Lancfan's Sleuthing Warbird. ***FINISHED***

[lancfan]

For this build I'm going to build a model of Spitfire IX MH434 in the all grey scheme it wore for the Poirot TV series episode "The Incredible theft"


David.

[DazDaMan]

Ahh, the Mayfield Kestrel!

[lancfan]

This model will be Spitfire IX MH434 in its TV guise as the prototype "Mayfield Kestrel" (Daren, I didn't think anyone would remember the 'Kestrel') and will use a 1/72 Airfix Spitfire IXc kit.


I started by making Das Clay cockpit parts using moulds taken from other spitfire kits to form a more accurate cockpit for the model. This picture shows the Das Clay liners pressed into the moulds alongside the kit fuselage halves.



The floor shelf has been cut away and the sides thinned down ready for the new cockpit, the new liners for the cockpit sides have here been glued down in place.


The instrument panel was made in the same way as the fuselage sides and the interior has been painted.


The fuselage was next glued together and work started on the wings as the glue dried, to make sure I got the details of the Kestrel right I viewed the DVD a number of times, one thing which needed to be done was to remove the cannon bulges which did not seem to fitted to MH434 at the time of the fiming. The picture below shows the fuselage alongside the wing to which has been fitted the seat, it will not be painted until the bulges have been removed.


The bulges have been removed and the seat and cockpit floor have been painted.


This is the model as it now stands with the wing glued to the fuselage.


David.

[DazDaMan]

Looking good, David.

Removing the bulges was one thing that bothered me when I was doing my Battle of Britain film Spit - I was worried the wings would be too thin and I would end up sanding through them. Thankfully not!

[lancfan]

The basic airframe is complete and the grey finish has been applied, as there are no decals to go down the end is very near.


David.

[DazDaMan]

I wonder if I can find a photo of the Spit? There are certainly other pics of MH434 in a blue/grey scheme, but with roundels.

[lancfan]

MH434 was painted overall MSG for filming and the azure blue undersides and the roundels were added later, it was flown in public in overall grey a for a short time after the filming was done.

David.

[DazDaMan]

Like so....

[lancfan]

I think she flew in overall grey at Finningley and Mildenhall 1988.

David.

[lancfan]

Finished, Spitfire 9c MH434 made up for television as the prototype "Mayfield Kestrel" for the "Poirot" episode "The Incredible theft"







David.

[DazDaMan]

Looks nice and clean, David. Great stuff.

Gotta love that little Mk.IX kit!

[Molly-new]

Great work David. That new Airfix kit seems to fit together well. Is it a nice kit, apart from the lack of cockpit detail?

[lancfan]

It is a great little kit but as it was an early new tool release it doesn't have the interior details we have come to expect of NT Airfix.

David.

[DazDaMan]

It's definitely high on my list of favourite kits.

[lancfan]

Same here Daren.

David.