Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire Mk. IXc - by Dave Smith - Kingston, Nova Scotia, Canada

Here is another of the finest kits ever made, the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX, of 412sqn RCAF. How can you improve on perfection, well perfection isn't quite perfection and Roy Sutherland has come to the rescue. It started when I looked at the Cannon blisters, ugggghhhh something there just doesn't look pleasing. Enter Roy with the amazingly well detailed and great fitting resin Cannon blisters, ahhhh that's much better. But wait, what is this he also has an improved cockpit entry door, check. Now about that seat, I'm no great scratch builder and the seat needs back padding, no problem check that box too. Having built my share of Tamiya kits before I knew I wasn't going to try and use their sub par decals, how a company can build THE finest kits ever and include those decals is a mystery known only to a few Japanese. So check the order box to include a set of awesome decals that include Buzz Beurling's aircraft. He was a boyhood hero of mine, being Canadian like me and a little defiant of authority. how could he not be. Fast forward to assembly, the carpet monster strikes again eating up the spade hand grip from the control column. Arggghhh what to do...wait didn't Roy offer a cockpit detail set that included a new improved control column. Time for a second order. While I'm at it might as well get those great engine rocker covers. The rocker covers speak for themselves, and the cockpit set is perfect. The decals with the cockpit set are great and the small tubing included with it really help detail up the office. So the only aftermarket BarracudaCast part I didn't order were the wheels, the sidewalls weren't out yet. I am probably just a little to lazy to use the aftermarket wheels as the kits rubber ones are really easy to paint. The rest of the kit falls together like magic and soon it is time to paint. I used Tamiya's spray can AS32 Medium Sea Grey as the first coat. Sprayed the whole model, sort of a primer/lower fuselage coat at the same time. For the Camo I used Model Master Acrylic British Dark Green and Ocean Grey. Next, after a few coats of Future dry, it is time to apply decals. The BarracudaCals decals go on great, no silvering and respond great to Solvaset. Weathering with some Black artist oil paint and varsol wash for the panel lines. Tamiya Smoke and Tamiya weathering powders and Voila. I know that the crowbar should be interior green and that the rocker covers probably didn't have white lettering, but hey I think it looks sharp this way. Now if I can just find a decent way to attach that drated rear view mirror.

BarracudaStudios products used:
BR32001 Spitfire Seat with Leather Backpad
BR32002 Spitfire Cockpit Door with Separate Crowbar
BR32003 Spitfire Cockpit Upgrade Set
BR32004 Spitfire IX Rocker Covers with Logos
BR32007 Spitfire Gun Covers with Wide Blister
BC32004 Spitfire Mk. IX Series - Part 1