Paul Bradley's Airfix 1/72 Spitfire 22/24

[PaulBradley]

I'll be building the new-ish release from Airfix:



Looks like a very simple build, with no 'gotchas' to worry about. Here's the parts:




The kit provides marking for two post-war aircraft:






I haven't made a decision on markings yet - I am unlikely to use the kit options - and I may build it as a Mk.24, but as the 22 and 24 were essentially identical externally, it won't affect the start of the build.

[Sissel]

As I just blitzed this it will be very interesting to follow your build. I messed up with fit issues here and there, my fault, not the kit.

[PaulBradley]

Don't be so hard on yourself, Sissel - I'm having issues as well, as you'll see in a mo....

Got some bench time last night. First up, the completed cockpit:





Detail is a bit chunky, but I'm sure resin AM parts are available for those who really wish to replace them. There are no seatbelts, so I painted some on - that will be adequate for this scale under a closed canopy.

The wings went together well with lashings of liquid cement and a host of clothes pegs to hold everything in place. The trailing edges are remarkably thin - why can't they do them this thin on their 1/48 kits, one wonders.....?

Anyways, some sub-assemblies:



Then, in fitting together the fuselage halves, a problem. Isn't it funny (funny odd, not funny ha-ha...) how you can test-fit parts to your heart's content, and everything goes together hunky-dory, no issues, then the moment you put super glue on the parts, there's a fit issue? That happened with the fuselage. I'd glued the cockpit in place; everything was correctly aligned; the fuselage halves test-fitted perfectly, but this happened when I applied glue:



I mean, what the .....? One of modelling's little annoyances.... (That's primer on the seam, BTW - I needed to see the extent of the problem...)

So, that's where we are this morning. I'll be back at the bench later to clean up the seam......

[TomW]

I find Spitfire cockpits are prone to these little mishaps Paul, something to do with the lack of space for everything I would guess. Hopefully its easily salvageable as the 'pit was looking good

Regards

Tom

[PaulBradley]

It's frustrating. Might have some time later today to get back to the bench to fix it...

[Sissel]

I feel your pain, I often seem to get that problem with these gockpits. Good thing you didn't have the pilot in, he might have broken some legs.
You will fix it easily I'm sure.

[PaulBradley]

Cheers - the seat is fixed, now to tackle the seam....

[Chuck Finley]

Cheers - the seat is fixed, now to tackle the seam....

Looking good.

[PaulBradley]

Thanks, Chuck. Seat and seam fixed; starting to come together now:





A little more seamwork needed at the underside wing/rear fuselage, but otherwise, it's gone together rather well - the upper wing/fuselage joins are very smart.

I'll have to decide on a colour scheme soon.....!

[Sissel]

That's looking really good, Paul.
Pick a *hefty* paint scheme

[PaulBradley]

Cheers, Sissel. "Hefty?" You mean, with a 6-inch brush?

I have two choices, really - all over High Speed Silver, or Camo. I'm leaning towards silver at the moment, but that rules out a 24, in RAF service at least. Still up in the air.

[Sissel]

Oh I was maybe thinking some red, white and blue, or just some crazy colors, bright shiny.

But high speed silver sounds good.

[Old_Tonto]

That is looking good Paul. You are a couple of days ahead of my build so I can follow your lead.

Although I have at least picked out a colour scheme. I always do that first & work backwards.
I guess I must be 'a bit special'.

[jssel]

Had the same fit problem with mine, Paul. The tolerences are so tight. I studied it for a long time and finally wacked on some filler. I thought there would be a windscreen fit issue but no, it fit just fine.

[PaulBradley]

Cheers, guys. It really is an easy kit to build - I am sure the fit issue was my bad. The wing/fuselage join is really nice, though.

Good to know, Jeff - I'll be fitting mine soon in prep for painting.