Airfix Spitfire XIX

Airfix 1/72 Spitfire 19 out of the box. The original plan, was...I don't remember...but it got finished as a Swedish PR bird using the kit decals. (Wow, when was the last time I could say that?) Not my best work, but, well, it is done.  #onwardandupward

Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Vc

The new Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Vc arrived a few weeks ago from the UK and I started it right away. Really enjoying it. But all that cockpit detail gone... Still unsure if it will end up as a USS Wasp Malta delivery or a 417 Squadron RCAF desert bird.

It buys kits in 72nd scale, or else it gets the hose.

Oops...

A Spitfire Filter Query

A question for the Spitfire cognoscenti. Above is a Library Archives Canada photo of 417 Squadron Spitfire VIII AN-O. 417 Squadron was the only RCAF fighter squadron to operate as part of the Desert Air Force and flew a mix of Spitfire VIIIs and later IXs. What is of note in this photo is what appears to be a very non-standard filter. (It sure looks to me that it is a cross between the Spitfire Vb/c Volkes filter and the more standard Aero Vee of the Spitfire VIII.) Most of the photographed aircraft feature the normal filter that one expects to see on the VIII and later IXs. The second photo (taken from the internet) below of Spitfire JF328 which appears to show the same item as on AN-O. A search of the internet doesn’t bring up much on the topic. (I know some IXs were fitted with the Aboukir filter, but this isn't an Aboukir filter.) However, there was a post on BritModeller by Magpie referencing two types of filters:

"The Aero-Vee filter came in two versions. Once again I quote from the pilot notes, (Spitfire VIII): 'On early aircraft the filter in the air intake can be bypassed, in the event of it becoming choked, by moving the control lever in the cockpit from COLD to HOT. Unfiltered air is then admitted from the engine bay.’ In other words, air was passed through the filter all the time as in the Vokes filter. The notes continue: 'On later aircraft the normal air intake (OPEN position of the control lever) is not filtered and is used at all times except for take-off and landing on sandy or dusty aerodromes, or when flying through sand storms, when the CLOSED position should be used. Filtered air is then taken from the engine bay'. There appear to have been two different types of air filter intake. The early intake seems to have operated the same as the Vokes type. Was it a Vokes and not an Aero-Vee? Is this the larger fairing seen on JF299 on page 279 of 'The History'? How many aircraft were so fitted? The three drawings on page 282 all seem to depict versions of the later Aero-Vee filter when 'ram' air was feed to the engine. Still more research needed!”

So is the filter on AN-O the early filter? If so, is there more documentation/photos out there?

It Has Arrived!!

Blitz'a'Spitfire

So, I spent Sunday and Monday Blitzing a Spitfire. For those not in the know, a Blitzbau is a speed build held a couple of times a year over on the Unofficial Airfix Modelers Forum. The modeler has to start, and complete, a kit either within 24 hours straight, or two 12 hour sessions on two successive days. I, of course, choose the two 12 hour sessions. Shockingly, I actually finished.

The poor subject chosen for this excise was the recent Airfix Spitfire IX. I built it straight out of the box. Yep, I didn't install seat belts. I tried to be ok that it has no control column, no instrument panel, and open wheel wells. I didn't replacing the comfy chair with something prototypical. Sadly, in the name of speed, many, many historical inaccuracies were committed. (Wheels are the wrong style, no D-Day stripes, and the wheel bulges are still present on the top of the wings, etc.) Not to mention my canopy masking skills are ultra weak...

I'm glad I finished, but I'm kind of disappointed in the final model. That being said, I'm excited that I was actually able to finish a model in two days...my first for the year...and I'm pretty happy with my shade of pink as well.  (The pink was a mix of Tamiya Flat White with a few drops of Tamiya pink added.)

The whole sorry tale...complete with a Seattle grunge history...can be found here.

Spitfire APR

I've been spending most of the morning trying to finish up my Spitfire APR.  The white winter camouflage is turning out to a little more difficult than I hoped...

If you don't know about the RCAF's use of the Spitfire APR visit Vintage Wings for the full story. Once again Evad has done a great job telling the story of this previously unknown piece of RCAF history.  ; )

2014

Wow, my first blog post in a year.

