From the sublime to the ridiculous - Kotare and Beacon Models Spitfire Mk I in 32nd and 144th scales

 

Here are two 'new' model companies that deserve every tiny scrap of 'publicity' going. Both have opted for Spitfires as their first releases to really 'launch' their respective companies.

Kotare is the Mark Robson/Richard Alexander entreprise that has risen 'phoenix-like' from the demise of Wingnut Wings. A beautiful 32nd scale Spitfire I is their first release and thanks to Rod, the East Kent Scale modellers club got the chance to examine the box at a recent club meet. Apologies for the poor lighting.

Beautifully produced handbook/instruction manual. Complete with rigging guide!

Flawlessly molded parts. But a relatively low parts count - only around 140. Resin exhausts  - but no engine. The decal sheet is A-4 size and 'printed in Italy'  - probably Cartograph, but not stated. Did you know that a Cartograph decal sheet in a box costs the model producer as much as the plastic?  This is such a nice package it looks too 'nice' to build  - I'm sure that they will be snapped up by collectors whatever..

But....as much as I wish Kotare well, I do have to point out that RRP at around £95 (certainly in the UK) is as much as a 430-part Airfix 24th scale Spit IX ! 

One of the markings options in the kit is the 234 Sqn machine 'Dirty Dick' forced down by JG 53 during August 1940. 

More reference photos on my 'Jet & Prop' blog here

Moving on to the new Beacon Models  Spitfire Mk I vs Bf  109 E-4 'Dogfight Set' contains a Mk I and an Emil in 1:144th. Model build by Callum. (..and no, I'm not employing the term 'model kit-set' here..ever!)

3-D printed airfield 'dispersal scene' also available.

Spitfire IX Revell 32nd scale - build review (7) - finished! PV 270 " AL" Al Deere Biggin Hill wing CO

First 32nd build for this blog and probably not my last  - there's no denying the 'impact' and 'presence' of a large scale model. My 72nd scale Fujimi F-4 being built alongside this one seems a little pathetic now. Of course I can see where I have gone awry - Humbrol 30 for the dark green was not a good choice to start with! Camo scheme airbrushed free-hand which in this scale gives a reasonable impression of a hard-edged finish and avoids a heap of masking. Belts from Eduard, codes painted, pilot's seat armour from sheet, flap indicators scratched/ cut out of the wings. As for the kit, well it seems churlish to say anything too bad about it when you get this much plastic for £20. Most of the sprues of course are from the Mk II kit but Revell don't tell you which parts (pilot's head rest etc) to usefully leave out. I kept the head-rest in the end. If you know PV 270 (subject of this build) you will know that it was restored with this in place. The Revell box build pic showing an antenna wire (!) is not the fault of the kit though. I also deployed the flaps down, hence the upper surface indicators (scratched). Yes, yes I know. Not done. Or as Mal on aeroscale put it,  " ..It was very rare to see lowered flaps on Spitfires on the ground. They were only used for landing and should be raised as soon as possible, to prevent any damage (apparently pilots would be fined if they didn't!) If the flaps are not lowered then these doors should not be open.." The Spit in my local museum (Manston) is on display in this configuration. Back to the kit - I will say though that I'm not terribly convinced by the dihedral in the wing. Far too 'flat' for me. But I have bought another one along with some Flevo Dutch decals. First three pics taken with my Ipad in fading light. I might try and take some more. My small tribute to a great Kiwi.

 Seafire at Duxford, flaps deployed. More elsewhere on this blog here

new 1:32nd scale Revell Spitfire IXc - build review (6) PV 270 "AL"

Decide to deploy the flaps down (only two positions on the Spitfire, 'up' and 'down') and then realised after the upper surfaces scheme was finished that I'd need to show the 'flap indicators' out. Which involved some drilling and cutting of my nice and freshly painted wing. And unable to find any suitable decals for the sky-coloured codes of my chosen scheme, I thought I'd have a go at masking and painting my own, after all 'A' and 'L' aren't going to be too difficult to mask up and paint, are they ?. My third attempt gave me something I'm more or less happy with ..at least you can do this sort of stuff in 32nd scale..by the way the kit decal codes are hopelessly 'green'..

and, below, gear on. Stance looks OK-ish to me  - but I'm not liking the size/shape of those gear doors. Stuck now.

below; my model to be finished as the Brendon Deere's NZ Spitfire IX restoration 'PV 270'  in the markings of his uncle WC 'Al' Deere, Biggin Hill Wing, 1943. Avery Little photo here

Dunkirk Spitfires- Al Deere's 'Kiwi' Airfix Spitfire Mk 1 54 Sqd Hornchurch, May 1940

Up from Hornchurch on 28 May 1940, 54 Sqd's Al Deere attacked a Dornier over Dunkirk and had to belly land at Dunkirk/De Panne. His 'Kiwi' N3180 KL-B was his first of three Kiwi's. KL-B was crash-landed on the beaches after taking hits from return fire. The aircraft subsequently burnt out after Deere made his emergency landing..

This particular airframe is covered by the Southern Expo decal sheet (see below). Note they go with black and white undersides, no roundels. No rear fuselage serial on the aircraft I modelled..

Image below shows crash-landed Spitfire flown by PO Davies, 222 Sqn, N3295, ZD-?, 31 May 1940 - a great detail shot of the undersurfaces

Ducimus Spitfire undersurfaces colour chart

a description via Edgar Brooks of the evolution of early Spitfire camo and markings..

 "..The May 1st., 1940 order was for yellow circles to be added to the fuselage roundels, not underneath. On May 11th., repeated on the 15th., an order was issued for underwing roundels to be painted (without any yellow.) On June 2nd., an order was issued to paint the undersides all Sky, with underwing roundels being thereby completely painted out. On June 12th., a signal stated that, due to a shortage of Sky, the black/white scheme might still be seen, and the roundel under the black port wing was to have a yellow ring added, which must not encroach onto the ailerons or hinges. On June 14th., units (including the Civilian Repair Organisation) were told that the black/white scheme could be overpainted by a maximum of two coats of Sky, but (due to balance considerations, which units were not equipped to deal with) that did not include ailerons, which should have the original paint washed off before application of Sky. On August 11th., apparently due to some units having painted them anyway, an order gave tacit approval for underwing roundels to reappear.."

Thanks to Troy Smith. Much more on his britmodeller thread here