MikeC

Incidentally, can I ask which Tamiya paints (or mixes) you used for the upper surface colours? I use mostly Tamiya myself, and your colours look spot-on.

Hi Dani, apologies, just a little bit of light humour. The quote is a slight misquote of a line in the Battle of Britain film. Young inexperienced pilot attempts to land with undercarriage up (alas all too common in those days, when a Spitfire was probably the first aircraft he'd flown with a retractable u/c). He gets a red flare, realises his mistake, goes round again and lands. Greeted by the Flight Sergeant who asks "Undercarriage lever a bit sticky was it Sir?" "Why yes ...it was." he says, thinking to save his embarrassment, and FS advises him not to tell the CO that. Anyway, as a bit of a Spitfire fan, I stick to modelling flaps up unless the aircraft is on its final approach or rolling out. And I fully agree that anyone may depict the flaps down if they so choose, but I usually put the comment. No offence taken, I hope, and I say again, a great model, beautifully built and finished. An unusual variant too, in that one doesn't see models of Seafires very often. So well done. That's an interesting photo. I don't think it's immediately pre-takeoff, that doesn't appear to be a pilot in the cockpit, and the cowl is off, and there are too many people milling about. Perhaps preparation for launch, or rectification? And as you rightly say, the flaps are down. They were usually only used for landing; they were pneumatically operated, and had only two positions: fully up or fully (90 degrees) down. However, one technique for short take-offs, which was used for launching the Malta Spitfires from the carrier on their delivery flights, was this. Drop the flaps; insert wedge of wood whilst pilot raises flaps again: flaps are now at a suitable angle to give a bit of extra lift at take-off. After take-off, pilot briefly lowered flaps, and then raised them again, the wood insert dropped out. A bit of a "lash-up", but it worked. So perhaps it was used elsewhere as well? Anyway, great model, and I hope I didn't offend.

I feel your pain. I'm currently working on a 1:48 Eduard Bf 109G. The pitot is moulded on to the wing, I've got to the decals and it's still there! But the little aerial attachment on top of the fin has gone.

Very nicely done, but I'll ask the inevitable question: "Flap lever a bit sticky was it, sir?"

Coming along nicely, makes me want to get going on mine.

Beautifully done.

First thing I do is to remove from the backing sheet the surplus material which isn't an actual mask or bit of one. Usually easy to see then. However, do beware of accidentally taking a mask with the surplus - take it slowly. Took me ages to have that little flash of inspiration, used it a couple of times now on Eduard masks.

Good work - following ...

Some interesting schemes there, but I have to admit I'd been hoping that there'd be an RAF and/or CACW option in the box. C'est la vie en plastique ...

Sweet! Beautiful paintwork and everything else.

I've not seen that scheme before, it looks very good, and very well executed. Great model.

Loking really good.

Hi Richard, Welcome aboard.

TBH for something that size I'd try to mask and spray if I could. That raises a whole new set of problems though, foremost among which is colour matching. As for complex shapes, a couple of photocopies of the decal sheet (one for a backup/spare) makes a good template for masking said complex shapes. If I do go the decal route, as others have said above, I try to cut them into segments if at all possible.

Ouch!! Very best wishes for a swift recovery.

I'd prefer the other direction in the marks, a XIV in both high and low back variants would please me and I suspect many others.

Just sayin' ...

Ooh - will there be any options with clipped wings and "Royal Navy" on the side? One can but hope.

Very nicely done.

Very well done.

Superb!

Exactly. I have to admit my definition of "subject" is flexible. For example in my book and for this purpose a P-51B is not the same as a P-51D, and in Spitfires or 109s it's down to individual sub-variants, but again for example an F4F (inc FM-1 & FM-2) is an F4F and I'll only ever build one at most. No offence meant to anyone who's really into Wildcats.

Oh yes, very much, thanks. Nice sunny day, a couple of gentle aerobatics, and I had control for over 90% of the time. Changing the subject, and to follow on from another point, I think I can honestly say that whilst I have dithered over selling many a kit - do I really wanna sell it, actually I really wanna build it, but is is complex, and I want to do that next Spit/the RE.8/etc etc - I very rarely regret selling a kit once it's gone. The odd pang about one or two, but not enough to make me want to buy another copy. I've also set myself another rule: I won't build duplicates in 1:32, so only one large-scale model of each subject. The exceptions to that? Spitfires, 109s, Hunters, and ... why have I set this rule??

G-APFU. Goodwood (aka Westhampnett) 2006. Yes, that's me in the front seat.