R8 Spitfire Mk.VIII
Jan 2017
Final Result
Scale 1/48
Completed: Jan 2017
My rating: 8/10
PE Parts: 7/10
Therapy ratting: 7/10
Until I stumbled on this model on the Eduard site I had no idea that Spitfires had served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAFF).
And with such a cool colour scheme.
Well indeed they did and this model depicts one from RAAF Squadron 457 based in Borneo in the spring of 1945.
Their main role was bombing Japanese positions flying from Morotai island in the Netherlands East Indies. 457 was also involved in the Borneo Campaign during the final months of the war.
Filling the gaps
As usual I like to get some 'real' reference images where possible and fortunately several examples still seem to be around.
I have not built a Spitfire at 1/48 scale before and have been snooping around on the web for cockpit shots.
These two are pretty helpful. I was surprised at the amount of 'plumbing' there is. I guess these are all hydraulic control lines.
Nice job
First impressions of the model are very good. High quality pressing with no discernible over-spill.
The surface detail is superb. Very nicely etched panel lines and a wealth of rivet detail. I am a bit concerned however, being a brush painter, that these shallow and delicate surface details will just dissapear.
I will need to use an extremely thin layer of enamel paint. Maybe time to get that air brush but Mrs.D says no. Too smelly. I suppose we could just move house ??
Nearly PErfect
I have really been self indulgent and splashed out on the PE set for this model. I enjoyed using PE parts on the Albatros build and this set does enhance the basic model significantly.
My only criticism is that Eduard don't really help at all with the painting. You are left to guess these from the equivalent plastic model parts. However, some parts are not in the model at all (eg Pt.5) so you are left rather guessing.
I tracked down a source eventually and discovered that Pt.5 is actually a control for the auxilliary fuel tanks. You could just make something up colour wise but I think these details are important.
Once again Harald Joergens has produced a brilliant 360
degree virtual cockpit.
You can view this at;
This must be the cleanest cockpit ever.
Sit in a Spitfire cockpit
The Aviation History Online Museum
A great introduction to this iconic aircrafts history.
The essential difference of the later models was the introduction of a pressurised cabin. This allowed a ceiling of 43,000 ft.
Go see one
This is actually a model.
I know, I had to look twice as well.
Superb, and the standard to aim for in this build.
More photos at:
A History of the Spitfire
'the auxiliary (slipper) tank fuel valve operated with the black lever shown. Behind it is a silver-coloured tank jettison handle.
Both controls were introduced on Spitfire Mk. V which was the first mark which could carry external fuel tanks.'
This is Part.5 in the PE set.
Getting stuck in
There is a lot of detail in the cockpit. Even at 1/48 these are tricky to paint and my new Tamiya detail brush has been invaluable for this.
I was very pleased with the PE instrument panel. This was also tricky to fit as it comes in three parts. These are all stuck on top of one another so positioning is crucial.
I used superglue to stick the base but chickened out for the facias. I used poly cement instead as it allows some movement before setting - unlike superglue. Lining up the holes with the dials was crucial.
I had a few problems sticking the two halves of the fuselage. My own fault for pre-gluing the cabin interior on both sides. It's a tight fit into the wings but after a bit of shoving and cursing there was a reassuring 'click' as it all snapped nicely into place. Phew!
I can see why Eduard choose this design as it removes any center line from the under fuselage which looks really great.
Now the plane is taking shape you can begin to see how stretched the engine compartment in the VIII when compared to the earlier variants. It used the two speed Merlin 60 engine.
Rivet, rivet.....
In the end the rivet detail came through just fine after just a single coat of enamel. I put this straight onto the plastic. No primer at all.
At a dilution of 30-40% thinners it is more like a wash than paint. As soon as the mix resembles water its about right. Its a tad runny to work with but not too bad.
This results in the elimination of visible brushstrokes giving a super smooth finish. This has sort of become my standard technique. Almost as flat as airbushing.
Damn, ive been looking at Zoopla.
If you want to see a real RAAF Spitfire you will need to take a trip to Australia. About 250km west of Sydney.
No compass
Well that's the main painting finished. The roundle's are a bit strange and have to be painted in, which is tricky.
I guess this comes as a result of the RAAF inheriting these Spits from the RAF. Basically the old RAF roundel shows through the new paint job. Not too happy with the result, a mask would definitely help.
The blue I mixed up was a bit too dark. The PE grill panels look really nice when in place, although the plastic equivalents were almost as good.
PE Off
On the whole the photo etched parts were a definite bonus to the basic kit. The control panel in particular, seat belts, and intake grills do add to the realism.
But beyond that I wasn't that impressed with this set. Several of
the resin parts that they replace were equally as good. The main problem was the size and fragility of the smallest parts.
Four or five of those requiring folding just snapped apart making them useless. Part 14, for example, just bent out of shape with the slightest touch. Pt.17, the canopy closing mechanism, again just snapped to pieces in folding.
Partly my own fault and inexperience but I have yet to see a picture anywhere of these parts actually in place, which is telling.
So next time I will probably hesitate when considering purchasing PE parts.
The other big issue in the build was joining the wings to the body. This didn't line up particularly well leaving quite a gap in the middle of the fuselage. A new method for me, but not one I am sure that I particularly like.
And finally
In the end I wasn't entirely happy with this end result. It's ok but nothing special.
The panel lines could really have been a bit deeper which would of helped. I guess this isn't quite such an issue for airbrush users, but for us brush users it is a limiting factor.
Would I recommend it ? yes I would. The 'shark' motif is so unusual on a Spitfire that its worth buying just for that.
It's good to see that Eduard have just released a 1/72 version.
