Karis Spitfires

[KSaarni]

So after a busy work week, including a brief worktrip to Sweden, I have had some time to continue the work on both IX:s.

While Eduars 1/48 kit looks wonderfully sharp, I am not 100% if I like it so much. .

As earlier also mentioned, this kit is slightly over engineerd. I don't mind challenges, but to need to something complex that just disappears totally inside the build, I don't really like it.. As en example the exhaust pipe consruction... In total 4 pieces and on top of that somehow tricky to align the pieces correctly while cementing them..



But you cannot complain then again with the details.. Look at the detail of this exhaust pipes... Quality you usually only see in aftermarket stuff..



- Kari

[KSaarni]

There is just something of the port side exhaust pipe construction.

It just does not really "sit" correctly where it is supposed to sit, in the "engine room".
The starboard side is perfect, nothing to complain there..

Even the instruction regarding the starboard is not correct regarding the "triangular" end piece (G43). I can't understand how Eduard is thinking here, the angle of the starboard exhaust piece nr G9 does not "let" you glue G43 in that way...



I wonder, has any SPAMmer built Eduards 1/48 Spitfire before and would have noticed the same ?

- Kari

[Stuart]

I wonder, has any SPAMmer built Eduards 1/48 Spitfire before and would have noticed the same ?

- Kari

Alas not Kari otherwise I'd be glad to help.

That does seem a overly complicated way of doing things I agree - but that detail is wonderful. Do you have to assemble the exhausts before paint or can you do them afterwards?

[KSaarni]

I can assemble the exhausts afterwards, as long as I don't glue the "bonnet". So that's fine, but yes, the details are great, but. neeh, not this Eduard is not really my cup of tea to be honest...
(there are other issues as well, some due to me and some due to Eduard )

- Kari

[Stuart]

Hi Kari,

It might be worth checking out this site -

My friend Jon is the man when it comes to Spitfire - having build 84 of them. He rate the Eduard kit there best there in in 1/48th but interestingly he has this to say about the issues you're having - obviously copyright is his. The link to the full page is here: (he has a lot of articles on his site about Spitfires - the search engine works well)

https://www.jonbius.com/2018/08/06/edua ... own-under/

''One of the complaints I do have about Eduard’s Spitfire line is the upper cowl cover. They chose to cast this part in two halves, split right down the middle. The two parts fit together perfect, and can be sanded down easily to hide the seam. But that’s where I find the problem. In doing so, you will lose some of the wonderful, petite rivet detail. It’s so fine that literally a few swipes from the sanding stick will wipe it out. I’m guessing they cast the part in this way to facilitate the slight overhang above the exhausts, which is accurate. But I’ve never liked that the nice detailing must be smoothed over as a result. While you can restore the detail, it’s difficult to replicate how fine it is.

The other chief complaint I have is the exhausts. The kit parts are very nicely cast, and look great. They look better than some resin replacements I’ve seen over the years. However, the mounting structure is a veritable Rubiks cube of parts. Once you figure out how it goes together, you get an “a-ha!” moment, and from then on you have it. But getting to that point can create some small amount of angst.

To top it off, the exhausts must be mounted during the assembly process, and cannot be mounted afterwards. This makes painting and weathering them a bit of a pain.

Happily, there is an alternative for both issues. Ultracast provides a gorgeous one piece resin replacement part that is truly drop fit, and gets around the cowl problem outlined above. And they also make a replacement exhaust set that is very nice, and allows for the exhausts to be fitted after painting, which is a huge plus. They make both the bulged and flat cowling part, as well as fishtail and round exhausts. You can check out all of their 1/48 Spitfire accessories on their website''

So interesting - you can get AM parts for an Eduard kit!?!?!

I have to say they're really not my cup of tea either.

Regards

Stuart

[KSaarni]

Great info Stuart, amazing ! Happy to read I am not alone with this...


- Kari

[speedgraflex]

I do not know Jon personally the way Stuart does but his words crop up in reviews and discussion of Spitfires. I read what Stuart excerpted as a fascinating look into the difficulties of working with the extremely accurate bias found with Eduard’s kits. Personally when I feast my eyes on your photo of the exhaust and cowling, I am really excited, I am sure you are, too. I feel it. It feels right. Extraordinary achievement. It’s extraordinary work being done, Kari. Your work is so clean and sharp! I would like to see what does not work as well. To me the photo you posted is amazing. The only issue may be some side to side compression of the cowling. It may help to start with what surrounds the top of these inserts?

[KSaarni]

Thanks Bruce for your kind work.

just briefly, the cowling was just dry fitted there. It will not be cemented before all paintwork has been done and the exhausts also.
Here I disagree a little bit with Jon, who say the exhausts must be mounted during the assembly. No need, can be done very late in build, as I will do.



The cowling needs to be slightly "pressed" into place, but then the fit and alignment will be good !

- Kari

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much for posting the open view! I am like you, I don’t want to address adding details in until absolutely necessary. I was watching a lot of small Spitfire builds to entertain myself and to laud anyone confident enough to put their work out there. It was very interesting seeing tube glue in action, too. In the case of our two Spitfire models, I certainly relate to the cowling center seam that you are addressing (also addressed by Jon in what Stuart excerpted). Looks to me like you conquered that seam line beautifully!!

[KSaarni]

Thanks Bruce! :-)

- Kari