Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk 1a | Full Build Video

Greetings everyone! Check out this little Spitfire I did, added some cool details to the cockpit and did the markings with some custom masks from Kitmasx.com
You'll be able to find this mask set and others at my collection at Kitmasx!
kitmasx.com/collections/hammerhead-model-making-exclusive-collection
instagram: hammerheadmodelmaking
/ hammerheadmodelmaking
Also be sure to check out Stonehaven Miniatures!
www.stonehaven...

[@johnmuraski129]

I'm pretty sure that a Spitfire, either in 1/72 or 1/48, has become the official right of passage in this hobby

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

I would agree with that.

[@grantmiller6570]

Looks great, who doesn't love a 1/72 spitfire, especially on a sweet diorama base like that.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks!

[@NothingNowhere-vu5oq]

My eyeballs don't. Too small.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

@@NothingNowhere-vu5oq yeah, I've been seeing a trend of modelers super detailing 1/144 aircraft and that hurts my brain.

[@unqualifiedastronaut6328]

Built my first Airfix 1/72 Spitfire in 1970. Yours is a diminutive masterpiece.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!

[@TRINFSS]

Not a big Spitfire fan but you really did a beautiful build on this model. Yeah, I agree, whenever possible paint on the national insignia’s and call letters. That is authentic to the real plane.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!!

[@rutgaurxi7314]

Hard to believe that my home city designed and manufactured the Spitfire, although you wouldn't know it today! It does contain an aircraft museum, with a Spitfire as its centrepiece (appropriately enough) though. All that aside, this is an excellent finished model and diorama.

[@willm5032]

I'm from Kent and its always a trip for me to remember how many airfields were in the countryside at the time. I believe at one point the Battle of Britain was known colloquially as the Battle of Kent even.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thats facinating! Thanks for sharing!

[@stupot1093]

Make this look so easy. Nice build

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Buster01Actual]

Many thanks! I've chosen this kit to get back into scale modelling after many decades away. Like the previous poster, I also built my first Airfix kit (a 1/72 Hurricane) in 1970 while living in England. Things have definitely changed in scale modelling, but your video makes it all seem doable!

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Yeah, things have changed a lot, but this is a great kit to get back into things! Best of luck to you!

[@tonygary7611]

Outstanding job

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!

[@ChristianSchroter-ok4sk]

Hello mr. Hammer!boy!thats a lot detail for a 9bucks kit.nicely done handling this ww2 icon.i love watching u detailing up your projects.thank u for delivering fun excitenes and knowledge and Inspiration.i love your narration.its everything but boring.congratulations.with best regards and sticky greetings from Brandenburg/germany.your modellmate.christian

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you Christian!!

[@rogergardner6537]

Hi Brett, lovely model and paint job. The Spitfire seat tubs were an early plastic material, like Bakerlite and were a red/brown colour and not normally painted.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks for the info!

[@edutaimentcartoys]

amazing repaint

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@MAJMonkey]

First the P40 (finishing my own), and now the Spitfire (was debating as my next). Guess I'm just following along at this point! Albeit I've been enjoying posing them 'wheels up'

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Ha ha, glad I'm in good company then! Thanks for watching!

[@BrianSanders-tn7pi]

Hi Brett. I have lost count how many Spitfires I have made over the last forty years plus of modelling. But none of them in 1/72 have had this much detail built in. Looks like a lovely little kit and of course you have worked your magic on it to produce a beautiful model, well done. Regards.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@septiccalling8341]

Thats a really nice looking Spit. Such an iconic design........ The gun port patches were primarily there to keep the freezing air out of the gun bays and icing up the .303s, as there was no gun bay heating at first. The camo pattern is interesting; it's kind of half the 'B' pattern scheme with an odd port wing design.... Whatever, I think she looks terrific....... very evocative 👌🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

I thought I was following the camo pattern on the instructions, but its possible I messed it up.

[@markstott6689]

You have definitely given me some ideas for the 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk.I that I'm currently building. I've just drilled out the 24 holes on the frame that the pilots seat attaches to. Time for a break whilst the super thin cures. 😊❤😊

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Awesome!! Good luck with your build!

[@PeaLoop]

So good! Really inspiring. Loved the lighting and photography (cinematography) on the model at the end.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks so much!

[@willwoods6466]

Great build, love the base!

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kg2995]

Thanks Bret, looks good.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!

[@raymondserafin9396]

Great, build really like the camel. That's my favorite plain.Can't wait for your next video.Keep up the good work

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you very much!

[@FinsburyPhil]

Lovely job! Galaxy riveting tools are very good. Btw Merlin engine exhausts were made of an alloy called Inconel which is oxidation and corrosion resistant. So the discoloration is mostly due to heating and cooling effects and exhaust residue rather than rust.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks for the info! Yeah, Rust was the wrong word to use.

[@adamanddadmathieson4689]

Brilliant build! Really enjoyed this video. Many thanks

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@truthhurts9241]

Hi Brett, what a lovely little model, very nicely done. I do have to admit that I hadn't even noticed the lack of rivet detail but boy did it make a difference when you added it. Looking forward to your next, regards I....

