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Here's the latest project to cross the finish line - the 1970's original issue 1/32nd scale Spitfire MkI which has been used as the base kit to produce a Spitfire PRXIX using Grey Matter's conversion set. I chose the original Revell kit rather than the latest release due to the far superior surface detailing (and the fact that it was picked up cheaply at an airshow!) and although it has an issue with the lack of the gull wing effect on the underside I found that far easier to live with than the ridiculously over-scale trenches and rivets seen on the latest Revell offering. The conversion provides a completely new nose section for the big Griffon engine, a new tail fin and rudder, replacement elevators, new propeller, two new radiators and a vacformed canopy for the pressurised cockpit. Work began by modifying the MkI wing - the radiator and oil cooler were removed, along with carburetor intake. The kit didn't have any wheel well detail so this was scratch-built, and the cartridge ejector ports were also blanked off: S1030089 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The fuselage had the Merlin engine cut off at the firewall, I modified and installed an aftermarket cockpit set to replace the basic detail in the kit, and I also scratch-built the camera bays in the rear fuselage: S1030097 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The original nose was then replaced with the resin Griffon one, the MkI tail was sliced off and the resin replacement installed, and the gun bay covers were all filled as of course the PRXIX was unarmed: S1030119 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr The Grey Matter conversion kit didn't supply any decals, so I used ModelDecal serials, Xtradecal roundels and the new HGW Spitfire stencil set. Xtracolour enamels were used throughout the build. 1/32nd scale Spitfire PRXIX PS853 of the Meteorological Flight, RAF Woodvale, 1953: DSC_0060 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0065 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0069 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0071 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr DSC_0073 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr

The Spitfire PRXIX is my favourite mark of the breed, and with no kit currently available of this iconic photo-recce version I have decided to convert the original issue Revell 1/32nd scale MkI into the PRXIX using Grey Matter's conversion set. So, the plan is to use this as the basis for the build... S1030026 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr and combine it with these resin parts... S1030029 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr S1030033 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr to hopefully make a large-scale version of this Griffon-powered beauty. I've begun by removing the parts needed from the standard MkI wing and plugging the gaps with plastic card. The oil cooler, radiator and carburetor intake have all been blanked off in preparation for the aftermarket parts. The cartridge-ejector ports are the next items that'll need filling: S1030037 by Thomas Probert, on Flickr More updates will come as the build progresses. Tom