Finished: ICM 1/48 Spit XVI "Rongotea"

[Guest]

This one was a labour of love I can tell you. Nothing really seemed to fit together without a fight and lots of filling in the big interfaces. Also despite doing a nice job (I thought anyway) on the engine in the end realised that I would have to remove bits off it and enclose it permanently or else the panels wouldn't fit on. Turns out this is a known issue with the kit, ho hum.

Still, I'm pleased with the results despite a couple of dodgy bits of painting (don't look too closely at that stripe on the spinner!) and learned a lot (again!) on this one. Used some excellent aftermarket decals too because the in box ones were poor to say the least...

Light was fading when I took the pics so may take some better ones but in the meantime hope you like it! Has anyone else on here built any Spitfires? They seem quite popular... :laughing:

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[papa 695]

Looks good well done the spinners not that bad its the clear red on flat red isn't it

[Guest]

Yeah, Lakeland Klear-a-like on top of Tamiya clear red on top of flat red on top of gloss white on top of Halfords grey primer ;-)

Incredible it still looks like a spinner with all those layers on it! Cheers!

[Ian M]

Well that looks like a Spitfire to me! Nice one Rob.

Oh! Yes there are a few spitfires been built on here....

Ian M

[yak face]

Hi rob , looks great to me too! Nice to see one of the later spits again , You wouldnt guess from looking that you had a battle with it , and the spinner looks ok , i know that trying to paint or mask a stripe on a spinner is a pig of a job ! cheers tony

[Gern]

That looks pretty good to me despite your comments!

I don't know if it helps but I've had an idea about masking spinners etc.

Measure the diameter of the spinner at the point where you want to put your masking tape (you could use a pair of dividers to do this).

Draw a circle of the same diameter on your masking tape.

Draw another circle which is a couple of millimetres larger (or smaller depending on which side of the spinner you want to put your tape) using the same centre.

Using suitable cutters, cut out the thin strip contained between the two circles. Don't leave the finished strip in a circle (like a washer). Cut through it so that it becomes like a split washer.

Use this strip to mask the spinner. You should find that the strip will sit flat on the surface at the edge you measured, and therefore provide a better mask.

It may not be perfectly flat for the whole width of the strip as that depends on how steep/curved the taper is on the spinner, but it will be better than trying to use a straight piece of tape.

Gern

[Guest]

Cheers for comments chaps.

Re: the mask Gern I actually had a white decal in my aftermarket kit for the spinner but opted to paint instead. What I did was put the masking tape on some cellophane over the decal and traced the decal onto the masking tape then cut out the mask. So in *theory* it should have been a perfect mask but probably a combination of a blunt-ish pencil and impatience to get this troublesome build over meant I didn't stress too much about it being perfect and just got on with it.

Looks fine from a reasonable distance and the effect looks nice anyway so not too disappointed :-)

ps - there *must* be some sort of mathematical calc one can do to convert spinner diameter/slope into arc length/radius for masking. This is going to be my next project I think, I can feel a spreadsheet coming on. That said, I bet there's already something on the internet but that'd spoil my fun :computer:

pps - happy birthday to ME!! :-D

[stona]

Nice job,it looks good to me. I know these its can be a bit of a wrestling match but you've definitely won by a submission!

Re spinner masks I think you'd be in for a mathematical challenge of epic proportions,it's quite a sum for a perfect cone which a spinner is not. I mask each edge with a very thin piece of masking tape (about 1-2mm) which I can make conform to give me an edge and then build up roughly behind it. It's not always perfect but is easier than cutting curves etc.

I've seen a technique where the modeller fitted a rubber grommet/washer over the spinner as a mask. It worked for him but I've never tried it myself.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Re spinner masks I think you'd be in for a mathematical challenge of epic proportions

That sounds like a challenge :exercise3:

Will report back in a day or so (or maybe less!) with any developments!! :-)

[stona]

That sounds like a challenge :exercise3:Will report back in a day or so (or maybe less!) with any developments!! :-)

Good luck! :respect4:

Steve

[Guest]

Wouldn't want to put those two smileys together - this is a family forum!!! :lol

[Guest]

Re spinner masks I think you'd be in for a mathematical challenge of epic proportions

Spreadsheet complete but not at home at the moment to test whether the results are gibberish - seems to give sensible answers and the maths wasn't that bad to be honest. A mere matter of simultaneous equations in two unknowns it seems. Simples! :-)

[Guest]

Rob looks great luv the clip wing version! I use the fingers on latex gloves to mask spinners just cut a small hole in one and pull it on til its in the right spot. It takes some practice but the results are worth it

[Guest]

Few more pics, still not great light but hey, it's not like it's the longest day or anything

The one of the cockpit is obviously not of the finished article...

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[colin m]

I know you had some fun building it, but it still came out a top result. I often find the difficult ones more rewarding ! Nice job.

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