SPA Modeler

Im working on a slightly older molding of the Mk.1a. Yeah, you would think after 60+ years airfix would have figured it out.
Those rivets though lol. What are they? The special 50mm pop rivet? Good lord.
Its looking great so far. I cant wait to see how you go with it.

It was not what I expected from an airfix kit in 1/48 but that is entirely because my prior experience was centred around 1/72. Still, I am very happy with it, and I think I have a way to fix that weird step/seem on the fuel tank.

Pits looking good

Thanks, I think I will button up the fuse tonight, once that bloody IP decal settles.. I forgot how weird airfix decals are. They come off the backing super easily, and are nice and thin but then they just kinda hang out ontop of the surface. No matter how much mark fit I put on it, it is just sitting.

Declan, the fuel tank on the Merlin powered Spitfire did sit slightly proud of the surrounding sheet metal. Most kits do not capture that. Here are examples of the Mk IX, Mk V, and Mk I, in that order

Oh well I will leave it alone then. Thanks JEaton! I would have sanded that down and lost that little bit of realism.

I finally got work done on this one. I have primed it and put the green colour down. I don't know what colour the underside should be, I have Vallejo Model Air "Sky". Not sure if that is correct...

Sky is correct for undersides of British fighters. However, Sky color differs from paint brands. I have Testors Model Master Sky, Tamiya Sky, and Mission Model Sky. In all honesty, it doesn’t matter which Sky you choose.

BlackSheep214 wrote:Sky is correct for undersides of British fighters. However, Sky color differs from paint brands. I have Testors Model Master Sky, Tamiya Sky, and Mission Model Sky. In all honesty, it doesn’t matter which Sky you choose.

Actually there is some room for variance there. During the Battle of France in 1940, RAF fighters had black and white undersides. During the summer of 1940, in the immediate aftermath and early into the Battle of Britain there was some variety in colors used for the undersides. Sky Blue, Eau de Nil (another light green shade), and Sky were all used, before Sky was standardized for RAF Day Fighters, until the change in Autumn 1941 of Ocean Grey and Dark Green over Medium Sea Grey on RAF Day fighters over northwest Europe.

Nice work on the cockpit Declan.

Carlos is right, in 1941 all RAF Fighters in the ETO were painted/repainted in the Day Fighter scheme, of Medium Sea Grey, Ocean Grey and dark green. Some of the early Spitfire Va & Vb's would have had Sky undersides (the RAF Temperate Land Scheme) but a later Vc like you're building would almost have certainly been Day Fighter.