Ohh, that idea of replicating the red tape worked like a gem, it’s very, very realistic indeed. Super work as usual Louis!

Tonight was started by building up the propeller. I had to install the prop shaft and make sure it turned afterwards.

Then I turned my attention to weathering the exhaust manifolds. I used the Tamiya weathering decks to make them look like this.

It's easier to add exhaust staining before you install the exhaust pipes. Here I'm adding this to the fuselage. I can go back later and fine tune it better.

By now the propeller assembly has dried. I wanted to try something new. So I took a colored pencil and colored in the rear face of the propeller blades using a color called argent silver. The front facing received a little of the excess.

Here you can see the back side of the propeller blades. The desert sand eats the paint away rather quickly on the back sides faster than the front. I used my fingers and smudged the argent silver until I was happy with how it looks.

Here you can see the exhaust manifolds, the propeller and the color pencil I used in this next photo.

Having the parts ready, the next step was a breeze. The manifolds simply snapped in place. Then I glued them permanently from the inside since the propeller was not added yet.

The propeller assembly was added next.

The last part I added was the cockpit side entrance door. I also removed the tape from the clear parts and this is how it looks now.

The next step will be to install the landing gear. This is a weak spot of the kit and I'm not looking forward to this.

I'm calling it a night.

Thanks for looking and as always

Comments are encouraged.

Good night.

you won't be disappointed. Great kits, excellent online Hobby Shop to deal with.

1. Hannants is also great because there are real humans to speak to once you go through the door!

2. Louis! Another Spitfire! You may need to talk to seek professional help...

3. Fantastic stuff going on at the Iron Werks - I might be changing my mind again...

Thanks for the video Stephen ! I just finished watching it... twice ! It is an amazing story and I can see why you want to build that plane.

That was some amazing stuff indeed... Thank you and Merry Christmas.

I took full advantage of the warmer weather today and things are looking good.

I added the sliding canopy and the radio antenna cable.

The wheels are now in place. Other than this landing gear arrangement this kit has been a very enjoyable model to build. I also had a little trouble with the forward upper fuselage insert that acts as a mount for the windshield. These are the only two troubled spots in this kit.

The tail wheel was also added and properly painted.

Once these parts were installed all that was left to get done was to "dirty" this one up some.

So out came my Tamiya weathering decks. The end results are seen here.

The next time you see this Malta Spitfire it will be on its reveal.

Meanwhile I'll take a few pictures of it and post this one up in the 1940's decade section.

I'm happy with how it looks. This George Beurling Malta Spitfire is now complete.

Another one is done at the "Iron Werks" or "Casa Bromwich" as it has recently been called.

As usual comments are encouraged.

I took yesterday off as it was Christmas Day. A day that should be spent with family and friends, to remember the birth of Christ.

Tonight I was busy with masking and painting on the last Tamiya Mk Vb.

In this next photo you can see how I masked the underside and left a little spot open for the fuselage Sky colored band.

The area was sprayed on the sides of the rear fuselage on both sides.


I ensured that the color wrapped around the rear of the fuselage as this band is going to be painted rather than a decal.

I also gave the spinner a little color too.

The color I used was Model Master RAF Sky Type "S". Unfortunately this is also a color that was recently discontinued by Rustoleum.

This color can be used in a pinch as a Late War Luftwaffe primer color that is occasionally mentioned as RLM 84.

This paint will dry overnight and hopefully tomorrow I can mask off the fuselage band and the code letters "FL*A".

As usual comments are encouraged.

Thanks again for following this build.

It seems that several lines of paints have been bough-ten out to allow one manufacture to better control the market and serve the customer. Unfortunately, they don't know their customers...the ones who like British aircraft. I've seen runs(buy outs) of paints at my local LHS. Keep up the good work Louis. The painting or the finish is turning out well indeed and when your on a run...don't stop. Now that you've purchased the new Tamiya Spitfire and if it arrives in a timely matter ... it will be like a foot ball team in the finals at its peaks and ready to win the Super bowl. Enough pontificating.