Model in a Month - 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire VB

[Calum]

Well I made it. It took the 4 weeks but I still had a week to spare before I go.

It was quite refreshing to build a kit and not obsess over every little detail. This model has a few flaws that I'd usually have tried and repaired. I'm not going to tell you where they are though ;-)

I finished the weathering off with a few more pastel chalks, some more filters whihc I streaked in the direction of the airflow to try and some mud pigments for the tyres.
Everything was tied together with a couple of coats of dullcoate.

For the record the details are as follows:

Kit - 1/48 Tamiya VB Spitfire
Decals - Red Roo The Away Team Part II
Seat - Ultracast
Exhausts - Ultracast
Paints - Mr Color for the base coat. Various Tamiya and Gunze greens and greys for various shading and details (airbrushed). Vallejo for any detail painting done with a brush.
Weathering - Windsor and Newtons Paynes Grey for the wash and filters. Various Artists Pastel chalks for shading and streaking. Various pencils 4H to 4B and a silver pencil for chipping

Onto the photos, which aren't up to my usual standard I'm afraid. Like the build this was rushed as well.






















Some More













Also played with some of these images uing paintshop pro X14's tone maping tool. Quite like the ejfect









more pictures on my blog

mainly-modelling.blogspot.com.au/

[Dave Homewood]

Really nice work Calum

[Andy Wright]

I really like that, Calum. Well done.

[ams888]

So when are you putting pictures up of the model with "a few flaws"? All I can see is an amazing spitfire! Really well done.

[kiwichappers]

Now then Callum,

Rushed, maybe but still a mightily impressive model, thanks for sharing it with us. Now the gross ignorance strikes, whose aircraft does it represent?

[Calum]

Sorry gents thought I put this in the preamble...

It is an aircraft from 457 Sqn (RAAF). Now those that know me might be surprised to see me doing a RAAF aircraft. Being a kiwi (although living in Australia) RAAF subjects unsurprisingly hold little interest for me.

However the pilot of this aircraft, Flt Lt J A Gibson was a member of the RNZAF, a namesake although not a relation and the only fighter pilot to have flown combat sorties in the Battle of France (flying Hurricanes), Battle of Britain (again Hurricanes) , the Pacific (2 tours flying Kittyhawks, and 1 flying Corsairs in the Solomon's) and the European Theatre (no 80 Sqn flying Tempests) . He is credited with 15 kills, 14 German and 1 Japanese. His post war life seems pretty interesting as well (wiki link).


A final bonus is that this Spitfire has a nice bit of Donald Duck nose art



But one of the subjects on this sheet is of interest to a Kiwi, and even more so to me. It's this guy

[Dave Homewood]

I never knew that Johnny Gibson had flown with an RAAF squadron, interesting stuff.

Another point of interest with him was he married the sister of popular film and music star George Formby.

[flyjoe180]

Beautiful Spitfire Calum. Your models always fascinate me, always a pleasure to view.

[smithy]

Love it Calum. You've done a great job and she's weathered beautifully.

Good stuff!

[kiwichappers]

Thanks for potted history Callum. Certainly an interesting fellow and very worthy of a series of models.

[Calum]

Thanks Gents

[silverfox]

Another cracking model, how does the mapping tool work?

[corsair67]

Very nice indeed.

I like the effect of the post-processing used in some of those images too.

[dewobz]

Excellent work Callum. Very nice indeed. I love the weathering you achieve. Great subject matter too.

[Dave Homewood]

No offence to anyone, but it never ceases to amaze me how often people spell Calum's name wrong. Four times in this thread so far!!

[flyjoe180]

Three times, I just fixed mine