1/48 Revell Spitfire Mk IIa

by JM

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This model was a lot of firsts.  It was my first model airbrushing, using a wash, using pastel chalk, penciling chipped paint, making a display base, and taking photographs.  I wanted to try an interesting camouflage paint scheme for my first model with an airbrush.  I also liked a brown-green scheme (RAF Dark Earth, RAF Dark Green, RAF Sky type "S").  So I chose a British Spitfire.  I modeled Douglas Bader's Spitfire.  I found it really interesting how Douglas Bader had metal legs, yet was such an excellent pilot.

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I started by painting the interior RAF interior green.  I then painted and drybrushed details, then added a wash.  I then cut out the door panel, but didn't realize that the other kits that had the door cut out and opened for display had a spare to come along with it.  I worked with it and it came out nice.  When I was putting the fuselage on to the wings, I had to do some sanding and reshaping in order to make it fit, but it was worth it.  I then sanded and added filler.  I painted the bottom and stripe sky, then masked it off and sprayed it Dark Earth.  

On WING Palette I found a Camouflage scheme, which I put into Paint and enlarged it to the same size as my model and then printed.  I covered the areas to stay Earth with the paper and used handi tak to raise it up and give it a feathered look. After spraying it Dark Green I removed the masks and gave the model several coats of Gloss.  I then added decals and more gloss.  Then a flat coat, gunpowder residue and chipped paint, then finally a flat coat.  I then unmasked the canopy, added the door, propeller, landing gear, pitot tube, and a stretched sprue antenna.

To make the display base I masked off the outside and used putty to add texture.  I then sprayed it using an Earth Red.  With a water/white glue mixture I painted the areas I wanted grass.  Using model railroad static grass I shook it on top and let it dry.  Overall I am very happy with the end result.

JM

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Photos and text © by JM