Karatay

Hello, It's been suggested the propeller tips of the Trumpeter Hurricane MKII are not quite right. In fact, this manufacturer has reproduced them accuratly! Apart from De Havilland sets, Hurricanes were also fitted with two different Rotol wood propellers assemblies: Trumpeter's is representative of one such unit, with the correct type of blade tip. There is plenty of photographic evidence that supports this fact. I hope I am not too late! Happy modelling Vasko

hello again, You're welcome to one of my PR canopies! For all your questions, please e-mail me directly. I'll be more than happy to help. Cheers Vasko

Hello Rui, My new bulge is hollow (made according to an original specimen, from an early production Spitfire MKIXC) and you simply glue it, on the access panel, after having sliced off, horizontally, the Tamiya one. I am passing the patterns to Grey Matter Figures. For more details and possible photos, please get in touch with them next week. Kind regards Vasko

Hi, I have just made the pattern for the round version of the cannon bulges: It's designed to fit the existing Tamiya access doors to the cannon bays, after theirs is sliced off. Any one interested, please contact me directly via timsah@onetel.com Cheers Vasko

Hi, - For those who have the Warbirds Productions PRXIX conversion: I made the patterns for it a long time ago, when only the Hasegawa/Revell kits were available. However, I would recommend the PCM MKIX without hesitation as a good base for this conversion 1) To adapt the Griffon nose of the PRXIX to the rounder section of the MKIX would be very easy, 2) converting the MKIX wings require very simple minor interventions. - Radu and I cooperated in the production of the MKXIV conversion. In fact the tail unit, retractable tail wheel, exhaust stubs, carburator intake, propeller blades were indeed Warbirds Productions existing items. Reworked/improved versions are now being offered with the ex Warbirds Productions PRXIX conversion (presently sold by Grey Matter Figures). Radu's two-part nose, spinner and radiators are absolutely beautiful and the whole conversion kit + PCM MKIX would make a superb PRXIX model; except that you would have to scratchbuild your own PHOTO RECON. canopy (alternatively, if you don't fancy the idea..... I have several vacformed ones left). Hope this will have clarified matters and make your choice easier! Happy modelling Vasko

Hello Tony, Yes! but the cockpit being compressed longitudinally, you would have to cut off some of the front coaming (over the instrument panel). Also, it would be better to leave the sliding hood in the open position. I wouls also suggest you eliminate the blisters and bulges and the redundant rivets; replacing these with rivets that would reflect the new internal structure. E-mail me for photos: timsah@onetel.com Good luck with your project! Vasko

Hello, The trumpeter MKVb may be "modern" technology, but with quite a few discrepencies!!!!!: The canopy is wrong, the undercarriage is racked back (they even reproduced this error in the art work on the box cover!!!!), the seat is a joke, the tailplanes upper surfaces have been made with fabric surfaces (someone's fantasy perhaps????), the fuel tank and top engine cowling are too squarish ....etc! By the way, the Rotol prop assembly, seat and supports, correct tailplanes, control column, under carriage control quadrant, etc, have never been MDC, but WARBIRDS PRODUCTIONS items, now being sold exclusively by GREY MATTER FIGURES Thanks for reading this Vasko

Many thanks Hans. The pics of the decal sheet will be very useful: the info was needed to produce a colour profile of these MKIXS. It will complement another 20 to 30 profiles, which are being prepared for my book on the Spitfire Fighter. Derek, merci for helping....we'll have a chat some time. Cheers Vasko

Hello Hans, Many thanks for the info, especially the references for the colours! Do you happen to have a picture or artist's impression of the emblem? Regards Vasko

Hello Charles, That will do very well indeed! Many thanks for your kind help! Gratefully Vasko

Hello I need an interesting scheme for a Dutch East Indies Spitfire MKIX C or E, as used over there, immediately after WW2. I believe their upper surfaces were in some shade of dark green. Some had a badge or cartoon embleme on the port side cowling. Can anyone help with info on the camo colours, badges, etc; or photos of the port side of such MKIXs? Many thanks Vasko

Reply to Mike's question: Hello Mike, Yes indeed the MkXIV inherited the wing from the MKVII/VIII. However, this was merely a variation of the UNIVERSAL wing. As the designation indicates, it was designed to accept mods without extensive alterations and difficulties. The mark kept this wing till the end of its production run. What you call the E wing is in fact a variation of the Universal wing with the same short aileron, but adapted to carry the E-type armament in the two- compartment cannon bay (Many MKXIV C and E were sold after WW2 to Belgium and all had the short aileron). As you well know, this armament consisted of one 20mm Hispano MKII in the outer cannon compartment and one 50. cal MG in the inner one. The wing configured for the E-Type armament still featured the access panel to the outer MG compartments, albeit without empty shell case chutes or blisters. BUT BOTH THE CANNON and THE 50. cal MG HAD CHUTES and NO BUNG OVER THE 50. cal MG BLAST TUBE!!!!!! if still in doubt, please ask Edgar Brook, I consider him an expert on such subjects! By the way, Radu and I produced the MKXIV conversion for the PCM MKIX, together. Cheers Vasko

Hello Brian, I hope it's not too late: the MKXIV had ailerons about one foot shorter than normal. Also, 1) the rear tip of the outboard cannon bulge should be adjacent to the row of fasteners, 2) this type of wing had a narrow blister chordwise over the wheel well rib, 3) the empty shell case chute for the cannon is not open, 4) the stub in board of the cannon barrels is a blast tube for the .50 M G and should be open, 5) both the plate over the wheel well and the chordwise panel line behind it are superfluous. A very neat, nice model otherwise! looking forward to seeing it finished! Cheers Vasko

Hi Brian, It's always a great pleasure to see those restored Spitfires flying...... however, They are not always 100% accurate : all MKXIVS and MKXVIIIs had retractable tail wheels (that's why I produced them for the conversion kits). Also, you'd better have a good look at wartime photos of the aircraft you wish to model : I have a feeling it was fitted with the original MKXIV fin & rudder (not the MKXVIII's, which was a retrofit seen on some MKXIVs). All the restored aircraft shown above have the MKXVIII's. Cheers Vasko

Hello Jeroen, Beautifully painted model and very nicely presented! However, apart from the cannon bulge being in the wrong place for a MKIX with E armament (should be over the outer cannon bay and at the back, adjacent to the line of rear fasteners), you have the cannon empty shell case chutes blanked off and open outer M.G chutes...... discrepencies that can easily be put right! I hope you won't take this badly!.....I love Spitfires! Cheers Vasko