Tamiya 1:32 Spitfire Mk IXc

[colin m]

Can I ask did you not need to build an engine before joining the fuselage halves. Great work on the cockpit.

As Barry explained the engine fits onto the front later. The engineering of this Tamiya kit is really something quite amazing.


Well, I've built the wings, as I said earlier, about 76 parts make up the wings.


These little bits are used to create the wheel well.


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And then wings completed, including a nice wing spar to keep it all in line. Some say the gun blisters are the wrong shape. For me, it's not important, they're close enough.


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Right, I'm of to do a bit of an engine.

[colin m]

Wing assembly now firmly stuck to the fuselage.


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Obviously, a nice tight fit.


Also, the lovely engine is complete. No extras at all here, it all came in the box.


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This is probably, the most enjoyable part of the build for me. I like engines.


Colin M..

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[colin m]

So, the engine is finished, properly this time, including the bits I had sort of forgotten to fit last time. The exhaust is a bit of a pain, six individual pieces (6 each side, 12 in total) to be fitted. But, surprisingly the fit is a little bit loose so alignment is very important.


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Primer. This is the Vallejo primer. It's the first time I've used the stuff. I would normally use any 'car type' primer, but thought with a model like this, I would be a bit more delicate and use my airbrush. It worked well straight from the bottle, but did take longer to dry.


Now then, don't be concerned by the poor fit of the panels. The access door is just there to fill a hole and the engine panels are held in place with tape. These panels normally, through the use of tiny magnets, cling onto the engine assembly, which is not present at the moment. But, I need to paint them in place so I get the demarcation lines between the camouflage colours correct.


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Any questions etc, fire away.....................

[yak face]

Looks ready to fire up colin!!! They really are the DB's arent they these Tamiya 1/32 , one of these days im going to cave in and get one! Keep it up mate its going to be a beauty. , cheers tony

[papa 695]

Great work Colin really liking the merlin looks real

[flyjoe180]

Great Merlin Colin. The airframe is looking very clean and certainly ready for paint.

[colin m]

one of these days im going to cave in and get one!

I think it's something we all have to do. I'm sure the new Revell 1:32 Spitfire is great, but when you see how Tamiya have engineered this thing, well.

really liking the merlin looks real

The engine could be a kit in itself - well it took so long to build, it practically is !

The airframe is looking very clean and certainly ready for paint

Which brings me to this phase. Later tonight I hope to have the underside grey, painted. Right now, it's primered and pre-shaded (although having seen Dave's post shading on his Lancaster I'm wondering if it's worth pre-shading)


Also I've done a little bit of yellow and some of Laurie's magic blue tape for masking the curvy bits off.


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[Guest]

It looks fantastic mate!

[stona]

I'm sure the new Revell 1:32 Spitfire is great, but when you see how Tamiya have engineered this thing, well.

I've built both and though the Revell kit is a decent kit the Tamiya kit is streets ahead, vastly superior in every aspect. Yours is starting to look the business now.


Cheers


Steve

[Guest]

What is "Laurie's magic blue tape for masking the curvy bits off"

[PhilJ]

Colin this is looking incredible and I have heard great things about this kit, the merlin looks beautiful. One question why the red seat? I've not seen that before.


Regards


Phil

[stona]

Colin this is looking incredible and I have heard great things about this kit, the merlin looks beautiful. One question why the red seat? I've not seen that before.
Regards


Phil

The seat was made from a composite material, often erroneously referred to as bakelite, which is similar but not the same stuff. I've seen it referred to in contemporary documents as a 'plastic seat'.


It was a reddish brown colour with some variation.


I've also seen the material for the seat described as SRBP (synthetic resin bonded paper). In the 1940s that 'synthetic resin' would have been a phenolic resin. Because some official documents do refer to a Bakelite seat this has become accepted as the material. It is more likely a use of the Bakelite name as a generic term for any product based on a phenolic resin, somewhat like 'hoover' to mean any vacuum cleaner.


Cheers


Steve

[colin m]

What is "Laurie's magic blue tape for masking the curvy bits off"

Laurie, on this forum discovered it. It's a plastic tape from the automotive industry which bends quite nicely.

Colin this is looking incredible and I have heard great things about this kit, the merlin looks beautiful. One question why the red seat? I've not seen that before.
Regards


Phil

Steve has 'hit the nail on the head' with his reply. My seat is probably a bit to bright, also is missing the cushioned back. I got a bit lazy there.

[colin m]

I've built both and though the Revell kit is a decent kit the Tamiya kit is streets ahead, vastly superior in every aspect. Yours is starting to look the business now.
Cheers


Steve

The Revell in its completed form does look nice, but I haven't seen one close up.


But the Tamiya, as you know, is in a league of its own. I still smile to myself every time I look at the engine.

[Guest]

For me the engine is a bridge too far. I can see me losing small parts (why is our carpet grey) and there would be more glue than plastic. Maybe its the old eyesight even with a magnifier or I just don't have the patience.


This looks like it is going to be great model and I envy your skill.


PS maybe I could find and engine builder and do the rest myself lol.