2014 was a year of ups and downs.  A little over one year ago my father unexpectedly passed away. He and I had discussed my upcoming move many times, so moving without his help last April was bittersweet. I packed up my life and moved from Akron, Ohio to Seattle, Washington driving almost 2,500 miles.  After making another cross country drive (El Paso to Seattle) to pick up my Dad’s car, moving into a much larger apartment, and taking on a new job - as well as finishing up responsibilities with my old firm – modeling and blogging time has been scarce.  It is late December as I write this and life is starting to feel settled, even with a new job search in the cards.  It’s finally the right time to get back to blogging.

The last few days of any year always seem to make one take stock of what was completed and what lies ahead.  In modeling terms, 2014 was a total bust.  Only three projects made any headway: an Airfix “old tool” Spitfire Mk. I was built in Ohio just before I left, I recently started an Airfix Mustang 4 for a Museum display in March 2015, and I spent some time plugging away at a Cyberhobby Vampire.  Each project will get its own post as 2015 proceeds and the projects are finished.

However, the biggest modeling change of the year was a major culling of the unbuilt model collection.  It made no sense to move models I never planned to build across the country, so many were left behind with friends in Ohio.  Even then, as most of the remaining models went into storage, I realized that even a collection half the size it used to be was still ridiculous.  After some additional pruning, I no longer feel weighed down by all the excess.  I’ve got about 30 kits in the apartment and I’m excited to build all of them.  I no longer have kits I’m saving for when “I get good”.  I don’t have kits that I think I’ll need for mythical collections.  I just have some kits I’d like to put together sometime – and that feels great.

So what does all this mean for A Scale Canadian?  Hopefully some posts in 2015.  I doubt I’ll average more than one a week, but look for modeling, book reviews, and maybe even some historical photos and essays.  In some ways, business as usual; in other ways, something entirely new for me. Here’s to finding the real joy in modeling, and in life, in 2015.

Flying Heritage Collection Battle of Britain Day

Ok, so they were off by a week and a day.  Ok, the Spitfire was a later model, but it was still totally fun. The Messerschmidt Bf-109E and the Spitfire Vc took to the skies yesterday after a short weather delay to entertain all in attendance.

And what is a post from Paine Field without a Dreamliner?

Hobby Boss 1/72 Spitfire Vb Day One

Tonight I decided to start the Hobby Boss Spitfire Vb "Easy Assemble" kit.  Sure it has issues, but I hope to correct them with the use of spares from Airfix Spitfires.  After less than an hour, here I am.  Easy, indeed.  My goal is to actually finish it this week and I hope to post progress each day.  It will be done up as "Buzz" Beurling's T-L/EP706 with my interpretation of a "Malta Blue" scheme.

Flying Heritage Collection Part 2

A few photos from the "old" hangar.

I still think they need to remove the spinner on the Hurricane.

The early Ki-43 is airworthy, but not flown.

I'd love to see the Polikarpov I-16 in the air.

The Tomahawk looks really good in Robert Neale's colours.  (It is interesting to note that Mr. Neale was a native Canadian; born in Vancouver, B.C.)

Ahh, Spitfire.

The Fieseler Storch.

Cocooned Canadian Spitfire?

In September I posted a link to an interesting photo of Spitfire TZ138 with the RCAF Winter Experimental Establishment (WEE) flight. Looking through other photos by that poster, I came across this interesting image the other night.  Captioned as a Seafire in the UK, I can't help but wonder if it is actually Spitfire 24 VN332 in Canada.  It sure isn't a Seafire...no tail hook...and while I have never heard of a Sea Fury being cocooned in Canada, WEE Flight did have a couple on strength.  Can anyone identify the location?  Unfortunately, it appears the writing on the side of the aircraft is a warning not to smoke around the aircraft, rather than what would have been much more helpful - a "This is WEE Flight Spitfire VN332" statement.  Couldn't these guys have thought about us researchers all these years later?  VN332 was later sold to the US becoming N7929A.  It was painted in a civilian scheme before crashing in New Jersey in 1953 killing the pilot.

Now the big question?  Do I dare finish my new Airfix Spitfire 22 like this?  At least I wouldn't need to worry about canopy masking!

P.S.:  Here is a copy of a really interesting RCAF report on the cold weather testing of TZ138.

