Dave's PM Model 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb Floatplane

[Dave Ward]

I'll be doing this as an experiment! Cheapest retail model I could find..........................

A bit crude is being polite! Raised panel lines, no internals! Not only crude, but wrong - It has cannon bulges on the bottom of the wing, as well as the top!

The decals & instructions look OK.......................
Colour scheme

I would add some detail shots, but I can't find any detail!
A better idea would be to use the floats on a better Mk.Vb model ( Italeri perhaps,,,,,,,,), but I will make this OOB ( although, I might add a pilot to fill the empty interior! ).
Dave

 

[PaulTRose]

good luck!

 

[Dave Ward]

good luck!

If it all goes Pete Tong - it's only £6.29 down the pan! ( John has them in stock )
Dave

 

[Lee Drennen]

Dave would like to see this one hope it doesn’t give you much grief

 

[Dave Ward]

Dave would like to see this one hope it doesn’t give you much grief

It wouldn't dare! at the first serious sign of trouble it's in the bin!
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

Is it just me, or does that sprue lay out look very similar to the original old Airfix spitfire?

 

[Geoffers]

Good luck with your second build Dave

Or is this the first and the other is the second anyway good luck.

Geoff.

 

[Dave Ward]

Whilst paint is drying on my Tuscaloosa, I decided, for better, or worse to tackle this thing first...............
I was intending to add a pilot, but when I offered him up, he was way too wide to fit the fuselage!
Oh well, stick the fuselage & floats together................

The fit is actually quite good, a bit of cleaning up - sink marks! on fuselage & floats...............

The one piece wings had the cannons removed & the bulges taken flat '


A bit more work needed to remove all trace!

There is some surgery needed on the tail, to fit the extended lower portion
I'm going to wait until I get the airframe all together before breaking out the Perfect Plastic Putty, try and nail the filler in one pass..................
Dave

 

[peterairfix]

Well all I have to say is good luck with the build.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looks to be going better than expected. Sink marks make it look like it’s been under fire though Dave, by very heavy ordinance

 

[Dave Ward]

I wondered if I couldn't fit a pilot, if that meant the model is out of scale. The Spitfire Mk.Vb had a wingspan of 11.23m - in 1/72 that's 156mm. Measuring the model, the wingspan is 155mm. So I've either got a portly pilot, or the fuselage is too narrow. Can't say I'm bothered really, it's purely a stand alone model - I reckon it's going to be more like a recognition model, than a true scale model. I had considered rescribing the panels, but decided that wasn't worth the effort! I'll sand off the raised lines, and leave it at that................
Dave

 

[adt70hk]

Will be interested in this Dave.

I bought a PM TA-154 on a whim because it was so cheap despite the main review I read being less than complimentary....

 

[Dave Ward]

Will be interested in this Dave.

I bought a PM TA-154 on a whim because it was so cheap despite the main review I read being less than complimentary....

Andrew,
I've got a PM model Beech C-45 Expeditor in the stash - that actually looks pretty good - very buildable, mind you, t was one of the more expensive PM models - £7.20!
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

No bench time! My hand is acting up again, so I've decided to give it a rest for a few days. hasn't stopped me looking at future builds from my stash, and thinking I must make a few more models. One thing that will help me, is I got a new computer keyboard, to replace my ( trashed ) original - I don;t say that my spare keyboard has caused my OA to flare up again, but I don't think it helped...............
Dave

 

[stillp]

Sorry to hear your hand is playing up again Dave, hope it gets better soon.
Pete

 

[adt70hk]

Andrew,
I've got a PM model Beech C-45 Expeditor in the stash - that actually looks pretty good - very buildable, mind you, t was one of the more expensive PM models - £7.20!
Dave

Mine was £7.57! Is that the most expensive one??

On a serious note, sorry to hear about the OA flaring up again, hope it's short lived.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Geoffers]

That must be incredibly frustrating Dave to have the urge to build but can’t because your hands are too painful.

Hope they settle down soon.

Geoff.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
First thing is I hope your hand improves. All you can do is rest it.
As for the kit! That is a real challenge. You have a lot more patience and determination than I would have.
Jim

 

[Dave Ward]

The hand isn't too bad at the moment, but I know if I continue to use it as normal, then it will get worse, and take longer to recover.
On my mental build program, I'm up to May 2023, and that's not counting new additions! Of course it will all change.............
Dave

 

[Lee Drennen]

Dave I feel your pain I’ve noticed I’m slowing down in the evenings after working and on the weekends working here on the Hobby Farm I used to sit at the bench and work but my hands hurt too much. I had Arthritis in my hands for years too so I know how you feel hope you get better.