Spitfire Mk.Vc ER180 Algeria 1942

 

The cockpit is reasonable well detailed out of the box 

These recent (2020) Airfix tools are impressively engineered. Construction was a breeze with minimal seam-lines to deal with. 

I realised I fluffed the tail camo after the fact (my usual problem of confusing and mirroring the masking) 

 

 

 

decals done and wire attached for an in-flight pose 

ready for finishing - lower 

ready for finishing - upper 

enhancing the panel lines (Tamiya black panel line accent) 

 

Time to start dirtying up that sweet finish with some oils 

 

starting to build a base on a tile. The LEDs I've wired in have a candle-flicker effect, powered from 3V coin cell holder also built into the base  

used tile grout this time and I like the  

trying the black-basing approach for groundwork 

an hour or so in the spray booth working through a progression of colours 

using pastels to break up the finish and add some dust effects 

 

 

attaching to the base 

Spinning prop and candle-flicker effects in the explosion... about as far as I can take this for now - waiting for some vehicle kits to populate the base (Pit-Road 1/144 for a little forced-perspective) 

Received some 1:120 vehicles to try in the diorama. The hauler Tiger I Ausf. E comes in cast resin with a PE sheet and some decals 

 

A quick paint job to get this beast on the diorama without delay. 

I'll probably come back for some finer weathering later... 

The Hauler Opel Kapitän comes with two vehicles. Basically the resin cast and some PE+decal number plates. 

"Construction" primarily means cleaning up the printing supports! 

A quick paint job 

No weathering to speak of, just a simple camo scheme for now.. 

Testing with the convoy vehicles after priming but before they are painted and finished. The 1:72 - 1:120 forced perspective seems to work pretty well, no? 

Some initial shots after painting the convoy vehicles 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired by the box art... 

I picked up the new 2020 tool Pit-Road WWII German army military vehicles set 1 No. SGK02 1:144 to push the forced-perspective a bit harder 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some updated shots with the new convoy vehicles and a re-scaled "explosion" to suit. The 1:72 to 1:144 forced-perspective seems to work even better; even closer to the box art.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OK I said done, but came back to fiddle the ground work and decal the convoy