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'Grace' type two-seat Spitfire in 1:32


Iain

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Hi everyone, apologies for absence recently - maxed out with work and life...

 

Progress has been made on the Spit - found time today to post here - with apologies to my client!

 

At least progress from here on (canopies aside) should be straightforward!

 

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My client decided he wanted plain seats (no leather padding) - so another pair of Tamiya seats sourced - and the straps finished and fitted.

 

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Seats here bonded in place for first time.

 

Rear panel - this is the second try at this - based on the Yahu set - re-shaped and with new panel area around the blind flying panel made from thin plastic sheet. Glazings from overhead projection acetate film - sandwiched behind layers.

 

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Test fitting the fuselage halves - for the umpteenth time!

 

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Back in a mo...

 

Iain

 

 

 

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Next on list was to add the compasses - and the rear cockpit crossmember ('V' shaped) that goes underneath the rear panel - another item unique to the two-seaters:

 

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Compasses are kit items - with Airscale decals - and punched circles of clear acetate for the class top.

 

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And, drum-roll please, because it is quite a major step, but the fuselage is together at last!

 

A few minor details to add to cockpits - but will add after the fuselage work is done.

 

Have fun!

 

Iain

 

 

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Hi Carl - no delaminating - the rear panel 'rebuild' allowed me to sandwich some acetate between the Yahu panel and the new sheet plastic front section/blind flying panel.

 

Thanks Andy - proof will be in the final result - but hopeful she'll look OK!

 

Got a bit of time in this afternoon...

 

Fuselage joints sanded down, rear cockpit bulkhead sanded flush with fuselage profile after gap filled with thin superglue.

 

Areas that had been filler primered (mustard yellow) sanded flush.

 

New rear canopy guide rail 'ears' added from sheet styrene and ready to blend in towards front once it's dried off fully.

 

Wings fitted (tailplanes just slotted in for effect).

 

Front wing root fairings added, gun camer port filled with epoxy putty.

 

Here's where it's at:

 

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Blue skies...

 

Iain

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Apologies for lack of updates, again...

 

As some may know, I've been in hiding (house sitting for friends in southern Spain, down near Gibraltar) - really needed a break from everyday life...

 

But all geared up to crack on and finish the wee beastie when we get back to the UK.

 

A self-imposed break from the hobby for a few weeks has got me chomping at the bit again!  :)

 

Blue skies...

 

Iain

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  • 2 weeks later...

Back on the Spit this weekend!

 

All joints sorted - a little re-scribing still needed:

 

48b427_c3a623b16061402b9ae7bffb4ea1da5e~

 

Have re-visited the upper wing covers, where the tear-drop fairings had been removed and filled earlier, as it wasn't quite perfect. Masked, sprayed with Halfords Filler Primer and sanded back with 800 and 2000 grit wet and dry (mustard yellow areas).

 

Also - the 'ears' behing the rear cockpit, for the canopy rails, have been blended into the fuselage at the front with a flat, diamond, file - ensuring they are flat along their length:

 

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A lot of work done on the canopy masters for the 'tunnel' and rear canopy...

 

Tunnel section has a lip that curves up at the rear so, after ensuring basic shape was clean and square, the lip was added using Milliput epoxy putty, sanded back and fine shaped with 800 grit wet and dry after hardening:

 

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Rear canopy master pattern was extended previously in length to match the original on the two-seater (4'' longer than front at 1:1) - now it needed to be thinned to allow for the thickness of vac plastic.

 

There are too many undercuts to allow for a single part female mould - so a male on is the way to go on this I think.

 

Pattern cut in half lengthways with a razor saw, before dressing off the mating halves to a suitable depth, before re-bonding and sanding to remove the resulting seam.

 

In the photo below you should be able to see the four quarters that now make up the pattern!

 

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Almost ready for vacuum forming - need to add some Milliput to smooth the end transitions an prevent the clear PETG plastic being drawn too thinly.

 

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Have fun!

 

Iain

 

 

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Some progress - and lots of frustration...

 

Test pull of new transparencies - not perfect - but getting there:

 

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And very roughly trimmed to see if everthing fits - it does!

 

Ignore sanding dust - they're actually quite sparkly!

 

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Kit transparencies in place - with the vacced parts:

 

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Now - frustrations...

 

Still getting marks in the mouldings where I cut and shut the patterns (very slight distortion as pattern warms - leaving faint lines in the mouldings) - need to make fresh, solid, copies in resin - which means taking a mould. Tried this the other week - but rubber is past best and I need to order some new stuff.

 

The front kit canopy I had (the sliding part) was dug out of it's safe box - wrapped in tissue - but was broken down the middle!!! :BANGHEAD2:

 

For the photos I've raided another kit - but will need to see if I can find a replacement, or I've wasted a kit  :(

 

The project is fighting me at the moment!

 

Iain

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