**** DONE: 1/48 Spitfire Mk IX – Home Country Modern Aircraft/Spitfire Marks GB

[meatloaf109]

User name, Meatloaf109
First name, Paul
Catagory, Intermediate
Scale, 1/48
Manufacturer, I.C.M. #48062
Model type, Spitfire Mk VII or IX. (explanation below)
Aftermarket, Bits of wire and crap I find on the desk maybe.



I ordered this Spit awhile ago, in anticipation of this GB. Just opened it to find a well molded engine and airframe, but CRAPPY decals!
I was planning to do the "Spirit of Kent" high altitude scheme, but now, I don't know.
The kit decals are off color, off register, and, ARGHHH!...
I will have to find my decal spares box to see what I have, so this may be a Mk VII or a Mk IX.
Anyways here is my entry into GB #14

[Crimea_River]

Good one Paul. I'll be doing an ICM Spitty too.

[T Bolt]

Should be a nice one Paul. Quite a few of us made those ICM Spits in the Commonwealth and Aces GBs. They finish up real nice, but need a some careful assembling, especially the nose. I used the kit decals on mine and although they didn't look very good on the decal sheet they turned out pretty good.

[A4K]

Nice one Paul!

[Vic Balshaw]

Batting for the fixed wing, good on ya Paul.

[meatloaf109]

I guess we spit builders will be "the few"

[meatloaf109]

I think this should show just how bad these are.
You can see some backing paper through the roundels on the left. The fin flash is totally out of line.
And yes, the picture is a little out of focus, but the sheet is blurred slightly.
Has anyone had any success getting replacement items from ICM, is it worth my time or should I just get over it and muddle on?

[Crimea_River]

That's unfortunate. I haven't had any from ICM that were off register but I've had some that looked really good but went on badly. Some were too thick to take decal solution and some completely distintegrated on me.

[ccheese]

Glad to see another Spitty in the GB. Misery loves company, I guess.

Charles

[Airframes]

Good choice and a nice kit. The ICM Spit kits are basically all the same kit, with the parts for the various versions, just different decals. Those ICM decals I've used have been of mixed quality - some worked fine, others broke up. Probably better getting some after-market sheets.
Might be worthwhile having a look at the builds of this kit elsewhere, to see where the potential problem areas are. They are easily remedied, and the kit provides a very nice finished model.

[rochie]

nice one, will be joining the Spitfire ranks soon as i finish up my builds for GB#13, hoping to do a Mk I and a F 24

[Wayne Little]

Look forward to what you do here Paul!

[ccheese]

I'm with Wayne.... looking forward to it...

Charles

[meatloaf109]

Well, the search and research are done. I found decals to make a 1435 squadron Mk. IX.
1435 was originally a night fighter unit on Malta in 1941, when it was changed to a day fighter unit it retained the four digit number making it the unique in RAF history.
By 1943 they were operating Spit IX's in a ground support/ local air superiority role in Italy.
As far as i can tell, the one letter squadron code "V" was also a throw back to the night fighter thing.
Anyways, I found a couple of "V"'s and some roundels that look good, and this kit has some of those small bomb racks and bombs, so it seemed a natural.
Pictures soon!

[woody]

Looking forward to your build Paul maybe i need to pick up a spit and join in.