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Dan Lee
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Yellow Nose Airfix Spitfire 1/48

July 9, 2019 · in Aviation · · 16 · 2.3K

This is a kit I built a couple of years back. It is the 2015 release (2nd pressing) of the Mk I. It is mostly OOB with the exception of some Eduard RAF early style harnesses. I learned the hard way that unless the Spitfire is 1/32 or bigger then there really is no point in jamming an aftermarket cockpit into one. Due to the cramped cockpit and small opening there isn't much to see.

This kit went well together except for the landing gear. For some reason, the landing gear legs were wobbly and I had some hard time with them. I needed some CA glue to keep landing gear solidly upright. It is the only thing marring this otherwise excellent kit.

I used the Yellow nose markings of No 57 OTU for something different. Painted using my remaining bottles of Gunze Sanyo Aqueous Dark Earth and Dark Green. The bottom was painted Tamiya Sky. The yellow was Tamiya X-8 Lemon Yellow with a flat white base coat. I didn't have trouble with these Airfix decals as they are pretty good (especially compared to those of us who remember the lousy Airfix decals from the past.)

Note: I think Airfix might have buggered up the nose colors as photos show that it didn't have a completely yellow nose and the underside area might have been "Sky." However, I went with the instructions...

Reader reactions:
8  Awesome

2 additional images. Click to enlarge.


16 responses

  1. Very cool. I agree with you about under the nose but I'm thinking it might be Sky Grey. I have this kit in the stash to go with its stripe-nosed brother I did a while ago

    1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

    • Thanks. The pic shows exactly the issue. I might change it later, but I usually don't like making corrections like that due to the fact I usually screw something else up in the process.

  2. That is a different scheme, looks great!

  3. I love bright paint schemes! Great job.

  4. Wow, that's a different scheme! I like it.

  5. The ddecals are Cartograf, so yeah, new Airfix decals are fine.

    Great model, Dan.

  6. Fine looking Spit, and a really unusual scheme! Nicely done.

  7. yellow shows off that beautiful upper cowl...smooth yellow...so mustang, German intriguing

  8. Beautifully done, Dan! The paint scheme is completely new (& interesting) to me!

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