And that (aerosol primer) works on decal rib tapes--i used the technique (found it by mistake) on my Trump. Hurri about a year ago (just sfter it was released anyway). It gives a slightly 'pickled' effect which is a reasonable simulation of stitching---reasonable, but difficult to control... Dave.