1/48 Hasegawa

Spitfire Mk. Vb Trop.

by Cristiano Bartolini [aka Barto]

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This is my recently completed Spitfire Mk.Vb Trop.  I've managed to finish it after 2 years and many troubles during the building process...
 
I decided to build it in the "Benue Province" Markings, as this was a "Presentation Aircraft", made with funds raised by population... (in this specific case, the population of The Benue Province, Nigeria...) It had a short life, since it was shot down by a Bf109 over NorthWest Africa in '43, only 6 months of service... (It was produced in late '42, by Castle Bromwich factory) 
 
So, I represented it without codes on fuselage, as it left the factory... a "just finished" Spit! 
 

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For the cockpit area, I've added the photoetched set by Eduard, and really liked it, because add a lot of detail to the otherwise "naked" Hasegawa cockpit...Obviously, not so much can be seen after closing the fuselage halves... :D

Other little improvements are represented by the 20mm Hispano-Suiza made with little iron tubing, cut off from the needle of a Revell Precision Glue bottle...

The major trouble I had with this kit, was the fitting of the Trop. Filter, that is moulded in two pieces, and once assembled was 2mm wider than should be... (in correspondence to the fuselage...)

This was resolved with a long "cut, paste, putty & sandpaper" process... :D
 

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In the End, I like this model, even if it isn't an "art piece" and have some issues...
And I learned a lot building it!                                Hope you like it too... :D

As a final Note, I would like to thank all the people that gave me support & info during this project, through the ARC Discussion Board, and in particular my friends: Filippo Rossetti, Marco Kobau & Pino Penna...

Au Revoir by
Cristiano Bartolini
[aka Barto]

Click on images below to see larger images

Photos and text © by Cristiano Bartolini