SPA Modeler

I’m digging how you’re working on this build. When I started out on the Messerschmitt, one of the things I tried to keep in mind was- “one or two little things a day, and really focus on them” and that’s served me well. Even if it’s just one part of a subassembly- really take the time and really think about it. It’s a good method. I’m trying to carry that over into my painting.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing this build come together!

Kenny and Mark, thanks. Yes, the amount of work that I do or at least plan to do all depends on the time available that I have for that session. Unfortunately my days off this week were not so generous with free time when all my other taskings came in.

After the primer dried, the next afternoon I figured a quick easy airbrush session to get on two basic colors, green and black. Unfortunately, I had some new learning curve difficulties with a recently obtained airbrush that threw me a curve and set me back a but. The tip came loose and did not have a good airtight seal, so my green was back splattering out of the cup and all over my PE stuff,,, well at least the IP. Which was no big deal I thought. Once I figured out the problem and corrected said problem, I was able to get the session done as intended for the most part... but then I got impatient to take photos and did not even think about any still wet globs of green and when I was taking the IP off the backing, I mushed up some of the wet green onto the front of the dry black... so I’ll have to do a quick reshoot of some black when I have time...

Anyways here is how things look now...





And a test fit in place...



At least I can start the detail painting on the green areas...

Vampire Cockpit.


Might could be useful if you have not already seen it. Methinks it is the MkII or MkIII, though.

Question: are the build issues you and the Duke were referring to having to do with the dihedral and have you checked this out on your version.... The intraweb is a lovely place for misinformation but I read just now that the opening for the wheel wells are molded into the top wings: "Upon dry fitting the assembled wings, it was immediately apparent that the attached wings has an anhedral as apposed to a dihedral shape. That is, the wings sloped downwards to the wing tip as apposed to having a slight angle up. It seemed that the wings were going into the wrong side of the fuselage." (from a build review online)

Also the colors are amazing and despite the accidental markup of the instrument panel, the choices look great. I would be curious to know if the seat was bakelite on the first version as well, but your choice of color feels quite correct if you want my humble opinion. Time for popcorn.

Well the F.2 never went into production. So I believe that IP diagram is for a F.1 or F.3. I have seen it while I was doing my cockpit photo searches. I read that same review with the dihedral angle mention, and I checked that via a test dry fit. I saw no such issue at that time. And then I really had to wonder about the rest of his review. I am taking all of them with a grain of salt now. Actually more of a pinch as so far, the kit itself is mostly trouble free, and although a bit simplistic on interior detail, I just don’t understand the barbs thrown at it. I am more concerned about potential tail boom alignment problems than anything else at this point. But first I gotta get the fuselage all together and wings mounted. As long as I test first, I’m not worried much about the wing angle. That will be an easy challenge to deal with- if it exists at all on my kit.

I agree with you about online reviews, Carlos. As I noted, the internet is a dodgy place for truths. I have already "forgotten" the link to whatever it was wherever it was whomever it was written by etc. Onward and upward!

Well it was nice to see all these horrid reviews and then once I started building this myself to be pleasantly surprised so far. I actually did invert the wings for a test fit and immediately saw that was not the case.

Oh yes, I did find a Bakelite seat (or at least a brown seat that did not match any of the rest of the cockpit in color) on a F.3, along with that diagram that you posted. Which is also for a F.3. At least on the site I found. And it’s on the internet, so it must be true!

Stikpusher wrote:Well it was nice to see all these horrid reviews and then once I started building this myself to be pleasantly surprised so far. I actually did invert the wings for a test fit and immediately saw that was not the case.

Oh yes, I did find a Bakelite seat (or at least a brown seat that did not match any of the rest of the cockpit in color) on a F.3, along with that diagram that you posted. Which is also for a F.3. At least on the site I found. And it’s on the internet, so it must be true!

All hail the internet!

The tailboom can be a challenge.

For a number of years ago, actually in Spring 2014, I started to build Trumpeters 1/48 version of the Vampire. I did the construction in two-steps. First aligning the tail construction carefully with a simple construction, we can call a "poor mans jig". Then in next step it was connected into the fuselage. Funnily the fit was so good (and most importantly balanced with some blue tack) that I let it dry in this position, the entire plane is slightly tilted also...



Then that the build was never finished, is another story....

- Kari

Kari, the putty jig is a fabulous idea! Thank you for sharing that!

Bruce, Flash Gordon is one of my guilty pleasures... thanks for reminding me of that gap in my movie library... I often listen to the soundtrack while I am at my workbench...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfmrHTdXgK4

Great work so far Stik!