Building legends of the air…
As all previous reviews of the Tamiya kit have stated, it is a sublime kit, well-engineered and highly detailed.
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The only addition I made to it was a Yahu Spitfire instrument panel whose detail cannot be matched or replicated.
I have recently been introduced to MRP paints and this build is the first one I have used them in anger. Having built the cockpit unit I sprayed it with their grey primer MRP-084. This is an extremely fine paint and several passes were required on a low pressure (around 8psi) to get a nice layer. It dries ultra-quickly and leaves a great surface! The main RAF cockpit Interior Green MRP-111 was then applied and detailing was completed by brush. Not too much time was spent on the seat as the pilot (P/O Hanbury) was going to be added later. Behind the main bulkhead was given a gloss black coat MRP-172 and then layers of Vallejo Aluminium metal 77.701 were applied.
Tamiya has cleverly integrated a pilot into the kit and provides realistic photo-etch seat harness that allow the pilot to sit correctly in the cockpit. There is also the option not to have the pilot in the aircraft and the appropriate harnesses are provided for that as well. Once the pilot had been prepared he was painted by hand in appropriate RAF uniform colour Val 71.004 On fully assembling the cockpit it was added to the fuselage and the model was then closed up. The builder is given the option to have cockpit closed or open and it is important to use the correct fuselage half inserts depending on what configuration is preferred. In this case the cockpit was going to be open.
Hurricane assembly starts…
Work was then started on the Airfix Hurricane, despite being a relatively old mould, the detail is great and the way it is engineered offers the chance for some super detailing whilst also having the option to have the gun bays exposed. In this case the starboard wing gun bays were going to be opened along with an inspection panel on the main fuselage so that the cockpit could be observed from a different angle. After some internet research I was able to scratch build some wiring, plumbing, pumps and servos along the cockpit frame that was going to be exposed. The same painting process was used as the spitfire for the cockpit and a Yahu instrument panel was added. Weathering was also completed using a Vallejo dark grey wash 76517.
Sub-assemblies were then tackled for both aircraft, building the wheels, undercarriage and other detailed components and painted where appropriate. The propellers and spinner were painted with MRP black MRP-005 and tips with yellow MRP-224.
With both fuselages assembled the wings were then added and attached. For the spitfire this included a spot of fettling to accommodate the main power wires from the circuit board down through under carriage system.
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Howard Kilburn says
Just fantastic !!! and great model builds
regards Howard