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

[MikeC]

2 hours ago, Thunnus said:

Great work Tom!  Here here on the Portrait cutter! Just curious... when you produce the masks on your Portrait, do cut out each mask by hand afterwards?  I typically draw boxes around each mask so that the Portrait produces a separate mask for each marking.

 

+1

[MikeMaben]

+2

[Uncarina]

9 hours ago, Thunnus said:

Great work Tom!  Here here on the Portrait cutter! Just curious... when you produce the masks on your Portrait, do cut out each mask by hand afterwards?  I typically draw boxes around each mask so that the Portrait produces a separate mask for each marking.

 

Thanks John! I like to cut out each mask separately to maximize the area around each, though I like your approach as well.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Uncarina]

I've applied the camouflage colors, which definitely are distinctive! I used a variety of MRP paints including MRP 295 (an equivalent to non specular intermediate blue), MRP 113 (an equivalent to deck blue), and MRP 237, an approximation of the dark mediterranean blue applied to some Spitfires on the USS Wasp and I'm using for the cowl color. 

 

 

 

 

Definitely some touching up to do but it's getting there.

 

Cheers,  Tom

 

EDIT: I'm not really happy with the colors, so I will be reapplying with USN blue-gray and extra dark sea blue.

Edited February 4 by Uncarina

[scvrobeson]

That looks awesome! Love all of these Malta schemes that are being built right now

 

 

 

Matt 

[Uncarina]

53 minutes ago, scvrobeson said:

That looks awesome! Love all of these Malta schemes that are being built right now

 

 

 

Matt 

Thanks Matt! I’m hoping with the revised colors I’ll get the appearance that I’m after.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Uncarina]

Old:

 

 

Verses New:

 

 

I'm much happier with this color combination, my interpretation of USN blue-grey and deck blue 20B.

 

 

 

 

Cheers,  Tom

 

 

 

 

[Uncarina]

And as a postscript I've rendered a photo black and white to compare with the original:

 

 

 

I'm happy!

 

Cheers,  Tom

[Uncarina]

I've added the national markings in a belated update. It proved surprisingly tricky--at one point I had to strip the paint completely off the upper surface of the starboard wing due to a flaw that I had to correct. And for some reason the fuselage roundels were challenging, mainly due to my white paint having a chemical reaction that caused it to crack so that I had to carefully sand around the rivets and reapply. But one of the nice things about masks is that you get second and third chances to correct things.

 

 

 

 

 

cheers,  Tom

Edited February 20 by Uncarina

[LSP_Kevin]

Lovely progress, Tom!

 

Kev

[Uncarina]

34 minutes ago, LSP_Kevin said:

Lovely progress, Tom!

 

Kev

Thanks Kev! I appreciate the encouragement.

 

Cheers, Tom

[Uncarina]

I've finally completed adding the markings, all painted. Thanks to Andy (Kagemusha) for keeping me honest by pointing out that my fin flashes were for a later scheme and that the outer cannons were rounded when they should be conical (like the inner). This was part of the LFD conversion so a heads-up if you were planning to use these. Master makes them (MASAM 32081) and I have some on the way. I also added the gun heating tubes that connected to the exhausts. These weren't seen on all Vc's so check your references. Lastly, I realize that not everyone agrees with my interpretation of how this aircraft was painted but I really am enjoying this build and how it's painted. And yes you CAN successfully combine the LFD conversion with the Kotare and Tamiya kits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers,  Tom

[monthebiff]

Just catching up with your progress Tom and looking absolutely amazing! I'm chomping at the bit to start my conversation but I'll get my Sruka build over the line first!

 

Regards. Andy

[Uncarina]

Thank you Andy! I'm looking forward to seeing you work your magic with this kit.

 

Cheers,  Tom

[scvrobeson]

Love these Malta Spitfires. So many unique color combos on them

 

 

 

Matt