Ok chaps, so as you may have seen earlier this has crossed the finish line....better late than never!
Usual build details are as follows:
Fit....jury is out:
That said, as you may have seen, none of the above have stopped my buying this kit again.
In terms of the real plane it has had a varied career:
Some links.....the top one is where I got most of the above from.....if you want to know more just search for it's RAF serial number SM969:
Thanks again for your support along the way.
Build thread can be found here: https://www.scalemodelling.co.uk/threads/andrews-1-48-airfix-spitfire-xviii-a05140.1276308/
Oh and I have already chosen my next victim......
ACW as usual.
Andrew
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You have been warned about part B01......
And the final shots.....you can hopefully see where I filled in the black base mottling more to give the impression of repaired/repainted panels with less wear.
and yes.....I have seen the spot of something on the prop...but not until too late....possibly varnish.....but it will not be so prominent at shows.
And the obligatory scale comparison shot.....
Usual build details are as follows:
- Kit - 1/48 Airfix Spitfire XVIII (A05140), including kit decals (Cartograph)
- Paints - mostly Vallejo, including the main metal finish and exhaust stain
- Weathering - Flory Dark Wash
Fit....jury is out:
- Cockpit great...flawless in fact.
- Wings to fuselage....again seemingly pretty good....
- Fuselage section in front of cockpit...poor....sits inside the line of the rest of the fuselage. I'm not the only person that has had this problem and it also apparently affects their Mk I kit.....it will also affect the Mk XIV as this is exactly the same set of sprues. I have an idea on how I might be able address this issue....so watch this space
- Fuselage alignment.....whilst I cannot rule out me doing something wrong, I think there is a light twist in the fuselage with mine. Fortunately, it's only noticeable directly front/rear on.
That said, as you may have seen, none of the above have stopped my buying this kit again.
In terms of the real plane it has had a varied career:
- Just missed the end of the war.....entered service 1st Sept. 1945.
- Eventually transferred to Royal Indian Air Force.
- Crashed right at the end of 1946, killing the pilot. Apparently due pilot error, in undertaking some manoeuvres below the recommended altitude.
- Rebuilt and transferred to the Indian Air Force in 1949.
- Returned to the UK May 1978 and eventually restored to flying condition.
- Sold to a US owner in 2008 and then apparently sold onto another US owner......not sure what it was eventually sold for but it was on sale for £1.45million!!!
- Can't be certain but what I have found suggests that it might still be flying out in the US.
Some links.....the top one is where I got most of the above from.....if you want to know more just search for it's RAF serial number SM969:
- aviation-safety.net/wikibase/345367
- revivaler.com/1945-vickers-supermarine-spitfire-f-18-sm969-n969sm/
- www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/spitfire-second-world-war-sale-1881383
Thanks again for your support along the way.
Build thread can be found here: https://www.scalemodelling.co.uk/threads/andrews-1-48-airfix-spitfire-xviii-a05140.1276308/
Oh and I have already chosen my next victim......
ACW as usual.
Andrew
------------------------------------------------------------------
You have been warned about part B01......
And the final shots.....you can hopefully see where I filled in the black base mottling more to give the impression of repaired/repainted panels with less wear.
and yes.....I have seen the spot of something on the prop...but not until too late....possibly varnish.....but it will not be so prominent at shows.
And the obligatory scale comparison shot.....
............that said I hadn't realised that the the camera had focused on it in the first shot until I uploaded it....and it does look awesome!!