1:48th Spitfire Mark I Model

[nrshida]

I'm building one of these for Tiny Shida's mobile. What's confusing me is in the wings. I had it in my mind that all of the 303s were accommodated within the wings. I thought it was routine to dope a square of red canvas over the ports to keep the guns from freezing. I remember seeing these little squares flicking around once the guns fire, however the Tamiya model depicts two of the muzzles protruding, two of them quite a bit. You certainly could not canvas over these:



Apologies for the poor photo.

Is this correct for the Mark I? If I need to modify it I have to do it before I join the wing halves together.

[Guppy35]

Early Spit I has the protruding barrels.  Later did not.  Either way works but a B of B Spit I would have all 4 of the doped fabric covers over the guns on each wing

[GScholz]

Pre-war Spit1's had Browning machine guns with flash suppressors. At the start of the war they were replaced with faster-firing new models without flash suppressors. The red fabric patches weren't used until about mid-BoB, so they would be inappropriate on a Spit with the longer early guns.

[GScholz]

What propeller options do you have with that kit?

[Saxman]

Incidentally, IIRC those patches had nothing to do with preventing the guns from freezing, otherwise any protection they provided the guns in-flight would be lost the first time you fired them. Not to mention the flexible guns on bombers would be impossible to keep warm. The patches were to keep the guns free from dirt and other debris kicked up by the prop during takeoff.

[nrshida]

Ah thanks Guppy, I was hoping you might show up 

What propeller options do you have with that kit?

Very good point! Only one propeller, but at least two canopy options:-








Also if anyone has an idea how to make the canopy 'glass' look better? I find it very disappointing, I was considering sanding it down so it's thinner and less distorted.

Incidentally, IIRC those patches had nothing to do with preventing the guns from freezing, otherwise any protection they provided the guns in-flight would be lost the first time you fired them. Not to mention the flexible guns on bombers would be impossible to keep warm. The patches were to keep the guns free from dirt and other debris kicked up by the prop during takeoff.

Yes thanks, interesting. I'll tell the little fella! 

[Guppy35]

Go with the external armor glass windscreen for the Spit I.  Internal armor glass showed up in laterSpit V production and beyond.  Some folks soak the canopy in Future to improve the look.

[GScholz]

Very good point! Only one propeller, but at least two canopy options:-

If you only have the three-bladed Rotol propeller, then go for the external armor cockpit and cut off those protruding gun barrels. Red fabric covers are optional. I'm sure Tiny will love it either way

[Charge]

"Also if anyone has an idea how to make the canopy 'glass' look better?"

Clear lacquer is one trick. As you may notice the surface has almost a matte quality due to poor mold used by the manufacturer.

The only way to make them thinner with good results is to use the old ones to make a mold and make new ones by vacuforming from thinner clear plastic.

-C+

[pipz]

"Also if anyone has an idea how to make the canopy 'glass' look better?"

Dip it in floor wax. A lot of people use "Future". It also protects the clear plastic from fogging up when ya glue it on. I think any acrylic based floor wax will work. I have some store brand that I use.

http://ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2005/09/stuff_eng_tech_canopies.htm

[nrshida]

Wow nice Pipz. That's the ticket, you did tell me that trick and I forgot.