Tamyia 1/32 Spitfire XVI SAAF - Gerry Doyle - Dublin, Ireland

For this build I wanted to keep the process as simple as possible so I just added what I deemed necessary. The additions I used were all from the Barracuda Studios range.

Since I wanted to display the engine and buying the Barracuda Studios rocker covers were a must with the Rolls Royce badge where it should be. As with all the range of Barracuda Studios parts, these ware direct replacements for the kit parts and add that little bit of finesse to the proceedings.

In the cockpit I added the seat with backpad. Again adding a bit of detail that gives the 'office' that bit of realism. Care does need to be taken when cleaning up the bearers at the back of the seat as they are quite fragile and I had a little bit of fiddling about to get it into position but nothing too dramatic. Test fitting before painting will aid in this.

I used the cockpit door with separate crow bar as it's the weakest part in an almost perfect kit and the enhancement is worth its weight in gold.

As I was doing a SAAF machine I took a bit of artistic license and figured that threaded wheels would be a likely fit out. The wheels cleaned up with minimum effort. I had to cut 1mm off the axils and I also drilled a 1mm hole to aid a good positive fit.

I painted it with Lifecolor Medium Sea Grey underneath and Xtracolour Extra Dark Sea Grey on the top. I wanted an interesting scheme that would show off the lines of the bird and when I saw the SAAF option I was hooked.

The decals are from AllyCat and preformed well just needing a touch of Micro Sol/Set to conform properly.

As for the kit itself there has been plenty written about it and I would just like to echo that it is the best kit I have ever built. Fit, shape and engineering are about perfect. The Barracuda Studios sets take the build to that level above.

Barracuda Studios parts used:
BR32001 Spitfire Seat with Leather Backpad
BR32002 Spitfire Cockpit Door with Separate Crowbar
BR32004 Spitfire IX Rocker Covers with Logos