Steve's Spitfire Mk.IIa. Revell 1/32

[Steve Brodie]

I've put together what passes for a cockpit in this kit. There are some equally unimpressive side panels to add.

I would never normally use the kit decal over detail, but there will be a pilot in this cockpit, I have now located 'Stapme', and not much will be seen.

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Speaking of pilots, unless the one flying this aeroplane was a gibbon, there is no way he could be strapped into that seat and still reach the control column or rudder pedals. Something is clearly amiss. 'Stapme' is a normal looking chap of rather average proportions, and I have posed his arms in a way that makes it look like he's flying an aeroplane, but he won't reach that column!

Cue the Goodies!

Cheers

Steve

Pilot would also need a neck like a giraffe to reach the head cushion :smiling5: :smiling5:

[stona]

Pilot would also need a neck like a giraffe to reach the head cushion :smiling5: :smiling5:

Yep! It's not quite as bad as it looks when viewed from the side

[Tim Marlow]

He’d probably need a cushion to see out the front :thumb2: Actually, it looks like everything is right, except the seat...which looks a bit small.

[stona]

I think I'm going to give him a Blutac cushion!

I never glue my pilots in. I'm too tight and it means, like this one, they can be re-used.

I think I'll be able to build a cushion up under his posterior with some suitable tools.

The seat is to small and low and the control column is much too close to the instrument panel. You can never be too sure about the exact scale of figures like him (I can't even remember where he came from) but a human being of normal proportions could not fly this aeroplane

[Gern]

Maybe he's a 1/35 figure which is making him too small. In 1/32 he'd be about 5mm taller. Would that difference be enough to bring him up to the right size?

[Neil Merryweather]

Maybe he's a 1/35 figure which is making him too small. In 1/32 he'd be about 5mm taller. Would that difference be enough to bring him up to the right size?

If he is 1/35 I'd like to know where he came from.
1/35 pilots are as rare as unicorn droppings

[stona]

Maybe he's a 1/35 figure which is making him too small. In 1/32 he'd be about 5mm taller. Would that difference be enough to bring him up to the right size?

I doubt it Dave, it's not so much his size as his proportions, which are normal. As I said we would need a gibbon

I've given him a cushion by cramming some Blutack under his arse with a selection of sculpting tools. It won't be seen and was a quick and easy fix. His head is high enough, his left hand is in the correct area, his right hand...isn't... I can't see his feet, but I guarantee that they are nowhere near the rudder pedals.

He'll look okay in the finished model.

[stona]

If he is 1/35 I'd like to know where he came from.
1/35 pilots are as rare as unicorn droppings

I think he may be from PJ Productions. I definitely bought a couple of Luftwaffe pilots from them and the guy in the Spitfire looks a LOT like this guy.



I'm 99% sure it's him, I mean how many people have produced WW2 RAF pilots wearing a jumper like this? As you can see, he purports to be 1/32. I remember adding the wires for his headphones and a flexible oxygen hose last time round.

[Neil Merryweather]

I think he may be from PJ Productions. I definitely bought a couple of Luftwaffe pilots from them and the guy in the Spitfire looks a LOT like this guy.


I'm 99% sure it's him, I mean how many people have produced WW2 RAF pilots wearing a jumper like this? As you can see, he purports to be 1/32. I remember adding the wires for his headphones and a flexible oxygen hose last time round.

He looks the part for sure. are you saying he's a bit small, or that the spitfire model is off?
or is it a combination of the 2?
I like the way you have dealt with the harness by the way

[stona]

He looks the part for sure. are you saying he's a bit small, or that the spitfire model is off?
or is it a combination of the 2?
I like the way you have dealt with the harness by the way

I thinks he's pretty good. It's the model that has some 'interesting ergonomic' design issues. It wouldn't matter if you didn't put a pilot in, but if you do......

It's not the only model I've had trouble fitting pilots.

Which brings me to the final job of the day, drilling and fixing a tube to make a socket for the acrylic rod on which the model will be posed. This is as far forward as it can be fitted without being visible or, worse, appearing in the cockpit!



This makes an interference fit with the rod, the size of which I can't remember. It's the same as this, though the Spitfire will be a lot lower than H-J Marseille's Bf 109.

[colin m]

OK, Revell might not be on your Christmas card list, but look at all those lovely recessed rivets, not too bad for £30.00 (ish) Or in other words, you haven't put me off getting one, yet..

[stona]

OK, Revell might not be on your Christmas card list, but look at all those lovely recessed rivets, not too bad for £30.00 (ish) Or in other words, you haven't put me off getting one, yet..

You get your money's worth.

It's obvious that you won't get the same detail and quality as you would in a kit costing four or five times the price. I wouldn't want to put anybody off, this is NOT a bad kit.

Before I finished I offered up the wings to the fuselage, which is often an area fraught with danger on aircraft models, and the fit is absolutely spot on. A bit of tape at the back and the wings stayed on. You certainly can't complain about that for thirty quid!

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

Here is that wing /fuselage join.

I've done nothing to this yet, it is as it appears when you glue together the two assemblies.



I would describe that as very good indeed. I've seen far, far worse on much more expensive kits.

Even this notoriously difficult join, seen on the underside of many aircraft kits, is very good.



Cheers

Steve

[stona]

'Stapme' now sits in something that looks a lot like a Spitfire, though I imagine he would be grateful for some more parts, control surfaces would be a good start



More tomorrow...hopefully.

[stona]

Slow progress, but 'Stapme' now has a largely complete Spitfire, if a bit breezy without a windscreen or canopy.



The underside took longer than expected. The oil cooler in particular needed a bit of effort (and effin' and jeffin') but it looks okay now. I've also been concentrating on those bits arrayed on cocktail sticks in the background.



I'm hoping to mask the canopy tomorrow. I forgot to give the clear parts the traditional dip in Klear, so I've only just done that and will have to leave them overnight. It's the Fuhrerin's birthday do this weekend, so that will well and truly put an end to proceedings until next week. :flushed: