--Originally posted 5/25/09--

16:00 PM (Monday, 5/25):After yesterday's experience - about 8 hours, give or take, and still not completing this, simplest of kits - I guess it's official: I just can't build as fast as you guys! And also, that this build - this kit - just is what it is, I guess.

Once having realized the above, I began today's building much more enjoyably, puttering (instead of pushing) for about 4 hours, off- and on. Although the parts box failed to produce a replacement windshield, I did score (I think) with an Accurate Miniatures spare:


Click to Enlarge The donor kit was an early P-51 Mustang; a plane with nose very similar to the Spit, and - even more to the point - also providing some correct, 12-cylinder Merlin exhaust stacks to replace the kit's 6-cylinder heads (which, I realized, no Spitfire - even probably the original Thompson Trophy racer - ever had). And yes, I drilled out each and every little one of these, too!

Again, you get a good look at how the wing-root seam has all but disappeared. For your interest, the following shows the even greater miracle wrought by the putty; on the underside:


Click to Enlarge Note, at top, the underwing detail is preserved right up to the edge of the (almost perfectly smooth) fill. Again, the original gap (bottom) having been so wide that the putty had to fill significant "daylight" - and then hold up under strenuous grinding/shaping - all of which it is plenty strong enough to do; I just can't say enough praise for it!

Again, while the putty was setting up I hit a couple more items: the prop/spinner and landing gear, which were completely pre-painted, and the latter fully assembled, by the end of the session. Basically I have only to mask and paint, now...


16:00 PM (Monday, 5/25):Another hour or two, devoted here and there, as opportune; beginning with "backing up" a step - after seeing the fantastic results puttying the wing roots, above - to redo the forward underside seam.

And also the joint in the air scoop intake attachment, which was horrendous:


Click to Enlarge It wasn't that the intake didn't fit - it did indeed fairly snap into place - only that it did so horribly misaligned; when properly positioned, a huge gap opened up in the joint. Again, the CA putty (more) than did the trick - on both joints - as you can see.

OK, now proceeding to the masking, (actually done prior to) painting silver, as above, and then conservatively spattering with additional latex maskoid, to set up for minor paint-chipping, and the underside camo went on:


Click on Image to Enlarge Again, not having a light blue spray color available - nor even a Tamiya rattlecan gray which was light enough - I resorted to Testors Camouflage Gray - which ended painting for the day, since the Testors takes so long to dry. Had I started earlier - or pushed harder, I suppose - I could in all probability have completed the painting - but not in any case the final details, decaling and touchup(s) as well.

The moral of the story: I guess I'm just no Garry Beebe!

But that's exactly why we miss you here, Garry. We will never forget you; GodSpeed, buddy!

And this Spit, in your honor, will be finished...