Crossofiron Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Hello All, Those of you that have seen my other build of three 1/32 Avro Lancasters will now know that I am still alive, just taking a break.. I have been asked by someone very special to build a 1/24 Spitfire with the subject being The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXe, ML407, Sq Ldr John 'Johnnie' Houlton This of course is now 'The Grace Spitfire' The base kit of course is the 1/24 Airfix Mk.IXc Kit. I make no apologies if I call ML407 a she; such a beautiful aircraft with such a wonderful history; Before I start the build thread I need to say that I am totally inspired by Wolf's 1/32 Spitfire build, something to aspire to. THE FUSELAGE HALVES I took the fuselage halves, stripped them down to the level I needed and filled in the ejector marks. The intention is to show both fuel tanks so VERY carefully, I took the armour plating off as well. The TR9 will be shown so I removed the radio hatch door too. First things first was to design my own photo etch; I really wanted to show the hollow frame nature of her; I also used the templates from the 1/24 Spitfire Cockpit Download from The Hawaiian Air Depot Site; https://www.hawaiianairdepot.com/ After fitting the etching, 1,764 Rivets were individually placed using Quinta Studio Rivets of various sizes; She is going to be powered and lit up too so I managed to hide the cables behind the side walls. I am going to feed the power cables through the ground power connection. It was then a spray with Semi Matt Varnish to seal the rivets, a base coat of dull aluminium, chipping fluid then Ammo RAF Interior Green; Hope you like what you see so far, onto the frames and bulkheads! Thanks for looking... Cheers Steve patricksparks, chaos07, Javlin1 and 28 others 29 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoggz Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Since joining this site, I've had to have an artificial jaw fitted after the real one kept hitting the floor so many times.. It's happened again! What a project.. Crossofiron, TAG, Sepp and 4 others 3 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunticus Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Magnificent! I am lost for words... Martinnfb and Crossofiron 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMK Posted January 18 Share Posted January 18 Sweet mother of…that is some absolutely phenomenal & inspirational work! Martinnfb and Crossofiron 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 This is going to be a very long way from the 1/24 Spitfire I made about 50 years ago! Too big for me now, but I can’t resist a Spitfire build so I’ll join in if I may. Looking forward to more. John Martinnfb and Crossofiron 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony in NZ Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 Legend mate!!! So good to see you at work on such a gorgeous Spitfire! I met Johnny Houlton many many years ago, and for those who found him a little 'Gruff', I liked him. Johnny Checketts (a pleasure to call a very close friend) told me once Houlton had a real killer instinct and would often just head off and 'go it alone' which whilst made him eager, he was also a little dangerous. Either way great choice and love the NZ connection! Bravo sir, cant wait to see what your next update is like already lol. Hey, we must both get back to our 24th Mossie builds again someday! Cheers Anthony Crossofiron and Martinnfb 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 18 hours ago, Anthony in NZ said: Legend mate!!! So good to see you at work on such a gorgeous Spitfire! I met Johnny Houlton many many years ago, and for those who found him a little 'Gruff', I liked him. Johnny Checketts (a pleasure to call a very close friend) told me once Houlton had a real killer instinct and would often just head off and 'go it alone' which whilst made him eager, he was also a little dangerous. Either way great choice and love the NZ connection! Bravo sir, cant wait to see what your next update is like already lol. Hey, we must both get back to our 24th Mossie builds again someday! Cheers Anthony Anthony! Great to hear from you! Going to send you a PM.. Martinnfb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron Posted January 20 Author Share Posted January 20 Thanks for all your kind words everyone! Martinnfb 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mywifehatesmodels Posted January 20 Share Posted January 20 The interior work is just... John Martinnfb and Crossofiron 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaos07 Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 What an incredible start! The level of detail added is exceptional so far. This will be a treat to see come together. I've seen folks make their own photo etch in the past, that is certainly a skill that may have to be added to my toolbox someday. In the meantime, I'll just sit back and see how this comes along. Martinnfb and Crossofiron 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 Hello All, Thought I would share a stroke of luck. Firstly, thanks to Palm-tree for messaging me and given me several pointers. Palm-tree sent me photos of his 1/32 ML407 and I have to say it is superb! One of his pointers was to try and get hold of Johnnie Houlton's Book; Spitfire Stikes. A New Zealand Fighter Pilot's Story Well, not only did I buy the book on eBay for £15.00 + P&P but the copy is signed by six WWII RAF Fighter Pilots! RESULT! Dpgsbody55, Sepp, Landrotten Highlander and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 pulling out my cozy chair Crossofiron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
airscale Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 brilliant! love the PE - such a cool way to enhance a kit Peter Crossofiron 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 6 hours ago, airscale said: brilliant! love the PE - such a cool way to enhance a kit Peter Thanks Peter! Wait until you see my next WIP update, couldn't have done it without your enhancements Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossofiron Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 Hello All, So, the Air Frames and Bulkheads. I used several enhancements for the frames; Frame 11 (Seat Frame); There are two Airscale Instrument Panel and Ancillary Kits that I used so I could overlay the etching both on the front and the back I oversized the holes on the kit part so the representation of the hollow frame could be achieved This meant the groove in both sides of the fuselage had to widened to get it to fit properly All the rivets are individually placed as per the fuselage I used Buchon Scale Models BUC24-018 Upgrade as it has some nice enhancement pieces in particular the Voltage Regulator and Seat Removal Mechanisms The Armour Plate Bolts are also handy The Seat Frame Floor Brackets and Pins are scratch built https://www.buchonscalemodels.com/ The 'rough' areas are stippled future polish for me to show aluminium oxidisation, I will locally weather this frame when all the bits are on it. Frame 12; I 3D printed this one so I can put in the perforations which are missing from the original Airfix Moulding. Frame 13; I drilled some more perforations in the frame to start with. Totally understand why Airfix did it bit the plate for the Radio Chassis is moulded into the frame and the Radio Chassis itself has no perforations. No issue unless you want to show off the radio! I modified the Hobartville Hobbies Radio Bay Upgrade for this. https://www.hobartvillehobbies.com.au/ Frame 4 (Footwell); I cut the moulding in half as I want to show off the back of the Instrument Panel Added the Location Brackets for the Upper Section and the Cross Bracing for later Added Cable Socket Inserts Usual individual riveting and some strengthening strips that are missing (only needed if exposing the Fuel Tanks) Firewall; Lots and Lots of Bespoke Photo Etch! Both sides were stripped of all details and then PE added from the skin up. Frame 5 (Instrument Panel); I decided on the Buchon Frame with the Airfix Instrument Shroud on top. This gave me the correct hole placement More PE to replicate the frame mating pressing both front and back Original Thanks for looking!! Cheers Steve Shoggz, Dpgsbody55, patricksparks and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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