Cliff Bastow Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 Hi All, A picture of the aforementioned red spitfire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted May 6, 2017 Share Posted May 6, 2017 Posted by Danny Fenton on 01/05/2017 16:15:18: A friend did a PR pink "Spitty" and it was really nice. The weathering and detail shows up really well on pink Cheers Danny Danny, I'm currently completing an 18" rubber powered Mk5 kit as a PRU pink job, which is now covered in pink tissue ready to be doped, based on this example: Do you have any piccies of your "friend's" version? I'd like to add a small dash of detail by way of doped-on trim etc, but don't know if it had under-fuselage cameras, whether it was armed or not, etc. Cheers Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Hi Jon, no I am afraid I don't the model was built in the early eighties from an early 1/6 Mick Reeves kit. I recall the PR Spits had any weight removed, so no guns or armour plating. If they got into trouble I believe they had to outrun their foe. Good luck and show us a piccy when you are done? Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted May 7, 2017 Share Posted May 7, 2017 Danny, that's as I understood it, but a random search for 'Pink Spitfire' images threw up some doubt as to armament and camera positions. Different versions pictured: Plastic kit - late version, excellent weathering detail, shows full menacing armament - the modeller's mistake? Early version, early in-board roundels, shows guns but no under-fuselage cameras. Also early Spit, top version has no armament but shows under-fuse cameras, although (armed) camo versions include cameras as well?! Interestingly the bubble on the port side of the bubble canopy should have a cross on it, and the port wing should have a black stripe on the upper surface of the aileron (as per the illustration in my earlier post but which none of these do): this effectively formed the viewfinder, and all the pilot had to do was line these up and press the shutter-release button! Late early version, evident gunnery, side camera (not visible as on the port side). So I'm left little the wiser by internet searches (a research version of 'fake news'?), but I do think little red squares on the LE of each wing, whether accurate to my subject or not, will set off the pink rather nicely! Its a VMC kit of course (and should have been up flying in circles photographing the photographers at the Indoor Nats recently but woman/kid/ex/work stuff slowed up the completion, then I stupidly took a holiday and got sick and had to pull out altogether). Here's the pink tissue being applied a bit ago: Hope this hasn't pinked out the thread too much! Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Problem solved! Took the kid to his first Shuttleworth flying display yesterday (and my first in 40 years!), where I bought a comprehensive guide to Spitfires for the plastic modeller. My exact subject had four guns in each wing and two under-fuse cameras. By no means were the PR Spits all unarmed... possibly because the guys flying them were already feeling vulnerable and willing to sacrifice a little bit of extra speed for the ability to fight their way out of trouble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Fenton Posted May 8, 2017 Share Posted May 8, 2017 Hi Jon, as always there will be exceptions. It is important if you want to be accurate to model a specific aircraft at a specific time. Trying to find "generic" information will not be easy. I recently did a Piper Super Cub for indoor scale and it not only had to be accurate to the full size but a specific date. In my case the summer of 1975 for which I had several good pictures. Cheers and happy researching Cheers Danny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD WILLS Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Hi Chaps , here is challenge for you . Ive obviously had a few of these Spits over the years . Some IC and some electric . Some have been smashed up and some repaired to experiment with flaps, different motors etc . However , I have often weighed my 55" fighters and marvelled at the fact that they all seem to come out at just under 6lb , I suppose that makes sense because I always brown paper and paint pretty light . However I have realised today that one Spit which was a composite of a crashed old fuselage and a new wing weighs only 5lb 3oz !! (I kid you not ) . Now, it does not have any paint on the wings (just brown paper) and has no scoops or wheel covers . It also uses 9gram servos . As an experiment (after the crash ) I cut the bottom off the fuz and removed almost all of the central crutch behind the cockpit and most of the nylon pushrod outers . Other than that , it is bog standard , Anyone managed to beat that or want to have a go ? I'm sure one of you can do better , Oh and by the way , Guess how it flies ?? Perfect !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson 4 Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 WITH BATTERIES!!!??I bet it was a elastic band....;p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD WILLS Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 ooooh, saucer of milk ? Is that Bitter, or Twisted, I can hear ? Envy is one of the seven deadly sins isn't it ? lighten up ! (See what I did there ?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson 4 Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 OOOOhhh...Hurt oooh the hurt...."twisted"....just cause I showed you my last Spit pictures... ... you don't have to 'YAK' on about it.... I''ll (aileron) roll over and sulk.... I feel like someone just de-crutch'd me..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD WILLS Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 5lb 3oz......