Part 1 Supermarine Spitfire MkVb

[PhilJ]

That's quite a involve paint scheme already Robert, and interesting colours. What is the idea behind the mid stone then overspray with dark sea blue then?


Phil

[Robert1968]

During the Malta crisis the Spitfire was hurriedly rushed to Malta aboard aircraft carriers and as they were originally in the temperate scheme they were not suitably painted to be camo over the water so an order was requested that the Spitfires be over sprayed ( Stona can give you more exact details )


This was done with what paints were available onboard the aircraft carriers ( dark sea blue and dark slate gray )


There are a lot of discussions on this and I have amassed some good ref pics


Once the final spray is finished you will see a better view of my creation.I still have to highlight.

[stona]

AB264, above, was delivered on operation 'Spotter' from HMS Eagle. This was the first and hurried Spitfire delivery, and the aircraft arrived on Malta in the standard tropical scheme. Once there a 'locally mixed' (according to some accounts) blue grey colour was applied. There is good evidence that some aircraft, like AB264, only had this new colour applied over the lighter Mid Stone colour and the Dark Earth colour was left unchanged. Again, what exactly that Maltese colour was is not known and much debate surrounds the subject.


BTW, Dark Slate Grey is actually a greenish colour and I think Robert means Dark Sea Grey or Extra Dark Sea Grey,which may have been grey/blue or grey colours available and used on Malta. Bottom line is nobody really knows.


Spitfires delivered slightly later on operation 'Calendar' were painted on USS Wasp, you'll get as many opinions as answers as to what colour was used, but it was some kind of blue/grey. I think a US aircraft colour, or mixture of the same, is likely, simply because I find it unlikely that a supply of British paint was sent on an American carrier. The British could have painted the aircraft before they left, or en route at Gibraltar, as happened for other deliveries. They got an all over thin coat of the new colour to tone down the tropical scheme. Robert's other build is one of these Spitfires.


Cheers


Steve

[Robert1968]

Hi all and well disaster really ( I never really thought the deep sea blue sat right with the spitfire and it just looked at me and said I'm not wearing the correct colours ( my error ) so back to stage 1 of the painting process


I have made a good start on the removal with IPA and well it's start again!!


The azure blue is still masked and not damaged ( I'm hoping )

[PhilJ]

During the Malta crisis the Spitfire was hurriedly rushed to Malta aboard aircraft carriers and as they were originally in the temperate scheme they were not suitably painted to be camo over the water so an order was requested that the Spitfires be over sprayed ( Stona can give you more exact details )
This was done with what paints were available onboard the aircraft carriers ( dark sea blue and dark slate gray )


There are a lot of discussions on this and I have amassed some good ref pics


Once the final spray is finished you will see a better view of my creation.I still have to highlight.


[ATTACH]152968[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]152969[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]152970[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]152971[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]152972[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]152973[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]152985[/ATTACH]

AB264, above, was delivered on operation 'Spotter' from HMS Eagle. This was the first and hurried Spitfire delivery, and the aircraft arrived on Malta in the standard tropical scheme. Once there a 'locally mixed' (according to some accounts) blue grey colour was applied. There is good evidence that some aircraft, like AB264, only had this new colour applied over the lighter Mid Stone colour and the Dark Earth colour was left unchanged. Again, what exactly that Maltese colour was is not known and much debate surrounds the subject.
BTW, Dark Slate Grey is actually a greenish colour and I think Robert means Dark Sea Grey or Extra Dark Sea Grey,which may have been grey/blue or grey colours available and used on Malta. Bottom line is nobody really knows.


Spitfires delivered slightly later on operation 'Calendar' were painted on USS Wasp, you'll get as many opinions as answers as to what colour was used, but it was some kind of blue/grey. I think a US aircraft colour, or mixture of the same, is likely, simply because I find it unlikely that a supply of British paint was sent on an American carrier. The British could have painted the aircraft before they left, or en route at Gibraltar, as happened for other deliveries. They got an all over thin coat of the new colour to tone down the tropical scheme. Robert's other build is one of these Spitfires.


Cheers


Steve

Really interesting guys, great reference.

[PhilJ]

Hi all and well disaster really ( I never really thought the deep sea blue sat right with the spitfire and it just looked at me and said I'm not wearing the correct colours ( my error ) so back to stage 1 of the painting process
I have made a good start on the removal with IPA and well it's start again!!


The azure blue is still masked and not damaged ( I'm hoping )


[ATTACH]153071[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]153072[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]153073[/ATTACH]

Blimey Robert! Gutted for you mate. I have just been through the entire build again and really appreciate the work and effort your putting in, not just with the build but with thread also, really enjoyable and informative.


Just a couple of things I'd like to say which I hope you don't mind, I don't feel like I'm in a place to criticise much as I'm still a relative newbie really. However I have found with the burnt umber washes on the cockpit I use a Windsor and Newton oil which is mixable with water (purchased from the range or hobbycraft I think) I put a tiny dab on a palette and load in the de ionised water so it's a transparent browny water. I then apply these thinly and let them do their thing, if you want it heavier you just build it up and because it's so thin it drys fairly quick. Also with your scheme try thinning the paint down and build the colour up slowly especially with your build specific "overspray", from what it sounds like these weren't done perfect so if it was me I'd probably like to finish it with a washy kind of effect and the original colour almost showing through in places. I would imagine the ground crew trying to get a overspray done with sea air and sand in the air it was not the best conditions to lay paint down and probably a bit of a pain.


