Spitfire 403 Build

[comanche163]

I got this kit to build with my son. Hes only 8, but likes to build things. I haven't built a model in over 30 years and even then, it was mostly plastic kits.
This has been a lot of fun to build together. We are not building it to fly, just as a static model that we will eventually hang from the ceiling in my sons room.

I have no idea what we are doing. Just winging it so far. We decided to cover it with wood instead of tissue. So we have been painstakingly cutting out wood planks and covering each opening between the spars with wood. Ive made several trips to michaels and bought out all their balsa wood supply (lol). Sanded it down, covered with wood filler, sand again and prime.

We still have another month or so of work to do, but here is where we are so far. With all the wood, Filler, primer and paint, this plane is too heavy to fly, but it is pretty strong.

Rob

[John G Jedinak]

Yes SIR!!! This is real fine work. Amazing the 8 yr old could stay focused this long.

[yellowlynn]

That is truly a great and beautiful build. I have the highest respect for all fathers that build together, (or whatever, together). Too many dads just don't 'have the time' for sons, or daughters.

Congrats on your build
Lynn

[davidchoate]

Nice build. I really like the wheel wells. Do they retract?

[comanche163]

Thanks for all the nice comments. My son has had a lot of fun with this and so have I.
Its been a great bonding tool for both of us. He has learned patience and taking your time with something to make it better and I have leaned a lot more about my son and how to moivate him. Not to mention we both now a lot more about Spitfires now (lol). After this is done. He is already thinking about what he wants to make next. He seems to want the DC-3 for his birthday.

Nice build. I really like the wheel wells. Do they retract?

Yes they do but not smoothly. We have to work on this a bit more. However, since it will just be hanging from the ceiling on display, we will not go crazy on it. MOst likley we will just leave them in the up position.

I have a scale prop, we got from the hobby store. It is a 3 bladded prop in the exact size diameter we need, but the blades are too fat, so we are triming it down. The pilot inside was from a toy WW2 plane my son had when he was younger and broke it, So I took the pilot out and he fit perfectly in the spitfire.(I think he was from a Corsiar, so his uniform may not be Authentic.)

We still have to finish the bottom of the left wing, Create a wing fairing for both sides to cover the root where the wing meets the body. Then there are a bunch of small details to add.

Ill post more pics as we make more progress.

Rob

[Mitch]

Rob... Very nice. May I suggest for your next build the Me109. If I built it for static, I would build the proper ws. Guillows plans show correct ws and extended for flying model. You will really appreciate how small the Me109 was. The 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain is next year. Also they may not look great but the 1000 series pilots will fit in the 400 series planes as they are all 1/16th scale.

With a little work you can make the plastic pilot look reasonably well... FYI here is what the pilots looked like:



Left is RAF, Right is Luftwaffe. Courtesy of the Boeing Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Mitch

[comanche163]

Thanks Mitch,

Yes, the 109 would be a nice project to go along with the Spitfire. We could hang them both from the ceiling in a dogfight scenario.
Ill sugest it and see what my son would like to do next. I really like the lazer cut kits and I dont think the DC3 is Lazer cut yet. The 109 is, and that makes it so much more pleasurable to build.

Thanks for the pilot pics. That will help down the road.

Rob

[davidchoate]

Anywqay U could show more pics of the retract setup. I have been trying this to no avail.