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Many thanks!

[@russelloxford7118]

I built the same kit out of the box. Fun little build. Very nice work as usual.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you! I know these little airfix kits kind of get a bad rap sometime, but I really enjoy them for what they are!

[@richardjordan5036]

Great build,starting to get into 72nd scale after seeing some of the work that some of y'all modelers done.use to I would not do 72nd scale due to the details in this scale but now wow....

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

I used to be that way too, exclusively did 1/48, but I've since learned that there are many 1/72 kits out there that are packed with detail and that adding details isn't that difficult, plus 1/72 is a lot easier on the wallet and shelf space!

[@Chilly_Billy]

Those Airfix Spitfires and Hurricanes are terrific little kits. I've built a couple in the last two years. You asked about why the harness was done that way, as opposed to traditional shoulder and lap belts. This was called the Sutton harness and the idea behind it was to give the pilot more freedom to look over his shoulders, while holding him in the seat. Don't want the Hun sneaking up on you. The Sutton was used in most British fighters during WW2 and I believe into the early jets like the Meteor and Vampire.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Awesome, thank you for the info on the Sutton harness, I appreciate learning something new!!!

[@FinsburyPhil]

@@HammerheadModelMaking Yes, that long piece was attached to a cable that ran back into the cockpit and the harness could be released so that the pilot could lean forward, look around etc when not in combat and then locked back into full restraint when needed. So a bit like modern inertia reel car seat belts but manual. There should be a 'Y' piece attached to the shoulder harness and running between the pilots back and the seat that ran through a slot in the lower seat back and was attached to the seat frame - this allowed the movement. As you can tell I'm a bit of a Spitfire nerd! So I have to bang on about one of my pet peeves - the rivets on the wing leading edges were putty filled and sanded smooth at the factory - so no rivets would be showing ahead of the 'no walk' lines on the top wing surfaces or the corresponding area on the lower surfaces.

[@wombat_models]

Really nice. I'm going to have to drag my Airfix Spitfires out of the stash!

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

You should! Its a fun little kit!

[@georgelyons9845]

Good build and paint job of a nice little kit. Bit of info for you, Spitfires had the rivets on the wing surfaces filled in and smoothed over to improve the airflow over the wing so were never visible.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Ahh, good to know, thanks for the added info!

[@GhostRider247]

what a beautiful job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!

[@duncanling2127]

Beautiful spitfire ❤

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!

[@KLOSTER777]

Nice build , but I find that airfixe’s new molds have a very heavy engraving in 1/72 scale . Its easy to find1/72 spits and schmidts with a much more délicate engraving.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Yeah, they can certainly be a little heavy handed with the panel lines, but that doesn't bother me so much.

[@normansmith8184]

What ho Brett! Ah, what a thing of beauty the Spitfire is whatever the scale. (I'm still a Hurricane man though). The Air Ministry 1939-45 decreed that the RAF day fighters cockpit would be Interior Grey/Green and camouflage was to be Dark Earth/ Dark Green over Sky Type S and the colours should merge rather than be hard edged. The dark brown was ditched for medium sea grey in 1941. Now then, I recently purchased an Airfix 3,000 piece jigsaw of a Ia in flight DW-K. And inside the box hey presto a 1/72 kit like your video with the DW-K markings. Your 'Spit' unfortunately was shot down in flames and crashed into the sea on the 3rd. September 1940. Pilot Flt. Lt. Richard Hope Hillary (an Australian) baled out and survived but was badly burnt. I know where he went for treatment but this has taken long enough. A great video as ever and my benchmark. I really like your style of narration. Thank you.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Yes, you are correct, this is the aircraft of Richard Hillary , I'm actually working on a 1/48 scale version of this aircraft as well, but this one will be in full on maintenance with the engine exposed and the gun bays open. I didn't know Airfix did puzzles, but thats cool that it also came with the kit!

[@normansmith8184]

@@HammerheadModelMaking That's positively spooky. I have a 1/48 Tamiya of the DW-K. Great minds thinking alike?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

@@normansmith8184 ha ha, totally!

[@Garywolff884]

Nice build. Just for info. The exhausts did not rust on Spitfires. Also, that’s an interesting camo scheme. I haven’t seen that one before…

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Yeah, rust was the wrong word to use to describe the exhaust color.

[@mrjockt]

The bit you added to the front of the pilots seat was just a reinforcing box section, the flares were carried in a holder located on the right hand sidewall just under the windscreen, in later marks it was used to carry spare bulbs for the gun sight. Are the upper and lower wing roundels specific to this particular Spitfire, they look to be located too far forward on the wings.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks for the corrected info on the structure on the seat! As for the markings, I was mainly going off this artwork for placement of all of the markings: cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-nf66r1574l/images/stencil/2048x2048/products/413/1461/WP65-SPIT-07C__48610.1594227149.jpg?c=2 They show the lower roundels as being pretty far forward, almost to the leading edge, there were so many different arrangements for RAF roundels on the Battle of Britain spitfires that its hard to say for sure if this is accurate, so, totally possible its not.

[@lubomirc7847]

Well done mate.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!!

