AFRIKAANER!
1/48th Tamiya Spitfire MkVb
South African Air Force

by Will Hendriks

Photos by Steve Bamford
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Here is my Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire MkVb, in the colouful markings of No. 40 Squadron, SAAF, as it appeared while based in Italy, August 1943.  

The kit was built pretty much out of the box, except for the oblique camera aperture, Reheat seatbelts, and Aeromaster decals. Yes, those roundels are Orange in the center!  The oblique camera aperture is simply a hole cut in the access panel, then filled with SuperKlear to make the clear cover.  

This model has the Aboukir filter and clipped wings. The wingtip fairings represent the wooden examples that where produced in the field. Hence no nav lights.

The model is painted with the now sadly defunct Floquil "Military Classic Colour" range of enamels, possibly the best quality enamels ever produced for the modeller. The colours are Dark Earth and Mid Stone over Azure Blue. Floquil Flat varnish provides the smooth, semi-matt finish.
Weathering is a combination of chalk pastel wash (see ARC Tools and Tips section) and artist's oils.  Paint chips were accomplished with a sharp Prismacolour Silver pencil crayon.
 

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The Tamiya Spitfire kits are truly a joy to build! Delicious!

Will

Photos and text © 2001 by Will Hendriks