Stuart's Airfix F. MK.22 No 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron

[Stuart]

Hi all,
I very much doubt I’ll get this finished before April 1st, buy hey I’ll give it a go; it’ll be nice to join in a group build.
I shall be doing Airfix’s new F. MK.22 which appears to be a popular choice around here. I was going to finish it in high speed silver, but there seems to be a few in that already so I may go with the markings for PK553 of No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, RAF Ouston, 1948. However I shan’t use the marking for the Cooper Air Trophy Race and just go with the normal squadron markings.
So far I have painted up the cockpit and given it a wash using Humbrol weathering powders, which worked reasonably well. I was going to build it OOB, but I think the seat is pretty poor, so I’m going to use a resin one from my (small) spares box.
One mistake so far (they’ll be many more) seems to be in painting the U/C bay silver (actually, Humbrol 53, with Humbrol 11 Silver dry-brushed over)... should it be green? Either way I’m not going to redo it, it’ll make a nice contrast. I’m also painting the seat as if it was a plastic one to add a bit of interest, that’s probably wrong as well, as it the black/green cockpit sidewalls......
Anyway, I’m enjoying it so what does it matter – Pictures to follow.

[TomW]

Anyway, I’m enjoying it so what does it matter

And that to me is the whole point , good choice of kit and it'll be good to see an F.22 in Day Fighter colours.

Regards

Tom

[PaulBradley]

Well, interior colours on Spits tend to be a bit 'controvertial', what with different colour greens, wartime or post-war, the mark, the builder, etc. etc. I am not too concerned about it personally and it is up to you how far you wish to pursue it in the name of accuracy. I'm sure someone wll come along with the latest gen.

[Stuart]

Anyway, I’m enjoying it so what does it matter

And that to me is the whole point , good choice of kit and it'll be good to see an F.22 in Day Fighter colours.

Regards

Tom

I agree, t'is but a hobby after all

Well, interior colours on Spits tend to be a bit 'controvertial', what with different colour greens, wartime or post-war, the mark, the builder, etc. etc. I am not too concerned about it personally and it is up to you how far you wish to pursue it in the name of accuracy. I'm sure someone wll come along with the latest gen.

I'm not too concerned really, yes I'd like it to look right, but I'm far from being a rivit counter, not that there is anything wrong with that, I just don't have the skill or the patience That being said, you hear so many conflicting information on the spit, I don't think I'm far off with what I've done - it looks ok to me anyway.

Here' is where I am so far,




I've just got to remove those pin marks....

[Stuart]

Hi all,

I little update, no pics as yet. I've finished the cockpit (not my best work but I'm determined to finish on time) and closed up the fuselage, hopefully tomorrow I'll get the wings on and it'll start looking like a spitfire.

[TomW]

I think you've done a great job on the cockpit.

Regards

Tom

[PaulBradley]

Looks good. I wouldn't worry too much about the pin marks - you are unlikely to seeing them once it's all closed up.

[Stuart]

Thanks Guys - Actually I've already removed them and touched up the paint, I've also added the kit seat and some masking tape belts - not really happy with them but I was pushed for time - I was going to put in the pilot as it's a really nice moulding, but he dosn't fit...not without me chopping his legs off!
I didn't use the decal for the ip either, it was too cartoony and chunky. I actually used a paper photocopy of another spitfire ip decal (from a MKV) which I glued in place, looks a lot better.

[mightymikeD]

Nice bit of improvising going on here!

[Stuart]

thanks guys...

More progress...







I proberbly won't get much done over the weekend, but onto sanding and painting next week.

[Old_Tonto]

Tis looking very nice.

[MDT]

Nice work Stuart - You this GB will end up making me buy one of these at this rate!

[Sissel]

This looks great. Especially like the interior.

[Stuart]

progress,

All together (ish). I had some fit issues with this, so I have had to do some sanding and will have to redo a panel line or two. I had an issue with gaps on one of the wings, so I have filled it with glue and wiped it into shape with a cotton bud, I'll sand the glue down a bit and redo the panellines when the glue is dry, hopefully I won't need any more filler than that - My new PR. XIX is next to it...

[Stuart]

progress...

Added the gun barrels and painted up the intakes today, decided to go with the HSS 603 squadron markings.