SPA Modeler

I really wanted to do a 80th anniversary D-day tribute last year, and whilst I completed my Ford GPA, I over-ran slightly on this Hawker Typhoon I was also building - Airfix 1/72, all brush painted with Hataka acrylics and weathered with whatever I had to hand. The base is an old blank CD covered with acylic medium and painted with dark earth and a citadel wash, spotted here and there with gloss varnish to resemble puddles. The grass is actually sand, painted green and dry-brushed yellow - I only did this as I ran out of flock.

The only non-OOB bit on the aircraft were the two antennas made from 0.3 brass wire. I wanted to build a 'Bomb-phoon' for this build rather than the normal rocket firing, although I do have another kit in the stash. Unlike this one, on the next I'll paint the D-day stripes rather than use the kit decals - they were a PITA!

Anyway, I hope you like it - just posting it up to show that I do actually build models, not just start WIP threads.











As a bonus, I also finished this Airfix Starter set Spitfire mk.V - all OOB except I replaced the Spinner from my spares, as the one in the kit was the wrong profile. Not a bad kit, maybe not for the serious modeller but it's an excellent first model kit certainly.



Cheers!

Hi Stuart,

this is a fantastic build! Paintwork and weathering spot-on! Very difficult with first sight to see it's a 1/72, looks more like a 1/48 scale.

Brilliant idea to use an old CD as base, looks really really good!

- Kari

Great work, on both birds, Stuart! Very nice indeed, and a wonderful presentation!

Very nice Stuart! I’ve built that little mk V spitfire. Not a bad kit at all. Not sure exactly what a serious modeler is btw—but a good modeler can make a good model with
That kit you must be a good modeler.

Stuart, this one looks fantabulous!

Outstanding work here mate!

Awesome work Stuart!!!

Thanks Gents - really glad you like them!

cbaltrin wrote: ↑Mon Mar 03, 2025 7:17 pm Very nice Stuart! I’ve built that little mk V spitfire. Not a bad kit at all. Not sure exactly what a serious modeler is btw—but a good modeler can make a good model with
That kit you must be a good modeler.

LOL! Thanks John - I don't know about that.

By serious... well okay, I guess I mean more experienced, someone to who modelling is a hobby rather than an occasional pastime? Don't get me wrong, it's a good kit, but having built 30+ 1/72 Spitfires over the last 15 years there were a couple of things with it - mainly shortcuts to make it a simple build - that I wasn't too keen on - lack of cockpit, clear parts, poor exhausts etc. Nothing serious but things you might want to correct if you wanted a more accurate build.

Great builds, Stuart. Can't blame you for ditching the D-Day stripes decals. I never liked them anyway. Too perfect for that painted on, realistic look. I always prefer to paint my own D-Day stripes over any decals.

I've done 2 Typhoons and have one more in my stash - car door version. I have yet build a Tempest and is high on my wish list. Both are similar in design but different.

Love the Tempest - it's a cool aircraft. Same basic fuselage as the bubble Typhoons, and the mk.V has the same engine, but different wings and tail. I have the Airfix Tempest to build as well at some point.

The Strips on this one were the decals - it's the next one I won't use them on,. They were a bloody pain.