Yet another Spitfire

[Guest]

I'm looking forward to seeing one in flight, you can't beat the lines of a Spitfire but so frequently they are displayed on the ground and you loose out on the perfection of the shape.

[Guest]

When i built mine i got both sides of the wings glued together .Then dry fitted them to the fuselage section. At this stage you can see how it lines up.Don't assume it will line up perfectly as it won't . I had to shave off some of the curved supports that the fillets sit on to get it to look right which was a right pain.

At the end of the day if you can get away with no filler than that will be a miracle. My advice is don't be afraid to "hack" bits off to get it to fit i know it is not very good modelling practice but with all the problems this kit throws at you i think it is the only way.

Also the only other problem is with the section in front that holds the engine that the side and top panel fits to.If this is in anyway warped or out of line than it will give no end of trouble.

[stona]

I'm looking forward to seeing one in flight, you can't beat the lines of a Spitfire but so frequently they are displayed on the ground and you loose out on the perfection of the shape.

I couldn't agree more! I remember when all models came with a pilot AND a stand. Now I collect pilots whenever they are in a kit and make my own stands.

People who care about these things say that a pilot hides cockpit detail and that a raised undercarriage hides wheels and wheel well detail. This maybe so but since this kit doesn't have any detail to start with I'm losing nothing.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

I know its a bit off the track, but instead of a stand it will stand on, how about a stand it hangs from. Pose it in a climbing role and hang it up and it will turn so that you can see it from all angels without having to touch it....

Just a thought

Ian M

[colin m]

I'm looking forward to seeing one in flight, you can't beat the lines of a Spitfire but so frequently they are displayed on the ground and you loose out on the perfection of the shape.

Spot on Richard, lets face it, all aircraft look better flying than on the ground.

Regards

Colin M....

[stona]

First "problem" fitting the bulkhead with the seat. One side of the fuselage is short and the other has a vague lump of plastic where there should be a groove to take the bulkhead. I've cut both sides of the fuselage back and removed the aforementioned lump in order to fit the bulkhead and will have to rebuild them once the fuselage is joined.

I'll do a piccy of the problem and (hopefully) solution when I get the fuselage joined.

Cheers

Steve

[colin m]

I found it easier to attach each bulkhead one at a time, just to one half of the fuselage, and tape the other half of the fuselage in place just to aid alignment.

Regards

Colin M.......

[stona]

Cheers Colin,I'll be doing that. The problem is with the molding of the top of the fuselage halves. One was 2mm longer than the other behind the seat bulkhead (with everything else lined up) and the bulkhead wouldn't fit into its slot without being pushed down which would interfere with the fit of the lower wing/fuselage bottom later. I've cut back the top of the fuselage so that the top of that bulkhead now sits infront of it. I'll just need to build up that part of the fuselage over the top of the bulkhead once everything is joined up. There's also a gap between the head rest armour and the wedgey bit that supported it which will need shimming.

I can't wait to get on to the wings!!!

Steve

Here's one half,it's a bit of a mess at the moment!

Steve

[stona]

Fuselage joining is a work in progress,in the meantime I've started the lower wings. Either Gav or Colin did say I'd need plenty of tape and clamps and wasn't kidding. I don't have enough little clamps to do both sides at once and my big ones are beating the fuselage into submission.

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

I've rebuilt the fuselage behind the bulkhead. It'll need a sand and maybe a bit of Mr Surfacer to tidy it up.

There's a gap between the head rest and support which shouldn't be there. This is how it should look. This is down to the kit,not anything I've done.

I'll cut a shim of plastic and fill this gap in before I fettle the other filler.

Cheers

Steve

Edit.

Like this.

What the hell has happened to his helmet?!?!!

I'll be repainting that.

Steve

[colin m]

Cobblers, I didn't realise that gap shouldn't be there. Luckily, I didn't put the filler away !!

Regards

Colin M..........

[Guest]

Good progress so far keep up the good work as well as your sanity.

[Guest]

Making good progress there Steve, keep up the good work.

Andy

[stona]

I've taped the wings together and dry fitted them with the dreaded (by me) fillets.

This is not bad at all! I've just got to work out in what order I'm actually going to glue it all together and hopefully it will scrub up okay.

I'm going to have to bo something about the trenches masquerading as panel lines!

I added this rough little tongue to help line up the join at the back of the lower wing assembly. It means I now only need three hands rather than four!

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

Whilst trying to work out how to mount the exhausts and spinner (no blades) on the front of the aircraft without mounting the engine I checked for the warped front that others have reported. This shows just how twisted the lower cowling is.

I'm not sure what I'll do about this. I feel a cunning plan coming on!

Cheers

Steve