You get a lot of extra parts with the "Eagles Call" kits. Which leads to this project.

I have long wanted to do Clive Caldwell's Spitfire VIII in its final configuration, armed with four cannons. That, however, required changing the gun bay panel to the larger fairing that allowed mounting of two guns in each wing.

The Eagles Call box includes two sprue T, the sprue with the Sptifre V detail parts. After using the gun panel from one sprue for the Spitfire Vc, I had the panel from the other sprue. The sprue also had the four early 20mm cannon barrel fairings. So, with the Spitfire VIII profipack kit just sitting there in the pile...

The big thing is to change the panel. Since that is molded in to the upper wing of the Spitfire VIII kit, it has to be removed. And you have to do so without harming any of the surface detail surrounding it.

I cut out the panel, about 1/16 inch in from the border. Then I trimmed out almost to the border, then smoothed the boundary, angling it in from the top. I also angled in the new gun panel. I kept test-fitting and filing until I had perfect fit. With the inward slope, I could press the panel into position without any risk of pushing it through. I also opened the outer shell ejection chute in the lower wing.

The wing was assembled and the gun barrels attached. And there it was - the heart of the model completed. The rest, as they say, was a nice easy downhill stroll.

Now masked, and ready for paint.

6 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Well performed modification, Tom @tcinla.
Thanks for sharing the tip.

They look like a very nice, blended fit. I have the Mk VIII as a Profipak myself from Eduard and its the next model to land on my workbench once the Beaufighter is done, so now I'm REALLY curious: how was the general fit and shape of the plastic? I only ask because I've noticed with Eduard kits they can be a bit hit-and-miss - the 108 Taifun practically built and painted itself, but the 1/48 Bf-110E weekend ed. was awful going together (I never finished it in fact), and my 109G6 went together 'Okay', however had several minor issues with fitment / position because I invested in a full engine, landing gear, radio compartment, photo-etch and cockpit from Eduard as well... I want to do the same with my Spitfire VIII that I did with the 109G, (using Eduard accessories), but I'm a little concerned I'll have similar problems.

Thanks for the advice, Tom. I don’t mind a bit of ‘pushing and shoving’, it’s when the parts don’t even come close to mating up (the 110E was horrible). I’m going to have to post some photos and commentary on my blog about some of my ‘recent adventures’ it seems to help warn others.

@gblair - yes - exactly right all around!

Here it is painted with a gloss coat applied for decals.

According to Peter Mossong, the best source on RAAF RNZAF painting and markings, these first Mk. VIIIs were delivered, like the first Mk. Vc's, in desert colors. In the case of the Mk. VIII, that meant painted at Aboukir (the Vc was the only Spitfire that came out of the factory in desert colors, that was the standard for the Vc), and then - again like the first Vc's - the Middle Stone was overpainted with Foliage Green. So given the one photo of the nose shows the airplane had the upper colors down over the underside of the nose, I took it as being a scheme from Aboukir that would have been similar to the 31xst FG HF Mk.VIII, so I copied that. There aren't any photos showing the upper scheme clearly, just on one side, but that looks a lot like this, so it's an "inspired/educated guess."

Also, when he armed this airplane with 4 cannon, he would have used a cannon cover from a Spitfire Vc, so I decided those were in full Australian colors, so did the left on in overall Earth Brown and the right in Earth Brown/Foliage Green, with both more faded than the rest of the airframe.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Here it is done.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Great build, Tom @tcinla
Very nice weathering as well.