[@Astranamic]

I've always thought Airfix kinda had a THICC problem too, lol. But I have some kits, they look pretty good :)

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Ha ha, yeah, thats a good way to put it!

[@graememorrison333]

The pilots sitting in chairs thing is 👍

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks!

[@chrissakal532]

That vac canopy might have been intended for the older 1/72 Airfix Spitfire. That could have been why it didn't fit. You mentioned filling with super glue. Have you ever tried any of the black, flexible superglue?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thats a good point about the older version of the kit, I hadn't thought of that. I haven't tried the flexible superglue yet, but I've had many people recommend it.

[@chrissakal532]

​@HammerheadModelMaking The stuff I got is from Bob Smith Industries and I picked it up from Amazon. It's not like your usual super glue. It sands really well and isn't brittle. I like using it to help fill minor gaps. I also use it for resin and non-painted p.e. It's good stuff.

[@Unyielding_Modeller]

Great build and painting of the 1/72 Spitfire. May I suggest getting a proper riveting tool next time because these rivets look a bit out of scale.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Yes! That is on my short list of new tools to get!

[@NateB-f2c]

Hey! Nice build. I’m working on the Airfix Mk II right now and was wondering where you got this kit?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you, I picked this one up at my local hobby lobby.

[@marcusaureliusantoninusaug2161]

Oh yeah, the quality of the rivet tool is very important, as I found out the hard way. The trumpeter riveting tool is terrible, I couldn't even see where I was going. I then tried an unbranded tool that looked similar to yours, but it literally broke apart after 10 minutes. Unfortunately 'Rosie the Riveter' is not available anymore...so I'm unsure which one to get.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Yeah, I used to have the Trumpeter tool as well and agree, it was not good. I'm not sure what to get either.

[@lesvenus3788]

One of your best builds and a joy to watch. Really taught me a lot; even after 60 years making models!! Just one question: what’s your paint/thinner ratio for Vallejo paints?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you, regarding thinning ratios for Vallejo, its really going to depend on the individual color, but generally between 15-20% thinner works well for me.

[@lesvenus3788]

Thank you Brett

[@western-m1a2]

I’m about to start on a f15 d day invasion anniversary model kit but this was a good vid

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Awesome!!

[@KGmodels]

Amazing work in 1/72 nd scale,as I expected,as all your 1/72nd are better than any of my 1/48th… And I just picked up Trumpeters 1/32nd SU-25UB,so if you have any tips,that would be helpful,and good luck with whatever project you are doing right now!

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

My only advise for Trumpeter kits is to make sure you are dry fitting everything!

[@m6087]

superbe !

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thank you!

[@UncleB1735]

Hi Brett, that is a great build of the Airfix Spitfire. I'm about to start building the same kit but your link to the Kit Masx page does not have the masks for this kit. Are they unavailable already?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Here is a link to the canopy mask set, but regarding the mask set for the markings I will need to ask them about that: kitmasx.com/products/airfix-supermarine-spitfire-mk-ia-1-72-canopy-wheel-masks?_pos=5&_sid=23b839c98&_ss=r

[@UncleB1735]

@@HammerheadModelMaking thanks for the link to the canopy masks. Let me know if you hear anything about the markings set, please.

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Sorry it took so long to respond, but this mask set is now up on their site: kitmasx.com/products/supermarine-spitfire-mk-ia-x4277-richard-hope-hillary-1-48-1-72-main-marking-paint-masks Cheers, Brett

[@UncleB1735]

@@HammerheadModelMaking thank you for the link to the markings Brett. Unfortunately the ridiculous postage charge prevents me from buying them. It works out at twice the price of the kit! Reply

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

@@UncleB1735 fair enough.

[@vaughanlockett658]

Pity about the vacform canopy not fitting. It's a bug bear of mine with these kits at this scale

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

agreed

[@vaughanlockett658]

Forgot to thank you top build.

[@Zankoran]

Is this the same airfix kit James May made a 1/1 kut of?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

I think its a newer version of the 1/1 kit that James may did, I think he based his off the older version of this kit, but still pretty cool, his video was a lot of fun to watch!

[@guaporeturns9472]

Keeps bugs out of the guns as well

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Definitely don't want bugs in the guns!

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@HammerheadModelMaking Paper wasps can make a nest in a pretty short period of time, could possibly cause a problem (though not likely)

[@seanfoleyexperimentalmusic6671]

you sound like Tom Cruise sir

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thats a new one, haven't heard that one.

[@deinelof]

💀👍🏻

[@blacknass1943]

hello :) afther 4 months i am now building models too :) and wath a funn and a cure for your soule !. 1. Avro Anson mk 1 1:47 th 2. Bristol beafort mk1 1:72 / 3. is now the Heinkel 111- hp.2 my next wo is alredy in the storage is the Eduard Bf 109 e-4 i Lov it such a amzing nice hobby. thank you for the phusch. :)

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

I'm glad you're building now! Thats awesome, keep it up!

[@spencerburrows3525]

Good stuff. What were the roundel masks called again?

[@HammerheadModelMaking]

Thanks, the roundel masks are from Kitmasx.com