SPA Modeler

One year later...

I think I'm going to re-start this project. Out of all of the in-progress builds that I have, I felt the most conviction to get this one going again. It is in my preferred 1/32 scale. It is a WW2 fighter, which again is my preference. And it is a known antagonist against some of the Luftwaffe fighters that I am always building like the Dora and Me262.

I went over my build posts to re-orient myself. I really barely started this build and haven't even started the cockpit painting. Most of the time was spent trying to figure out which engine cowling to use: the kit plastic with its bulbous spinner and slightly too large chin intake or the more accurate Barracuda Studios version. Seems like an easy choice but I am planning to utilize the resin Napier engine and I had fit issues with the Barracuda resin. So... I am sticking with the kit cowling. I've been slowly re-shaping the kit spinner and I think I've got it close to where I want it. All of the dry-fitting did a number on the lead wire replacements on the engine so these have been replaced with stiffer copper wire.




I've started painting more of the cockpit components. Some wiring has been added but I don't know how it will be routed. I'll figure that out after I start piecing together the cockpit cage.


Some of the sub-assemblies have already been painted such as the central control column and foot pedals...


... and the instrument panel.

Wow! Great to see this going again!

Must be interesting returning to 1/32 after your 1/72 build.

Had no idea you had put this one on the backburner. This is gonna be another good one to follow.

I've got a couple of Hawker Typhoons in my stash but no Tempest.

I need to add a Tempest....

Excellent work John!

- Kari

Very nice!

Great to see this back in production. I almost forgot about it actually. Everything already looks so magnificent!

At least now you can put away your microscope.

A brute of an in line engined fighter…

Thanks guys! It's an older project but not forgotten. Since this was bought specifically to showcase that resin engine, my normal procedure of buttoning up everything will not be followed. That was something that made this project stand out in my mind. Hey... I might even pose the canopy open!

I spent the past few days trying to move the cockpit stage forward. Being a typical WW2 British fighter, the cockpit is a tubular frame without a solid floor. Dry-fitting is just about impossible so I am just going to paint and weather things first and assemble later. The majority of my effort has been getting the two side frames finished.


If you jump back to previous posts, you can see that I did some work in replacing some molded bumps with proper stalk-and-knobs. A little bit of wiring was added as well.



Here are the sidewalls placed into position into the previously painted fuselage sides. Note the flare pistol and a couple of flare cartridges that I added.