SPA Modeler

That is great news. Yes, it does help to be more educated about the subject, although you appear to know a bit more than you thought you did. I trust that you will do an excellent job regardless.

I know what you mean about not knowing anything prior to starting a build. Sometimes you just gotta jump in and expect to learn as you go. That is what I am doing with my Tempest build. Interesting to see the molding compared to the rivet-festooned Special Hobby version. Looks like PCM left off the Fuel Port hatch on the top center of the fuselage just behind the engine compartment... same with the Special Hobby kit.

You have to carry the fire.
I don't know how to.
Yes, you do.
Is the fire real? The fire?
Yes it is.
Where is it? I don't know where it is.
Yes you do. It's inside you. It always was there. I can see it.

Cormac McCarthy, The Road

I just don’t feel the fire for this one, yet. Mostly because I like building WWI aircraft at the moment, and I ordered a Spitfire Mk VC “Yankee” kit which is also a short run low pressure Sword Plastic kit and I feel it is better. I need to clear the cobwebs, let the past rest, find the fire within and keep it stoked, for as long as I can. This is not a dead end. It is not. I just don’t feel the fire yet. Adesso.

Bruce that is a perfect expression for what I feel as well. I am certainly feeling the fire for all my latest projects so I understand that you need time to stoke that fire within you to do this right. Take your time, I'll certainly be here to watch you take this up when the fire is good and hot. Meanwhile, I intend to thoroughly enjoy your latest WWI builds. Your threads are always a thrill to watch.

RAF IN GERMANY !! Okay, I’m feeling some heat.



Slow boat, though. Fokker first.

Well that scheme will make the exterior finish a bit more simple than the wartime camo. Just a correction to the color plate labeling though- post WWII, the RAF adapted a new overall color scheme of “high speed silver”, which was not bare or natural metal, but was “aluminium lacquer” in RAF nomenclature. So no need for a multi tone panel effect if you go down that path.

Thank you so much Carlos! I wonder why the profile is incorrectly labeled and painted? I would have thought PCM would feature well researched documentation. Your “Rules of Modeling” apply: Trust original photographs and documents first. All else are a distant second option.

I like the scheme regardless. I was going to pick a quarter scale kit as a paint mule.

Artistic license versus research. I presume the artist saw a photo of the aircraft and presumed that it was NMF and not lacquered, being unaware of the RAF paint. High Speed Silver continued in use on the undersides of RAF aircraft once camouflage paint was reintroduced during the 1950’s up until around 1970 or so when a light gray was introduced to replace the silver.

Stik your depth and breadth of knowledge never ceases to amaze me Stikipedia right there.

He cheats. You know he looks this stuff up before posting it.