ISSUE 13 – FITTING THE FIREPROOF BULKHEAD AND ENGINE

PARTS CHECKLIST – PICTURE 24

13-01 Fireproof Bulkhead
13-02 Frame with Bulkhead details A-F
13-03 Frame with Bulkhead details G-J
13-04 Hydraulic Fluid Tank
13-05 3 x PM 2 x 4mm screws (1 spare)

PICTURES 25, 26 & 27

Following the instructions, we cut out the various bulk head components.

Some of these are glued together while others are single units that require no further assembly.

PICTURES 28 & 29

Here we can see some of the various components being installed onto the bulkhead.

One area worth noting (pic 28) is that for the silver painted parts we end up with missing paint were these have to be cut from the fret.

In some cases, this is not seen once installed but, on these parts, they are visible and will require touching in with some “silver” paint later.

PICTURES 30 through 33

Next up is installing the engine and what a “right pig” that is.

Lots of jiggling and getting the engine at “odd” angles while trying not to put to much force in so as not to damage the myriad of parts that have been installed.

Got there in the end but it did take some effort.

Pic 31 shows how I have re-routed the motor lead based on what I think it looks like in Pic 30. Time will tell if I have this correct or not.

Pic 32

The instructions tell you to ensure the arrowed connection in this picture line up but I have found that there is some spring in this part of the engine and the section wants to sit higher than it should.

There are no “Pin/hole” connections between these sections which is a shame as this would have ensured a positive connection.

Will have to refer to and earlier build stage to see if there is something I missed when building this section.

PICTURES 34, 35 & 36

We then press fit the read engine support frames into the fireproof wall which in turn has to be lined up and fitted to the engine section.

Again, quite a fiddly part of the build having to line up several holes and again a bit of firm pressure to get everything into position.

Nice update Tony I was tempted by this build initially when it came out but other things took priority, keep up the good work.

Al

hi tony, did you have any problem with your motor when you tested it, mine did not work, so i got it out and it spins, but it does not take a lot to stop it, just wondered how you got on.

thanks for the reply tony, i have removed the plastic and the red was hanging on by a strand, resolded the wire but made no difference, so i think i will have to get another issue.

Very nice work Tony

Mark

HACHETTE SPITFIRE Mk 1A – FRIDAY 26th June 2020

Issues 15, 16, 17 and 18 have arrived.

As with the last batch of parts there is a “correction” in terms of one of the component parts as well as a little ambiguity with an area of the instructions in terms of component placement that I will call out later.

One of my pet hates has to be superglue. Of all the modelling areas I use this has to be something I really do not like using but in this build we have little option unless we opt for 2-part resin and that is even more trouble when working on such parts.

PICTURES 1 & 2

As the superglue I have been using has a tendency to leave a white fog (apparently called “Blooming” from what I recently discovered) I have purchased this version by Deluxe which apparently states its Non-Blooming so we will see.

In addition, where we are assembling plastic to plastic, I am using Tamiya extra thin for those parts.

Anyhow on with the latest build stages:


ISSUE 15 – DETAILS FOR THE COCKPIT INSIDE WALLS

PARTS CHECKLIST – PICTURES 3 & 4

This section contains a replacement part to correct an error and that part is taped to the underside of the parts tray so care needed not to miss it and throw it away.

15-01 Cockpit Details A, B & C
15-02 Cockpit Detail
15-03 Cockpit Detail
15-04 Cockpit Detail
15-05 Cockpit Detail
15-06 Cockpit Detail
15-07 Cockpit Detail
15-08 Cockpit Detail
15-09 Cockpit Details D - I

PICTURES 5 & 6

This is the part replaced with this pack. If you look at Picture 5 you can see the word “RUBBER”. This is corrected as in Picture 6 with the correct word “RUDDER”.

PICTURES 7 & 8

We start off by gluing together the 3 parts that make up the air tanks. Tamiya extra thin worked well here.

PICTURES 9, 10 & 11

We next take “Cockpit Details” – such a shame they do not give the parts their correct name, and again glue these 2 parts together.

Its worth noting the detail in the printing. These are really small parts but you can still read (if you have better eyes than me) the text on these parts.

PICTURES 12 to 16

Much of this stage just involves taking various parts from the frets and gluing them into place on the previously constructed cockpit sidewall.

PICTURES 17, 18 & 19

Its worth dry fitting parts before committing glue as the areas that require glue are not always obvious.

In this case the glue is only required in the slot of the black piece (pic 18) so that it sits on the arrowed rail shown in the same picture.

PICTURES 20 to 26

Very little explanation needed here as all we are doing is a continuation of adding parts to the cockpit frame.

PICTURES 27, 28, 29 & 30

Picture 27 is the corrected part with the word “Rudder” rather than “Rubber” in place.

You can also see in pics 28 & 30 just how detailed the printing is even on the smallest of parts which in many cases will not be seen once the aircraft is all sealed up.

PICTURES 31, 32 & 33

And when this section has been completed this is what it all looks like.
Very impressed by the amount of detail they are packing into this one.

While it may not continue its also worth noting just how many parts, they have been including with each stage which does give you some decent build time on each stage.

ISSUE 17 – DETAILS FOR THE INSIDE OF THE COCKPIT

PARTS CHECKLIST – PICTURE 48 – Interesting as we seem to be getting part descriptions this time

17-01 Cockpit Detail (Undercarriage Control)
17-02 Cockpit Detail (Tank)
17-03 Cockpit Details A – C
17-04 Cockpit Detail (Harness Release)
17-05 Cockpit Detail (Signalling Switchbox)
17-06 Cockpit Detail (De-icing control)
17-07 Cockpit Detail (emergency undercarriage control)
17-08 Cockpit Detail (Oxygen Control)
17-09 Cockpit Detail (De-icing Pump)

PICTURES 49 & 50

We start by taking the part arrowed in pic 49 and glue this into place (pic 50) to the sidewall.

Looking at Picture 50 I have arrowed a slight area of concern with these many raised and recessed ejector pin marks.

Not impossible, but time consuming to correct these, and at this stage not sure what will be seen when its all buttoned up, I have opted to leave these as they are.

PICTURES 51 to 56

Following the instructions, it’s a similar build sequence to the previous stage, with various arts being glued into place on the side wall.

PICTURES 57, 58 and 59

The trefoil shape on the part in picture 57 will see 3 of the various pipes terminating into this part

We can see the first of these in picture 59.

PICTURES 60, 61, 62 & 63

I mentioned at the start of this months update an ambiguity in terms of the placement of the part you can see in pic 60.

It has 2 studs that are glued into two of the holes on the connecting piece hold to cockpit parts together.

Picture 61 from the instructions appears to indicate you leave 1 hole in the connector when the part is in place.

Picture 62 indicates that there should be 2 holes beneath the part when fixed in place.

Having looked at it I have placed it with 2 holes below the part as this way the part seems to line up better with the red undercarriage release lever.

PICTURES 64 & 65

The de-icing control is the last part of this section that we need to glue into place.

Little bit fiddly as you have to align 2 pipe ends plus the connector on the back of the part.

Picture 65 shows the completed section.

Looks good with some nice detailing.

Well done so far.


Regards
delboy271155
(Derek)

It certainly seems to have a great deal of detail and the labels all look crisply done nice work Tony.

Al

they really have gone to town on detail on this model, hope it keeps up, worries me now the size of the base, keep up the good work tony.