FGMM Supermarine Spitfire

[cdwheatley]

I've had this printed out for months, but having seen a couple built recently I thought it was about time I gave it a go. I've wanted to build a Spitfire to add to my collection for ages but was wary about not being able to do it justice, as it's such an iconic, beautiful and historic aircraft. Being British I am, of course, especially fond and proud of it. This is the 'large' version:-

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image001.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image004.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image008.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image009.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image011.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image014.jpg

This must be one of the oldest designs in the FG range at the moment, but despite that I was pleasantly surprised by how well it all went together. The wing to fuselage joint was particularly good - one of the best I've come across in a FG model - just needing a couple of extra (paper) pieces added to the leading edges to fill in the small gaps there. I had no intention of using the supplied spinner as it was just a simple cone and nowhere near the shape of the real thing, plus it was the wrong colour. Instead I 'borrowed' the p*****c one from a Guillows Rufe kit that I still have from my stick and tissue modelling days. I tidied up the wing leading edges with some yellow paint and a black marker pen. All in all I'm really pleased with it :D.

I'm now toying with the idea of building a Messerschmitt Bf-109 as well and placing the two in some sort of diorama :rolleyes:.

More pictures on my website.

[rockpaperscissor]

That is sweeeet Chris! Really came out nice. How did you make your prop disc? It's very effective. Really looks like it's spinning

[bob martin]

Nice one Chris:D Hum never thought about using the spinner from the Rufe. I cut the floats off mine and put on wheels. Looks like the spinners from the Spitfire and hawker are the same size as well......Hum? I may see if I can use one to make a mold.

[mchale]

looks good cd i am going to make one

[jagolden01]

Very nice, Chris!

[cjwalas]

Nicely done! This is one of the early ones that I'd love to see get redone. It is such a beautiful plane!
Chris

[birder]

I told Chip I like this one, like a piece of art, elegant in its simplicity. He would dearly like to update all these older models, but I think they are unique as they are...besides there are lots of more complicated spit models to build, none of them can be built as quickly and simply as this

[peter taft]

Another really nice build from you Chris... she looks splendid ;)

[2Kamser]

hi Chris, i'm doing a diorama with the 2 most famous aircrafts from battle of britain too
building them at "normal" size but trying to keep them in relative size
love your propeller and spinner relly looks like it as the engine running ready for takeoff :D
/Håkan

[cdwheatley]

Thanks everyone :). Don, the prop disk is, if I remember correctly, one of the ones in the B-17 files. I'm looking forward to seeing your diorama, Håkan. At the moment I'm trying to figure out what size to print the Bf-109 so as to match the Spit - I'm hopeless with scales! :D

[2Kamser]

Thanks everyone :). Don, the prop disk is, if I remember correctly, one of the ones in the B-17 files. I'm looking forward to seeing your diorama, Håkan. At the moment I'm trying to figure out what size to print the Bf-109 so as to match the Spit - I'm hopeless with scales! :D

that is a tricky one, i read that the best way to match scales is to measure length as Chip apparently takes artistic license with the width of the wings fo fill the paper sheet better

printed out two ME109's one at original scale and one at the stipulated WSAM scale at 94% will see which one looks the best for the diorama

[cdwheatley]

I always planned to make a suitable stand for the Spitfire, which I eventually got around to yesterday and today, so here it is, all done:-

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image018.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image017.jpg
http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm32/cdwheatley1966/Fiddlers%20Green/Supermarine%20Spitfire/Image020.jpg

As you can see, it utilises my patented 'ballpoint pen case' method to support the model, first employed on the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 I built last year :D.

More pictures on my website.

[rockpaperscissor]

I like it a lot Chris. It really shows the model off nicely.

[spgifford]

Very classy. I would be proud to have that on my desk.

[2Kamser]

Very classy. I would be proud to have that on my desk.

totally agree, it so looks like the prop is really turning and it is ready to fly away if it wasn't attached to the stand, very well done :D

[cdwheatley]

2Kamser, spgifford - thank you both very much :).

[airdave]

I'm not completely thrilled with the shape of the spine on that Spit
but your build is fabulous!
The stand is awesome!
Those last three photos are PC desktop material!

Where do you guys get those clear spinner props?

[2Kamser]

i did mine myself, measured the original prop for size and just did a couple of circles inside the outer one, the outer ring on mine is yellowish as the SF orig prop has yellow tips, then i erased parts of the circles to make it kinda look like a rotating prop, you can do it really easy and it makes wonder for the model
/Håkan

[cdwheatley]

You can get a whole sheet of prop discs via the FG homepage, just click on the 'Props' link down the left side of the screen that's under the 'For Designers' section. Resize as necessary and print on inkjet printable acetate. This particular prop disc is from the B-17 kit. Glad you all like the model so much :).

[Wyvern]

Nice!

Wyvern

[airdave]

You can get a whole sheet of prop discs via the FG homepage, just click on the 'Props' link down the left side of the screen that's under the 'For Designers' section. Resize as necessary and print on inkjet printable acetate. This particular prop disc is from the B-17 kit. Glad you all like the model so much :).


haha I had to laugh...on the FG props page it states "not for use on jets"!


I guess my problem is this inkjet printable acetate...I will have to look around for the correct stuff

[cdwheatley]

I got mine from eBay if that's any help? Just search for "inkjet acetate" and that should bring up a few options :). It's slightly rough on the printable side and smooth on the other.

[peter taft]

Love your build as i said before, and the display stand is very good - A nice desktop masterpiece Chris ;) I LMAO at Airdaves find.. {re: prop disks} "Not for use use on jets" :D

[AndyC]

CD - I just dig your spit. The lines are so smoth on that thing it's incredible. I started a spit but, it's in the bin now...try try again....good job on that one!:)