Splash's 1/48 Martlet II

[splash]

I plan on converting the Tamiya Wildcat into a Martlet II, the main visual change is removal of the small intake on the top of the nose cowling.

All of the reviews I have read say that this is a lovely kit and looking at the parts in the box the detail appears very fine and as you would expect from Tamiya, no sign of any flash.

[splash]

Welcome to the world of shake and build kits, this kit is an absolute gem.

The cockpit just flew together, the part fit is exceptional it's a shame very little is visible in the tiny cockpit.

[fredk]

Some loverly detail on those parts.
Bodes well for the rest too.

[splash]

Some loverly detail on those parts.
Bodes well for the rest too.

It bodes extremely well after joining the body parts together and sticking the upper and lower wing parts a test dry fit of the wings and body show a perfect fit with no room for any filler

If only all kits were like this





The test fit has shown that there is little point in adding detail to the cockpit or undercarriage well as very little can be seen.

[Dazzled]

Looks great Splash. I'm a big fan of Tamiya's 1:48th aircraft kits. If I could I'd build nothing else.

[fredk]

Any more progress to share with us?

[splash]

Any more progress to share with us?

My work bench has been below zero for the last two days so apart from assembling the main parts i'm waiting for a slight raise in temperature to enable me to lay down a coat of primmer.

[MarkyM607]

Any more progress to share with us?

My work bench has been below zero for the last two days so apart from assembling the main parts i'm waiting for a slight raise in temperature to enable me to lay down a coat of primmer.

A chap that was in the Navy in all weathers worried about below zero!!!

[fredk]

Oh, he's not fussed about the weather, its the paint, it doesn't want to play cos its too cold

[splash]

A chap that was in the Navy in all weathers worried about below zero!!!

Fred is right, I'm happy in sub zero conditions, it's just water based acrylics don't airbrush very well in these low tempretures.

The good thing is living in the South West of England the temperature never stays this cold for long.

[splash]

Good news my room is now at a balmy high temperature of +2 degrees Centigrade so I have had a chance to give the a/c a coat of primer.

As you can see from the images Tamiya has done an excellent job of the fine detail and the parts fit is probably one of the best I have seen on any kit, the wings to body fit looks like it was made in one piece with no sign of any join.

[MarkyM607]

A chap that was in the Navy in all weathers worried about below zero!!!

Fred is right, I'm happy in sub zero conditions, it's just water based acrylics don't airbrush very well in these low tempretures.

The good thing is living in the South West of England the temperature never stays this cold for long.

Fair enough!!.

[VMA131Marine]

The Martlet II also had the pitot moved to the top of the port wing. It is very noticeable and unique to this variant (see http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm; ). Also. The first 10 Martlet IIS were built without folding wings and we're eventually redesignated as Martlet IIIs.

[splash]

The Martlet II also had the pitot moved to the top of the port wing. It is very noticeable and unique to this variant (see http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm; ). Also. The first 10 Martlet IIS were built without folding wings and we're eventually redesignated as Martlet IIIs.

Thanks for that link, it's confirmed what changes I need to make to the nose cowling.

I gather they moved the pitot to above the Port wing to fix a problem of false airspeed reading at low speed on approach.

[splash]

Modifying the cowling was easier than I thought ten minutes with a blade and sanding sticks easily removed the unwanted parts.