SPA Modeler

Thanks, gents. Carlos—I always feel better knowing you are one of those guys on the ready line. If the fire grows worse, the DWP will be cutting power in the neighborhood. Not looking forward to the possibility of no power. No one is. Remember the show about loss of power called “Revolution?” We live in a electric world...

speedgraflex wrote:Thanks, gents. Carlos—I always feel better knowing you are one of those guys on the ready line. If the fire grows worse, the DWP will be cutting power in the neighborhood. Not looking forward to the possibility of no power. No one is. Remember the show about loss of power called “Revolution?” We live in a electric world...

Not on the line anymore... one of the HQ pogues pressing the buttons to send the folks to the line. Watching the fire on the news here it’s moving south along the west side of the 405 in the sepulveda pass.
I vaguely recall the Revolution show. I definitely agree about it being an electric world here nowadays. When my son was a kid in school, his biggest punishment was “going Amish”. We would take away all his electronics: games, phone, etc. Talk about child abuse...

Grateful you’re still here, bud. “Going Amish” is a perfect description.

I hit the limit of how much dihedral I can create unless I cut up this straight tab (see diagram) on the lower wing.



Of course I could bring out the clamps and two part epoxy to force that piece to cooperate, but it’s not a preference. So... let’s look at the real thing. The Mk.I at the War Museum.



Well, looks like the shape was made the same way—a central channel with transitional pieces on each side. So... let’s look at Stuart and Kari’s Spitfire models. The sprues tell all! Both are robustly rounded.



Well, I do believe I have reached a limit of the kit. Not to worry. The goal is to honor the kit and not to try too much to change it. So... I’ll probably add a small interior tab using styrene to anchor that flat section of keel better and leave it be. That’s my call. Any thoughts?

That does sound like a plan Bruce - I don't know how well it's formed on your kit but there is a small gull wing on the trailing edge - not all kits get it right.

Thanks so much for the explanation, Stuart. Sincerely. I still plan to add a styrene tab to help hold that projecting piece of keel securely against the fuselage; by bending the wings upward, I put a lot of stress at the front of the wing join as well as the back. I gotta keep up the steam awhile longer as these two areas are gonna want to spring open due to the tension. Closer, though. Except no gull wings sighted with this kit—well, flat bottomed gulls apparently.

Training continues, with seam-sanding of the wing roots following CA applications...

Well, as always, I'm very late to this build party! Bruce. it's great to see you building this. I've built at least four Spitfires myself. In fact, my second build was a Spitfire; unpainted with Australian markings. I also used to draw aircraft profiles in flight... one small difference, I used to draw in Snoopy's profile in the pilot seat! Seems he's flown Spitfires, Mustangs and even a P-47... at least on my notebooks.

I've been following this along and been thrilled looking at the pictures, enjoying the progress and drinking in all the incredible information. I wish I could check out newer threads more quickly to see these start from the beginning but I'm having a tough enough time keeping up with the Threads I'm already subscribed to. This one has just become one of those so I don't miss out on any more.

By the way, I think you nailed the dyhedral in that last set of pics. Well done.