Subject: Re: New photos, canopy was backwards on previously emailed photos
From: "Steve Bamford ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "Anthony Manzoli" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2004 23:14:39 -0700

Hi Anthony,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks for sending it in.   

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Anthony Manzoli 
  To: Steve Bamford ARC 
  Sent: Monday, July 12, 2004 2:15 AM
  Subject: New photos, canopy was backwards on previously emailed photos

        Steve, please delete the previous photos I sent you, I had the canopy on backwards.

        Cheers,

        Anthony

        The Pink Spitfire!

        PRU (Photo Reconnaissance Unit) Spitfire type "G"

        Serial No. 4748  No. 140 Squadron RAF Hendon 1941 

        Photos and Model  By: Anthony Manzoli

        There were many variations of the PRU Spitfire, among them was the "G" type, which was an armed version.   This particular aircraft serial no. 4748 flew with the 140 Squadron RAF Hendon around 1941.  The Pink colour was designed to blend in with the clouds at low altitudes.  

        The kit was constructed mainly out of the box, with the exception of drilling holes in the port side access hatch of the fuselage and in the ventral position for the camera lenses.  I had minimal references for this particular aircraft so I followed the position of later PRU types for the camera locations.  Once the cockpit was built and painted, I painted and detailed the fuselage halves and inserted the cockpit and glued the fuselage together.  The kit goes together very smoothly and minimal filler is needed.  I tend to only use liquid paper or "white out" to fill the seams.  This can be filed smoothly with a polishing stick or fine grade sand paper.  Once the kit was completely built, I masked the canopy and cockpit and began the painting process.  Since the entire aircraft is pink including the landing gear, I mounted the struts in place as well, but did not glue them in.   I began the painting by preshading the panel lines with Tamiya Hull Red.  Once this was done , I mixed the hull red with Tamiya pink and matte white and sprayed thin layers over the entire plane.  This was allowed to dry and then a lighter mixture of the same colour was sprayed along the panels to give a faded look to the model.    Decals were pieced together from Aeromaster and Tally Ho sheets.  Once the kit was painted I glossed it with Pascoes Long Life applied with a soft sable brush.  I like applying the gloss this way since it self levels and I have more control.  The decals were applied with the help of Microset and Microsol.  I used Citadel brown ink for the panel lines and a final coat of Matte Pascoes Long Life Mixed with Tamiya Flat Base was sprayed and allowed to dry over night.  

        Note: There are two brands of PRU Pink on the market one by Don Color and the other by Xtracolor.  Below is a sample chip of the Don Color PRU Pink.  From what I have been told both of these brands are a bit dark compared to the actual PRU Pink which was used during WWII.  

         Don Colour Chip

        Final details included adding the camera lenses which I made from Krystal Clear which is basically a white glue that dries clear,  invisible thread for the antennae wire and Tamiya tape for the seat belts as well as the gun covers.  

        Final Note: The colour came out to be a little more pink then intended, but I thought I would settle with it.  Some photos of restored PRU Spits have been painted a much darker pink, probably because they wanted it to stand out more as the Pink Spitfire, but from what I have been told, the pink is very light almost an off white.  I settled for something in between.  The finished kit makes for an interesting conversation piece in my display case, amongst the grey and greens of my Luftwaffe kits this one really stands out.  The following link has photos of  restored PRU Spitfires including the Pink PRU

                      

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