gregv Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share Posted June 26, 2013 (edited) hello all apologies for the long delay, I have been picking away at the Spitfire, but what with being off work for two months and some good weather I find it hard to be inside. Was at my mom's the other day and went through the old family photo albums, found this gem; pardon the rough quality, it's just an iPhone snap of the photo: Ahh, atmospheric memories.... love the lamp. Part 7: Been picking away at the engine bay, decided to swap in the formers as entire units from the donor kit: Spent some careful hours trimming and shimming, they turned out well I think. Then it was onto the cowlings, which while they fit much better than the first time around, still didn't fit great. Starting on the port side I massaged the plastic by hand until it fit the contours well enough, then had to extend the aft end a bit plus adjust the opening for the exhausts: My brother suggested using small brass screws to hold the cowlings on, that way they would be snug to the airframe but still removable to view the engine; I went one better and sourced some very small rare earth magnets, one goes in the cowling and one in the matching spot in the formers, two per side panel: This way the cowling sits in place, gets sucked up tight to the fuse, and doesn't pop off when you handle the model; wish I'd thought of this beforehand, I would have done the same with the prop shaft.... Strbr'd side done as well, took 1/5 the time of the port side: Just need to get the top cowl done, then I can tidy up & paint all the cowlings and finally move onto the rest of the airframe. Have to say I'm shocked by how much time the engine & cowlings has taken, but almost through! cheers & thanks for looking! greg v. Edited June 26, 2013 by gregv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 33 years eh? Looks swell. I'll definitely be following this. Keep us posted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 26, 2013 Share Posted June 26, 2013 Nice update Greg. It's really coming along now! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJG Posted June 29, 2013 Share Posted June 29, 2013 Looks fantastic. That is one 'big' Spitfire. Great to improve it and preserve it for years to come. Will be watching for an update. Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironwing Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Greg, She's looking very nice...your skills are a vinous. I love these big old Airfix birds. Your doing her justice. Heoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theseeker Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Very entertaining! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted October 17, 2013 Share Posted October 17, 2013 Bump! Where's the update! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregv Posted October 17, 2013 Author Share Posted October 17, 2013 (edited) Bump! Where's the update! Ha! No update, although I have finished the fitting work on the cowlings including the magnets used to keep them in place. It was quite a tedious job I must say. I've been trying to get back at this to finish it off, but time as always seems to be in short supply. Doesn't help that I'm binging on Breaking Bad on Netflix.... cheers gv Edited October 17, 2013 by gregv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregv Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 hello all small update. Yup, still working on the same kit.... although I can see the finish line in the distance! Added the tail wheel, suitable aluminum rod insert to beef everything up first: cleaned up the original tires: bent & trimmed the main gear legs and added some material back to the top of the one remaining original cover: took a break from that and dipped the transparencies in Klear/Future/Pledge whatever you want to call it (my first time, cool stuff!) then glued the main gear into place: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregv Posted January 21, 2014 Author Share Posted January 21, 2014 (edited) I realized afterwards that the gear legs were likely molded at their maximum extension so they'd be the correct length when retracted, and to be honest I could have angled them forward a teeny bit more, but overall I'm quite pleased that this model is back on it's feet for likely the first time in 30-odd years.... Took a while but some nice photoetch came in from NZ so I could finish up the cowlings: They are now primed and being fine-tuned before a coat of camo to match the rest. After the cowlings are done it's adding the harness, fairing the windscreen back into place and attaching a few odds & ends, then it's done! thanks for looking cheers greg v. Edited January 21, 2014 by gregv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Paul Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Greg, Great to see you have continued with the kit. Really looking forward to seeing it finished up too! All the best, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparzanza Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Beautiful! I hope it inspires more people to finish up really old kits. They are meant to be built, after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregv Posted March 11, 2014 Author Share Posted March 11, 2014 Small update, cowlings are finally painted. Took a while, they seemed to reject any form of paint until I shot them with Mr. Surfacer 1500 spray, beautiful stuff. I think I ended up painting them about six times. In contrast the green went on in about 5 minutes without a hitch... Oddly, the custom dark earth mix I'd used earlier on the rear horizontal plus for general touch-ups didn't seem to match the area where the cowls went; I got it close but not perfect, it looks worse in the photos than it is in the flesh: Once I blend them in a bit more and add some exhaust stains I think they should be fine. Couldn't help popping the canopy on plus the rudder just to have a look, it is starting to look like a complete aircraft now: The Radu Brinzan harness is almost together (smallest thing I have ever assembled before, very challenging but also very rewarding) and once that's in place I can affix the transparenices and wrap it up. thanks for looking greg v. Sparzanza 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Paul Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 Greg, I still get a huge smile every time you update us on the Spitty's progress. Really looks great! All the best to you and your re-build! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted March 11, 2014 Share Posted March 11, 2014 That really looks great Greg! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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