Spitfire MK I by Danstream - FINISHED - Tamiya 1/48

[Danstream]

Hi,

seen my glacial pace at progressing with my ship build log, I thought of showing here my last aircraft kit that I completed before starting my present Mayflower build. It is built from the excellent Tamiya kit 1/48 and it depicts an aircraft that took part in the Dunkirk operations. Finish is obtained with Tamiya acrylic paints and oil weathering. I hope you like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments and critiques are welcome.

Kind regards,

Dan.

 

[Jack12477]

Very impressive model, Dan. Nice job! 

[Canute]

Nicely done, Dan.👍

[Edwardkenway]

Very nice, great job!!

[Ryland Craze]

Beautiful model.  The finish is excellent, nothing over done.  I admire the skills of the plastic modelers on MSW.

[Old Collingwood]

Very very nice  - would love to see more if you fancy doing some more aircraft.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

Nicely executed Dan. A very clean looking model. I don't think I have ever seen a three tone underside camo before. Thanks for sharing

Edited December 8, 2020 by lmagna

[Danstream]

Many thanks for the likes and the comments! @Old Collingwood, at present my production of aircraft models is on hold because of my Mayflower build. In addition, my Mayflower required so far a lot of sanding with associated production of dust which is not ideal for the airbrushing activity. Probably I will restart with aircraft in a short while. However, if not considered out of place, I can post pictures of few more finished aircraft in the next future in other separate posts.

Thanks and greetings to all,

Dan.

[Old Collingwood]

11 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Nicely executed Dan. A very clean looking model. I don't think I have ever seen a three tone underside camo before. Thanks for sharing

Lou,  taken from someone elses description  I quote  - 

 

It was used from 1938 up until June 1940, half white half black, for observation of friendly aircraft from the ground. Remember that there was no country-wide ground control radar. Radar only worked looking out to sea, or at higher altitudes, initially only being placed on coastal sites . Tracking over the land, friendly or enemy, was down to the Observer Air Corps.

It was replaced by Sky undersides, but in November 1940 the black wing was reinstated. I'm not sure when it finally disappeared, possibly not until the introduction of the Day Fighter Scheme, with undersides of Medium Sea Grey.

 

OC.

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Beautiful work Dan!  No critique here except I hope that I can someday paint a camo scheme half as well as you can!

[lmagna]

1 hour ago, Danstream said:

I can post pictures of few more finished aircraft in the next future in other separate posts.

Post away. It is always nice to see how someone models a subject, especially  if they are talented like you obviously are.

[Javlin]

Nice job Dan just the right touch on the weathering pencils on the panels?

[Danstream]

Thanks, @Javlin. I am not sure I understood your question. Panel lines were highlighted with Tamiya panel liner and panels weathered by pre-shading, post-shading and oil colors. I avoided chipping because they would have distracted from the other weathering and also because aircraft not always have chippings in their operative life.

Thanks,

Dan.

Edited December 24, 2020 by Danstream
corrections

[Javlin]

20 hours ago, Danstream said:

Panel lines were highlighted with Tamiya panel liner

That was the answer I see guys use lead pencil for the effect.

[Bedford]

That's a beautiful model, well done!

 

I am always a bit confused about the use of mat colours on them though because I read in a book several years ago that the standing order was to "Polish them such that the regulation dry cheese cloth would slide off the wing" The aim was to give them the least possible drag. The fact that they were well polished would seem to imply a shiny finish wouldn't it?

[Egilman]

Yes, normally the aircraft were polished and kept clean in 1/1 scale, in smaller scales light glinting off the surface would be completely disproportionate to the scale of the aircraft when your trying to depict an object.... Flat paint cuts the shine so when observed by the human eye it appears as realistic as possible... In real life some of them were actually painted in flats especially at the start of the war where a glint off a canopy or the spine of a fuselage could mean life or death....

 

So it depends on what your trying to depict..... in general, in smaller scales, flat paint gives a more natural finish to the eye..... But this is for aircraft.... tanks and ships were generally painted in flats even in real life cause a reflection or flash of sunlight could easily mean getting shot at.....

Edited January 4, 2021 by Egilman

[Danstream]

@Bedford, thanks for your comments. For your questions see also this discussion of Britmodeller:

 

Gloss, Satin or Matt? - WWII - Britmodeller.com

 

In general, during WWII, aircraft finish were matt to kill reflections of sun light beamed off along one narrow direction. A non-glossy surface reflects incoming light with a spread on all directions. (see what also @Egilman said above). However, it must be said that military matt finish in real size do not appear as dead matt as it is obtained on models with modelling paints. Often you find 'eggshell' as a comparative description. An eggshell looks smooth and satin and reflects light diffusely. On a model, I never use a dead matt finish, but rather a matt-satin one which in my eyes looks more realistic.

RAF adopted true glossy paints for a period after the WWII.

 

It is true that for aircraft which are already well aerodynamically designed, improving the overall surface smoothness results in an increase of max speed (i.e. a decrease of parasite drag). However, I do not know if this requires achieving a truly glossy finish for which the roughness needs to be really small (smaller than visible light wavelength).

 

Best regards,

Dan. 

[Canute]

Once upon a time they waxed jet aircraft. Pre-Viet Nam in the USAF. Later on, in my time frame/career, fresh paint on a jet just back from a trip through a depot had a definite sheen. Not glossy, more of a satin. I surmise, with the low observable coloring, they are a more matte finish nowadays.

[JKC27]

Great job on this build.  I have a 1/48 Eduard kit for the Mk IXc version.  Of the 6 colour schemes available in the kit, 2 were flown by a Canadian pilot who is from my area, and was a renowned Spitfire pilot.  In fact our local hockey team (OHL, Jr A) is named the Windsor Spitfires!

[Danstream]

Thanks for your comment. Good luck with your Spitfire, I hope you will post your build here. The Spitfire is always a beautiful subject and the Eduard offering is awesome.

Cheers,

Dan

[AJohnson]

A lovely clean looking build Dan, really shows the Mk.1's beautiful lines.

 

"N3200" (well bits of it) are back in the air, there are a fair few documentaries and videos out there of her:  https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-spitfire-lost-for-almost-50-years