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Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 8:25 am
by Stuart
Medicman71 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 1:27 pm
Very cool! Can't wait to see your build.
cbaltrin wrote: ↑Mon Jan 12, 2026 2:27 pm
Looks like a beautiful kit Stuart and you are off to a quick start! Will be keeping an eye on this one for sure!
Thanks Gents! I'll be cracking on with it in the background, whilst I prioritise getting the W&G bike finished before my son's birthday, and then I'll get stuck into it properly.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 10:35 am
by Stikpusher
Stuart wrote: ↑Tue Jan 13, 2026 8:20 am
BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 13, 2026 6:36 am
I've always been curious... why one half of wing black?
It was an early form of identification Tom, like D-Day stripes - one white, one black. I'm not 100% sure why, but that was the reason.
Yes, it was a quick easy IFF marking for RAF fighters that was instituted shortly before the outbreak of war and kept in place until the Battle of France, when it was then replaced by several iterations of underside sky camouflage colors and markings. After the Battle of Britain, in early 1941, a single wing painted black on the bottom was introduced for a short time period for the same purpose.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 2:16 pm
by Stuart
That's the one - it still didn't stop some of the AA gunners taking a pot-shot at them though.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2026 5:07 pm
by speedgraflex
When you’re ready, I’ll follow along. Best of luck with getting the other kit ready in time.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 5:52 am
by Stuart
The cockpit is assembled and I've started painting the base colours.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 11:10 am
by BlackSheep214
Definitely gonna have to get an early Spitfire....
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2026 11:24 am
by Medicman71
Same here.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 8:00 am
by Stuart
Medicman71 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 25, 2026 11:24 am
BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 25, 2026 11:10 am
Definitely gonna have to get an early Spitfire....
Same here.
It's a nice kit this - maybe a bit overly complicated in places but the fit is good. I suspect the Airfix Mk.I is very good as well.
More work in the cockpit - Pilot painted along with the base colours in the cockpit. I'll add a few washes next and some dry-brushing. The seat base really should be the reddy-brown colour of the funny not-bakerlite material they used for the seat, but as I'm going to fit the pilot I thought I'd save myself a job. It's not really worth going to town on a Spitfire cockpit, even in in 1/48, as bugger all will be seen once the canopy is on.
Cheers.
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 9:09 am
by Gary Brantley
Very nice work indeed, Stuart! 
You pilot looks to be a doughty bloke and very well painted, sir! 
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2026 10:41 am
by cbaltrin
Great looking cockpit and pilot Stuart! Might have to buy this kit if only to built the cockpit