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Colin Latta
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1/48 Airfix Spitfire Vb, 'Buck' McNair, 249 Squadron, Malta

June 16, 2022 · in Aviation · · 15 · 1.3K

I've finished the third of my triple Malta builds. "Buck" McNair's Vb. The kit is a great build, requiring only the removal of the reinforcing strips over the wheel wells, Ultracast exhaust, entry door and seat.
AB264 was a Vickers built Mk Vb, originally finished in the Tropical land scheme (with Sky lowers), and delivered on operation 'Spotter'. After arrival, the Sand color only was oversprayed with a locally mixed Grey and the serials reapplied in White.
My kit was finished in the same way, desert scheme oversprayed with Grey using acrylics, and weathered with pastels and oils.

Hope you like, thanks for looking,

Colin

Reader reactions:
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15 responses

  1. Nice job, Colin. Like the paint and weathering look.

  2. Great job, Colin. Fine build with an especially well-done finish. All good.

  3. As beautiful as the others!

  4. What a beauty! great build.

  5. Nice work on this. I have the decals for the individual aircraft markings, so I think one of my Eduards is going to follow your excellent example.

    McNair wrote a very good memoir "Malta Spitfire" - available in a newer 2nd Ed at Amazon with an introduction by James Holland. Interestingly, he confirms that the airplanes got repainted, with shipboard Navy paint, on the way, aboard Wasp - like we've been guessing.

  6. Excellent Malta bird, Colin @tail-dragon
    As beautiful as the others.

  7. Excellent all over, Colin!

  8. Gorgeous Spitfire!

  9. Excellent work, Colin. I was just reading up on that plane yesterday.

  10. Beautiful work! Looks very sharp

  11. Great job, Colin (@tail-dragon). Malta produced some really interesting camo schemes.

  12. Super Job Colin!

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