Cool Spitfire photo

So who knew that the RCAF Winter Experimental Establishment (WEE) flight stripped the paint off of Spitfire XIV TZ138 during its time in Canada?  I sure didn't until today.  Then I saw this photo.  Very cool.  One small point is that the Meteor is Meteor IV RA421, not Meteor III EE311 which was written off in June 1946 in Ontario.  And why does the Prentice look pink?

FHC Battle of Britain Day

A couple of weeks ago (Saturday August 25, 2012 to be precise), I attended the Flying Heritage Collection Battle of Britain Fly Day.  The photos can be found here.  (Sorry, I'm too lazy to upload them to the blog.)  Aircraft participating included ex-RCAF Hurricane XIIa BW881/N54FH painted as Hurricane XII 5429/L of 135 "Bulldog" Squadron RCAF, Spitfire Vc AR614/N614VC in wartime RAF Czech Squadron markings, and Spitfire IXe SL633/N633VS in post war Czech Air Force markings.  (A historical side note:  Spitfire AR614 also has a Canadian connection.  It was imported to Canada in the early 1960s by Lynn Garrison for the Air Museum of Canada.  It later moved on to Don Campbell of Kapuskasing, Ontario and was registered as C-FDUY, before returning to the UK for restoration in the early 1990s.)  The two interlopers are a Paine Field firetruck and a Japanese Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner (JA828J) on a shakedown flight.

fündekals Hank Zary 403 Squadron Spitfire

fündekals are back with three new decal sheets, but there is no question which one caught my eye.  Hank Zary was an American ace flying with the RCAF who ended his career as CO of 403 Squadron.  This new sheet has markings for Zary's Spitfire XVI TB752 in late 1945, but before the aircraft was tarted up post war.  The sheet has roundels, fin flashes, serials, codes, nose art, and the aircraft name.  (Interestingly two versions of the name are included, one for the closed cockpit door and one for the open cockpit door.)  Everything is perfectly printed and the roundel colours are spot on.  You are directed to www.fundekals.com to download an instruction sheet for decal placement and scheme information.  As I said in my previous review of one of their Spitfire sheets, I really like this idea of single subject affordable decal sheets and there is no question that the download instruction sheet is the wave of the future.

Authentic Decals War Gifts: Presentation Spits

Unlike many in the modeling world, I tend to be pretty laid back about the items I purchase.  It is unlikely I'll overreact anytime soon and call a kit a piece of crap, a travesty, an abomination, or a disaster because it is 1 mm short.  (Heck, when I'm done sanding my kits, I'm sure I take off a millimeter or two.)  But sometimes even I get disappointed by a product.

I had no idea who Authentic Decals was when I first saw this sheet illustrated.  I knew they were from somewhere in the former Soviet Union and had 411 Squadron's Spitfire II "Venture I" as an option.  I ordered the sheet and sadly what I received was a product more fitting of 1973.  Sure, there is a nice colour instruction sheet...with the odd choice of light blue standing in for sky undersides...but it was the decals that were a slight shock.  Generally, if there is a yellow ring on the roundel it is out of register.  The fin flashes are unusable, most of the nose art is slightly primitive looking, and the rank pennants are quite dreadful.  The straight black stencil lines are not straight.  Oops.  The good news is most of the serials and codes appear usable.  Sure there are 14 neat Spitfire options on the sheet (only enough roundels and fin flashed to finish an early and late scheme), but what good is that if most of the decals are indifferent?

I'm sure this sheet would have been raved about in the 1970s...but it is 2012 and modelers expect better.  I have no idea how well these decals will actually work, but the printing and artwork quality suggests giving them a miss.

fündekals Lance Wade Spitfire Mk. VIII

At the Dayton Regional I picked up a couple of decals sheets from a new manufacturer named fündekals.  They have decided to take a new approach to decal production of doing simple one subject sheets with no printed instruction.  (In all majors scales, for those that believe scales other than 1/72 actually exist.)  In this case, the single option is for American RAF pilot Lance Wade's Spitfire Mk. VIII JF472 of 145 Squadron.  The sheet has roundels, fin flashes, serials, and codes.  No muss no fuss.  Everything is perfectly printed and the roundel colours are spot on.  Btw, the right code is not misprinted as it may appear, it is cleverly printed to be covered over by the squadron codes.  You are directed to www.fundekals.com to download an instruction sheet for decal placement and scheme information.  I really like this idea of affordable small sheets with one option...how about some RCAF subjects, guys?  I think a certain American Spitfire pilot commanding a RCAF Squadron would fit perfectly in your line...