Keep going mate


Phil

[papa 695]

Just caught up on this one Robert and your doing a great job, it's not easy masking for the camo no matter what medium you use, and your learning on the job so to speak. I can't remember how many times I've had to strip a kit down not being happy with the paint job, but it's something we can do. Keep at it top work mate.

[Robert1968]

Well finally got round to getting some more cleaning done a quick coat of stynylrez and when dry I put down the dark earth


Good point you made there Ian on the overspray. This time I'm going straight for the EDSG or Tamiya XF 54 once I worm the spit up again. There will be gaps which I'm going to diliberatly make to emphasise wear so the mid stone will show through ( hard to describe but I hope you understand what I'm up to.I have left the wing a bit patchy so this will emphasise wear and tear from heat and salt air damage ( what I'm hoping to do )


Next it sausage time ( Again )


Oh and I sprayed with my new A/b ( I promised John I'd plug it ( it's around £16 and has a crown capped nib ) sprays lovely and if you don't take my word for it ask Graham ( it's really the doggies stuff and cheap too!!!

[Guest]

And he's off..Again.


Here's hoping it turn's out better for you this time.

[Robert1968]

Well I'm happy with the result this time


I did the full spit dark earth then did the worming and then sprayed XF54 deep sea grey


Once removed masking the spit looked a lot batter and more acceptable.


Had to touch up the underside with azure and then I started to weather the front of wings and panels with mid stone. I've still tried to emulate the overspray of deep sea grey over the mid stone that took place anthe wear and tear of the damage to the temp overspray


To be honest I'm rather pleased with this up to now


Still need to do wing walk chipping and once that's done I'll give a coat of clear then start the oils ( I think )

[Guest]

This is looking better Robert. If there is no concrete evidence of what was used, go with what looks right. I often go with what looks right even if there is concrete evidence lol.


Good to hear a second opinion on the airbrush, I have done more with mine in the last couple of months than I have done with the Ultra as long as I have had it. If it fell to bits tomorrow, I would just order another one. Not that it will..... I hope...... ops: Naaa, 'course it won't

[Robert1968]

This is looking better Robert. If there is no concrete evidence of what was used, go with what looks right. I often go with what looks right even if there is concrete evidence lol.
Good to hear a second opinion on the airbrush, I have done more with mine in the last couple of months than I have done with the Ultra as long as I have had it. If it fell to bits tomorrow, I would just order another one. Not that it will..... I hope...... ops: Naaa, 'course it won't

I agree Graham


I have had lots of one to ones with Steve ( resident spitfire Ace ) and he has given me great feedback.


The idea is to have the Spitfire as it was in operations over Malta. The overspray was done over the mid stone so I've emulated the spray coming off in places and a little overspray over the dark earth.


I'm in process of chipping the wing roots as they were stood on a lot and with boots etc this area would get worse damage ( human with boots etc )


Once this is done I'll go for a klear coat before the decals and oils.


The A/ b is brilliant if the truth be known it's done all the respray for me and cleans a dream too.


Think I'm going to get me another for spare, do you think it's best to give it a couple of A/ b oil every 10/20 uses?


I read this somewhere to keep A/b working well?


Regards


Robert

[stona]

Think I'm going to get me another for spare, do you think it's best to give it a couple of A/ b oil every 10/20 uses?


I read this somewhere to keep A/b working well?

Save your money and use WD40. I've been doing it for years. Smear a little on the needle from time to time and when you do a disassembly and clean, squirt a little through the brush. Don't forget to flush with some of your regular airbrush cleaner afterwards.


I haven't stripped my primary airbrush since I started my tropical Bf 110, which means I've now completed three models without doing more than flushing between colours and applying a little WD 40 to the needle occasionally. Regular routine cleaning like this prevents having to take the things to bits every time you use them.


Cheers


Steve

[Robert1968]

Save your money and use WD40. I've been doing it for years. Smear a little on the needle from time to time and when you do a disassembly and clean squirt a little through the brush. Don't forget to flush with some of your regular airbrush cleaner afterwards.
I haven't stripped my primary airbrush since I started my tropical Bf 110, which means I've now completed three models without doing more than flushing between colours and applying a little WD 40 to the needle occasionally. Regular routine cleaning like this prevents having to take the things to bits every time you use them.


Cheers


Steve

This is going to sane me loads as I got lots of that WD 40 in the garage


Brilliant news

[Guest]

Never used WD40 but I did get a free tube of Iwata Supelube years ago at one of the shows, can't remember how I skanked it..... But it is a tiny tube and based on what I have used to date, it will last me about five more years.


All I tend to do after flush cleaning, I still have not removed the actual nozzle from this brush yet, is remove the needle, clean it and just put a tiny drop of Superlube into the needle chuck hole. I then gently slide the needle back in place which has the effect of creating a very thin coat down the length of the needle. I mainly do this as a precaution of the needle sticking in the rear seal.


I am thinking of getting another with a .3mm needle set which I would fit straight away to the new one. This would give me a separate brush for priming and varnishing and a spare .2mm needle set for the original unit.