Kotare + Laminar Flow Design + Tamiya = Malta Spitfire Mk. Vc

[Uncarina]

Just a small update today: after cutting away the wing fillets from both sides of the Tamiya fuselage I've moved onto the wings since their fit to the Kotare fuselage will be a crucial part of the conversion. Following Tolga's lead I've performed the necessary surgery in fitting the LMD conversion parts:

 

 

As I expected the fit is very good--I just used a very small amount of Tamiya filler. Next I'll be fitting the upper wings then checking the fit to the fuselage, and after that point I'll finish the wing assembly.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[monthebiff]

Very neat and tidy work there Tom with absolute minimal filler. Looking forward to seeing how the Tamiya wing fits the Kotare fuselage but your initial work on the wing fillets look extremely positive.

 

Regards. Andy 

[Uncarina]

3 hours ago, monthebiff said:

Very neat and tidy work there Tom with absolute minimal filler. Looking forward to seeing how the Tamiya wing fits the Kotare fuselage but your initial work on the wing fillets look extremely positive.

 

Regards. Andy 

Thanks Andy! I’m also really looking forward to examining that alignment. If there is any gap I’ll first attach the wing fillets to the fuselage then address the wing fit.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Uncarina]

A bigger update for today: I've tested the Tamiya wings to the Kotare fuselage and am very happy to report that the fit is very good indeed just dry fitted:

 

 

 

 

 

There's a bit of a gap at the rear due to the difference in thickness at the rear between the Kotare recessed section and the Tamiya plastic, but this is easily addressed. I may also have to shave a hair off of the top of the fillet at the vertical panel line--we'll see. Otherwise I just need to test fit the forward piece of the wing fillet, but I am heartily encouraged! Next I will finish the wing assembly and move on to the cockpit. My plan is to use the Kotare Spitfire Va cockpit and adapt as necessary to create a Vc cockpit. Any advice on what modifications will be necessary?

 

One last note: the LMD cannon blisters fit beautifully (as expected), but be sure to add them to the upper wing sections BEFORE gluing the upper and lower wings together. This way you can adjust the fit both above and below so that the pieces fit flush with the rest of the wing.

 

Cheers,  Tom

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 10 by Uncarina

[monthebiff]

Excellent work Tom, this is looking very promising indeed! Isn't it a Mk I kit from Kotare you are using or thinking of taking parts from their Va release. I have updated tge Mk I cockpit to Vb which was very easy to do with a few bits from Barracudacast, this is what I did below

 

Regards. Absy

[Uncarina]

9 hours ago, monthebiff said:

Excellent work Tom, this is looking very promising indeed! Isn't it a Mk I kit from Kotare you are using or thinking of taking parts from their Va release. I have updated tge Mk I cockpit to Vb which was very easy to do with a few bits from Barracudacast, this is what I did below

 

Regards. Absy

Thanks Andy! To clarify, I have the fuselage parts from the Kotare Mk. I Mid release but have a Va kit on the way. Thank you for sharing your build- not sure how I missed this!

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Tolga ULGUR]

Looks very nice, great progress Tom 

[Uncarina]

8 hours ago, Tolga ULGUR said:

Looks very nice, great progress Tom 

Thanks Tolga! You are showing the way with the LMD conversion.

 

Cheers,  Tom

Edited January 11 by Uncarina

[Martinnfb]

I’m starting to  love your idea of merging the best bits available to create the true Spitfire Tom. Daring and inventive,,, in a sense magical. Tomified
 

,,,can’t wait for more. 
 

Cheers

 

Martin

 

[Biggles87]

Will you have enough bits left over to to create another Spitfire, perhaps a ‘ what if ‘ variant?  
 

John

[Uncarina]

10 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

I’m starting to  love your idea of merging the best bits available to create the true Spitfire Tom. Daring and inventive,,, in a sense magical. Tomified
 

,,,can’t wait for more. 
 

Cheers

 

Martin

 

Thank you Martin! I appreciate your support. It’s my way of ensuring Kotare announces a Vc release in the 3rd quarter of 2025 . I am really enjoying this build in any case.

 

6 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Will you have enough bits left over to to create another Spitfire, perhaps a ‘ what if ‘ variant?  
 

John

Definitely! A IX fuselage wedded to a Va wing. What’s not to love?

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Uncarina]

I’ve focused on refining the fit of the wing to the fuselage as much as possible before committing cement and found a small shim is necessary at the rear of the fit: a small price to pay so far for those rivets (well…plus the cost of the extra Kotare kit. Look for a summary post with my thoughts on the best approach to this hybridization.):

 

 

 

After this I moved on to the stellar Kotare cockpit:

 

 

 

I still need to refine and finish this but then it’s on to rhinoplasty.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[John1]

Fantastic work Tom.    

[Martinnfb]

As always, exceptional! 

A nice video series about Mk.V that might be helpful.

 

[Uncarina]

3 hours ago, John1 said:

Fantastic work Tom.    

Thank you John, I appreciate it.

 

3 hours ago, Martinnfb said:

As always, exceptional! 

A nice video series about Mk.V that might be helpful.

Thank you Martin! I appreciate the encouragement and that video is very informative.

 

Cheers,  Tom