So, I thought I'd try to recreate a version of this current build. When I purchased the kit, I wanted to build an aircraft using both the pointy rudder and the extended wing tips. That is how this became a conversion to the VII.

I bought the kit last fall at the IPMS Murfreesboro show. There was quite a bit of AM included in the kit box.

While I was at it, I bought some additional AM. Not all of it was used.

I found this book on Amazon.

And I eventually decided on this specific aircraft.

This aircraft was taken on charge by 131 Squadron in late February '44 and lost April 23, '44 while being flown by Irish-born Australian Douglas Phillips during a scramble.

Edited June 26Jun 26 by David Enders

I eventually add some more AM.

Note that all the exhaust pieces were knocked from the base during shipping.

So, I assembled the Eduard flaps and eventually decided that I wasn't going to use them. 🤣

Cockpit assembly. I used some of the kit parts, some of the Barracuda parts that were in the box, some scratch-built parts, and the Eduard IP.

The cockpit on the VII was pressurized. The canopy section behind the seat was changed and the bulkhead behind that was sealed.

The fuselage was closed up and the wings assembled.

The engine built without 'extras'. I'm still not sure how much of it I will expose yet.

Primer and black pre-shading added.

A blob of Milliput and the rear canopy part plus the pieces cut from the fuselage were used to make a 'buck' for a vacuum formed part.

The piece on the right in this photo was the one used.

Polishing grits and polish were used to remove the seam on the sliding canopy part.

MRP brand PRU Blue and Medium Sea Grey were airbrushed.

And today's update. All markings are painted.

Great work! I have the same vacform machine, but i must say: it’s a struggle! You seem to have tackled it pretty good. Great work all around.

9 hours ago, Jeroen Peters said:

Great work! I have the same vacform machine, but i must say: it’s a struggle! You seem to have tackled it pretty good. Great work all around.

Well, I've only done item so far and It's kinda simple. I did about 8-10 practice sessions with various plastics that I bought on Amazon. I did find some 0.020" PETG on amazon. It was a pack of 10 12" square sheets. I did try some of the plastic that is sold for forming dental retainers. That seems to work pretty well, but it's more expensive.

Thanks, guys! Another update. 1ManArmy stencils next. After I read the instructions.

Okay, testing on the paint mule.

 I had a couple of 1ManArmy's 'test' sheets. So, I used one this afternoon. And I wanted to test two of my airbrushes to see whether extra masking was necessary. YUP! 1ManArmy does recommend that. I don't have a dark gray that I like, this is 'Jet Black'. This is my paint mule with MSG and PRU Blue painted over MRP Gray Primer. I probably need to remove the masks slower that what I did because, for example, the center of the letter C in NICHT tore from the mask and stayed on the model.

I should probably strip this and hopefully all the dust will be removed too. 

Update. 1ManArmy stencils. This is the first batch. All the bottom stencils are applied.

 Bottom paint.

 

 All the masks are placed.

 

 Now, from the experiment with some samples, extra tape around the edges.

 

 I used MRP RLM66 for the dark gray. I also used my Creos 771 airbrush, pressure at 10 psi, and the needle stop set so I couldn't spray too much paint.

 

 I carefully removed all the extra tape. None of the masks even tried to release with the tape.

 

 And, masks removed.

 

 At the time of this posting, I have the top side and the left side done. Right side to go.

 I carefully peeled off the masks and placed them back on the sheet. While they all came off intact, some of them aren't sticking to the sheet very well.

he has legs. I'm not sure I want to add a Panel Line Wash to the top side, I think it looks good as it is, but I do think the bottom side could use some help. I've already started to clear gloss (Tamiya X-22 w/ Leveling Thinner), bottom is done, need to give it some time then the top side.

 

Oh yeah Dave that looks Saswweeet!!!😉

Wow, a month.

I'm calling this one finished. I'm not sure when I'll get to RFI photos.

What a beautiful looking model of a superb looking subject, one of my favourites.

Cheers

Dennis

That looks fantastic Dave. It's a great colour scheme on the Spitfire and a nice change from the more common camo schemes.

Carl