Tamiya Spitfire Mk.1 1/48 Scale model Part 4 - Decals, Details and Done
Build video of Tamiya's 1/48 scale model Spitfire Mk.1 (2018 tooling - reference 61119)
Part 4 - Decals, Details and Done
Once the gloss coat (Pledge Floor Polish) had cured I used a piece of scrunched up kitchen roll to give it a buff, which gently smooths the polish off to give a better surface for the decals to go on.
Tamiya's decal are quite thick, with good colour. They go on well after a soak and their thickness allows them to be maneuvered into position without tearing. However, repeated uses of decal softener was needed to achieve the 'painted on' look and let them bed down into recesses and conform to bumps. Care needs to be taken to do them in order (stencils first, then markings) but fortunately two cuts with a craft-knife easily rectified the error.
The result was a good looking and clean Spitfire Mk.1. I decided on light weathering to highlight the recess moulded detail, and used Tamiya's Dark Brown Panel Line Wash. This is dotted onto the recessed detail and capillary action draws the solution around. After a few minutes this is wiped off, leaving the wash in the recesses. This really makes the detail pop out and adds a shadowing effect.
The other bonus to using the Dark Brown wash is once wiped off it still leaves a light coat over the model, creating a natural filter and knocking back the newness of the model, without resorting to further weathering. Using white spirit can clean areas that look too dirty.
Further weathering was done using oil paints that were dotted onto areas and gentle rubbed in and streaked. This is an area I feel I still need to work at, but it helps to break down the monotone areas of green and brown by adding subtle variation, but really comes into its own when adding smoke from the engines, and especially the guns.
Elasticated thread was used for the aerials, which really do give a finishing touch to the model.
Overall I remember not really being too impressed by the kit when I first opened the box to review it, but it wasn't until the model came together and the wash applied that all the fine details popped into view - though it much of the build process (and detailing using the photoetch) is confined to the cockpit. Fortunately with the canopy back and access door open the cockpit is visible so little of that effort is wasted.
It looks good on the shelf, and sits nicely next to the Tamiya BF109G I previously built, and I deliberately used the same brand of paint and weathering techniques for consistency.
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