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ady Hayward Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 Wow! That heavy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ady Hayward Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 Hats off to you Richard. A good choice of balsa can make a great difference to the final weight, as can careful application of glues and (If used) paint. It will be a hard target to beat. PS. You didn't fill the wing and fus with helium by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RICHARD WILLS Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 The weight will probably creep up a bit with the scoops and paint but I think 5lb 10-12 oz is easy to do . Mind you , I dont think an extra 1/4 pound will make much difference to the flying ,its only about 5%. It does make you wonder where the heavy ones come from though ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson 4 Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Scoops of paint would do it....lead paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ady Hayward Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 I think in most cases the culprit has to be the covering and finishing although the balsa can make a huge difference. One of my designs had the prototype turn out at 2lbs where I had been careful with the wood selection. The 2nd one was 5oz heavier though it did have a cruciform tail as opposed to the V-tail of the prototype and less attention to the wood selection. Both balanced ok with just Lipo position being slightly different by a few mm. As you say the weight difference is only a small amount and with the Spitfires large wing area does make it more tolerable to such changes. I must say that the wood selection thus far has been fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightning 759 Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Posted by RICHARD WILLS on 28/05/2017 16:41:48: The weight will probably creep up a bit with the scoops and paint but I think 5lb 10-12 oz is easy to do . Mind you , I dont think an extra 1/4 pound will make much difference to the flying ,its only about 5%. It does make you wonder where the heavy ones come from though ? too much glue , paint ,& paranoid over reinforcing areas , that's my excuse anyway andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Hmm 5lb 3oz so thats the target or I will be a fatty or maybe I'll just keep quite so no one will know but then you'll know phew cant win ,any one know where to get this helium paint from ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ady Hayward Posted June 4, 2017 Author Share Posted June 4, 2017 Hi Martin. I believe it is usually on the hardware shelf next to the unobtanium. I've looked everywhere and haven't found any to date. At least with the huge wing area a few oz more isn't going to hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted June 5, 2017 Share Posted June 5, 2017 How about specially made foil helium ballons to fit in fuselage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ady Hayward Posted July 31, 2017 Author Share Posted July 31, 2017 It would appear after seeing a few Spits finished that the routes for weight gain are most likely as Richard has stated in his last post namely: Excessive use of primer. Excessive use of paint especially if using rattle cans. Applying too much glue into the joints/ not removing surplus glues. Adding additional structure to beef up the aircraft (Remember. They are designed to fly and not to withstand crashing). Adding loads of extra detail. It is tricky sometimes keeping things in check but well worth it in the longer term. An up to date blog can be found here:**LINK** Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson 4 Posted October 18, 2017 Share Posted October 18, 2017 Hi Guys I know you all are aware of Richards Kit so if you want to follow the new build of a BF109 prototype check back over the next few days the this new thread. LINK I f this kit build generates enough interest then maybe we get a small run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted May 7, 2018 Share Posted May 7, 2018 Posted by RICHARD WILLS on 26/05/2017 19:47:21: Hi Chaps , here is challenge for you . Ive obviously had a few of these Spits over the years . Some IC and some electric . Some have been smashed up and some repaired to experiment with flaps, different motors etc . However , I have often weighed my 55" fighters and marvelled at the fact that they all seem to come out at just under 6lb , I suppose that makes sense because I always brown paper and paint pretty light . However I have realised today that one Spit which was a composite of a crashed old fuselage and a new wing weighs only 5lb 3oz !! (I kid you not ) . Now, it does not have any paint on the wings (just brown paper) and has no scoops or wheel covers . It also uses 9gram servos . As an experiment (after the crash ) I cut the bottom off the fuz and removed almost all of the central crutch behind the cockpit and most of the nylon pushrod outers . Other than that , it is bog standard , Anyone managed to beat that or want to have a go ? I'm sure one of you can do better , Oh and by the way , Guess how it flies ?? Perfect !! 4.94 pounds ready to fly 😎 subject to independent verification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Johnson 4 Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 Gents, A little something I learnt from the 'Boss' on Sunday and just tried out. When using your included instrument panel print try this... wrap thin solder around the shank of an appropriate sized drill bit in a coil. Cut through with a scalpel by placing the said coil on a cutting surface and cutting the coil from the inside, this will prevent distortion. Using tweezers to gently straighten and then dip in canopy glue, finally placing on your instrument dials. Allow to dry and tone down with a black felt pen. One quick and easy 3D panel.... This is of one for a YAK I did last night... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted November 26, 2018 Share Posted November 26, 2018 That’s a brilliant idea, I’m going to give it a go on a couple of dashboards I’ve got lined up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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