Hi there! Here
are a couple of Spitfires I have in my collection which I built some time ago,
and thought you might like to see them! The aircraft in with the
alluminium finish is the airfix F22/24 kit. I recall this model going
together very well with little or no problems to mention. I decided to paint
the model in the alluminium scheme as I think it looks so graceful. I
built the model out of the box apart from adding a seat harness, and
finished it using Humbrol enamels. As some of you may be aware,
painting models with alluminium or silver paint can be tricky, especially when
it comes to using other colours on top of the finish, such as weathering washes etc. Once the
alluminium paint had been applied, I then gave the model several good coats of
Johnson's Klear to seal in the paint. Once this was dry I applied the
decals which went on without any problems using micro sol setting solution.
I then applied a wash of thinners and matt black paint to the model which
filled the panel lines and rivets beautifully. The exhaust staining was
done by airbrushing Tamiya X16 smoke over and aft of the exhaust stubbs.
To finish off I then applied a coat of Humbrol matt varnish. This was a
very nice model to build and I was really pleased with the end result.
Click on
images below to see larger images
The second model with the
camouflage scheme is Academy's Mk XIVC. This was also a very nice
model to build as again, I did not encounter any problems with the build
whatsoever. The detail of this kit is slightly better than the
Airfix model but only just. There is something about a Spit with the
D-day stripes over the wings, so I just had to have one in my collection!
Once the main part of the construction was complete, I airbrushed the
model free hand using Humbrol enamels. As with all my models, it
was then given numerous coats of Klear before applying the decals.
The decals went on ok apart from the stripes over the wings and around the
fuselage, which was very tricky to say the least! In future I think
I'll use Larry Shred's excellent method of applying stripes! The
model was then given a wash of enamel thinners and matt black enamel and
the exhaust stubbs given the Tamiya smoke treatment. Again, the model
was finished off with a coat of matt varnish.
There you are!
Two nice kits that would grace any modellers collection. I have a couple
more Airfix and Academy Spits waiting to be built, but they'll have to wait
until I've finished my Hobbycraft 1/32nd scale Sea Fury with Fisher detailing
sets, but that's another story!!
Hope you enjoyed my
article, Cheers!
Martin Hemingway
Click on
images below to see larger images
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