Sword 1/72 Seafire Mk. IIc/L Mk. IIc

Sword is another Czech producer of injection molded kits and they followed up their recent Spitfire Vc series with a Seafire Mk. IIc.  It includes one sprue from the Spitfire kit along with a new sprue of Seafire specific parts, some resin cannons and fairings, and an injection modeled canopy.  Sword is quite a refined producer of short run models and the parts are well molded with clean detail.  Options abound with two sets of wheels, two choices for wingtips, three spinners and propellors, and the choice of the standard or tropical filters.  Scribing is very fine, maybe too fine for some modelers.  Detail in the cockpit is very nice and it looks like it will assemble just fine if you take some care.  Sword did account for the difference between the Spitfire and Seafire by providing a new sprue, including a Seafire fuselage and also provide plastic parts for the hook and fairing.

Decal options are for 899 Squadron of the HMS Indomitable, 885 NAS in Northern Ireland, and 834 Squadron of the HMS Battler of the British Pacific Fleet with a cartoon stork nose art.  All necessary markings, including stencils are provided.

The Sword Seafire is an expensive kit, with a price over $20.00, but it is the best 1/72 plastic Merlin engined Seafire currently on the market.

RCAF Spitfire Under Repair

Men of an RAF Repair and Salvage Unit working on a damaged Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX of No 403 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, at a forward airstrip in Normandy. © IWM (CL 186)

Ever since seeing the above photo as a young boy in a Spitfire In Action, I've been captivated by this image and wanted to model the scene. Maybe someday I'll even get to it.

Modeler's Note: The two best options for a Spitfire IX in 1/72 are the CMK resin kit or the new Airfix kit. They are a study in contrasts. Everything about the CMK kit is high end and complicated. High priced, resin and photo etched with a vacuform canopy, it covers all the options. Just beautiful. On the other hand the Airfix kit is simple with minimal detail. A great starter kit, it looks good out of the box, but really could use some additional detail in the cockpit and the wheel wells. There is a Hasegawa Spitfire IX that is nicely modeled, but the fuselage is much too short and quite honestly the cockpit detail isn't much better then Airfix's.

Forces of Valor/Unimax U.K Spitfire Mk. IX

It is always an exciting day when a new 1/72 Spitfire hits the shelves. While the world is not exactly in need of another new Spitfire kit, I look forward to viewing the new plastic. Sadly, this was a day I should have stayed in bed.

I'm not exactly sure who Forces of Valor are, but I think they have something to do with wargaming or diecasts; though this plastic kit is one of the start of a new series of 1/72 World War Two fighters. Opening the box finds four bagged sprues of grey plastic, one clear sprue, a decal sheet with one option, and an instruction sheet. One feature that immediately catches the eye is the open engine compartment...but immediately after that things start to go wrong...

It is not often that I find myself looking at a new kit and wondering what the design team was smoking. In this case it must have been some damn good quality hallucinogens, because even on cursory inspection this thing bares only a slight resemblance to a Spitfire. The rear fuselage and rudder are...well not Spitfire like at all. Maybe they look better on mushrooms?


The underwing radiators are huge. The wing is supposed to be a "c" wing with the large cannon blisters, but then they give you bomb racks usually seen on later models. (And those racks are crude and way outboard of where they should be on the wings.) The bombs themselves look more like fishing sinkers.


The scribing is deep with some odd raised areas and rivets. The cockpit detail is a figment of someones imagination, and only includes a seat, floor, and instrument panel. The exposed engine's resemblance to a Merlin depends on how much you squint. Heck, you are probably better off just closing your eyes entirely.

The canopy is thick, misshapen...surprise, eh...and looks huge. Ugh. There are huge locating pins and holes on almost every part and it almost looks like a snap-tite, but the box says glue is necessary. The instruction sheet may be the highlight of the kit, and quite honestly I was so appalled by the plastic I couldn't bring myself to look at the decals.

This kit is bad. Actually beyond bad...aweful, so much so that I can't understand who the market for this kit is. Yes, it was cheap...under $10...but honestly Forces of Valor/Unimax should pay me for the pain and suffering I suffered by opening the box. Stay away!