AIRIFX SPITFIRE 1/24 2022 - help me decide which scheme to paint it in!

[@timbevan7457]

Going to say the pretty in pink scheme gets my vote. Not many spits I’ve seen, modelled in any scale, follow this colour scheme.

[@markbelsom3174]

My last 1/48 Mk.IX is pink.

[@hansjakobli78]

Dear Gary, i think you should just build all four of them! I certainly would love to watch it!

[@johnnyrvf]

Pretty in Pink. Not a well known colour scheme. An interesting use for the Spitfire and it was very successful in that role.

[@SippinSoda71]

There’s just something special about those Polish pilots serving in the RAF. I didn’t know they were also in Africa. So your painting that scheme would be a nice way to highlight their contribution. I voted for them.

[@mr9263]

Yeah, it kinda holds a story behind it

[@gadeeshi]

The other spectacular option can be one of the Israeli LF Mk. 9E

[@thatwontwork9046]

I am facing the same issue on my spitfire build right now… all the choices are so cool

[@garys_stuff]

They are and when you add aftermarket options the choice is even more difficult!

[@thatwontwork9046]

@@garys_stuff I think I’m gonna have invasion stripes on mine for sure

[@darrenhillman8396]

What a delightful dilemma to be in, Gary! Its great to be so spoiled for choice. I voted for French Fancy, just on the basis of the markings, but would love you to do another in the pink scheme - just so unusual, that one. Whatever version you finish it in, I’m sure you will entertain, enlighten and inform us as you work your magic on it! Best wishes, as ever.

[@petermerz2704]

I like the desert camouflage scene. Thanks for sharing. 😎🇨🇦

[@bamibal001]

In a vote like this, I always go for a reconnaissance one. Not nearly as glamorous as fighters or fighter-bombers, but vital in the grand theme of things and often overlooked. It's not listed but I would go for a PRU blue one. Just because it is different, I would pick the pink one in this case but a 1/24 scale model in pink might look a bit naff 😁

[@garys_stuff]

Not sure I'm up to converting it with two downward facing cameras! Who knows, Airfix might do it in the future?

[@stephenwhelan2515]

I've voted for French fancy - the red spinner, yellow tail and colourful tricolour is rather attractive. Second choice would be pretty in pink.

[@philcodd5030]

If you have to do just one it's the JJ version for me then the Pinky. I enjoyed his book. It's a case of to many kits and not enough time and I think it's the iconic version for me.

[@TonyJ86]

I think just about every man and his dog will do JE-J so I say avoid that. I think the French one is pretty smart and based of the photo you presented it looks pretty beaten up so brownie points for weathering options and clipped wings. My vote goes to Frenchie. I'll be doing an RAAF option I just purchased an after market set. Just got to get the kit now.

[@danwilliams1686]

My favorite is always a desert camouflage scheme. I love azure blue, plus the weathering opportunities are great.

[@hueyJoe135]

Another great video son. I've had my vote 🗳 I'm looking forward to seeing the result and the build. Keep up the great work son 👍

[@jimtait6261]

I’m a traditionalist, has to be the JJ scheme! Superb looking kit and I’m looking forward to following your build Gary.

[@brettt8246]

YES! I am currently reading his autobiography, a very 'ballsy' guy

[@tumbleweed1970able]

pretty in pink what a striking models that would be I have two kits one I'm playing safe in the JEJ Markings and the one sitting on my work bench is definitely going to be pretty in pink

[@Spitfiresammons]

I’m think the pink spitfire fr mk.Ixc will be my option to choose.

[@ModelWingsForever]

I voted for the french because I think I like the yellow. Also it has different wing tips, the desert and pink we’re also tempting

[@davidbennett4216]

I’ve voted for the Desert Poles. always liked the colour scheme 😀

[@alantoon5708]

I would build one in the traditional scheme of Johnnie Johnson. That is so traditionally British...like Airfix and the Spitfire itself!

[@brettpeacock9116]

My vote is for the Pretty in Pink. (Mainly cos every man and his mongel will do Johnny Johnson or Horbaczewki's ZX 1 - And those scheme are in almost Mk IX kit in creation as well. The drawback is that you will need to add the camera and the window for the hatch, but neither should be an onerous job.

[@garys_stuff]

Adding an F24 and a window would be...instructive let's say. But wouldn't it look good?

[@brettpeacock9116]

@@garys_stuff And it would certainly stand out in the sea of camouflaged Spits!

[@craighutchinson114]

Pretty in pink.

[@rusyagus]

Really want to see you make desert poles I will have to wait and see..

[@brianthomson5488]

People will hate me for this but im not a big spitfire fan, the tempest or typhoon is my preferred WW2 British plane. I am voting for the french colour scheme though as the clipped wing spitfire was the best looking IMO.Keep up the good work Gary and could you do a video on your preferred,tools,paints thinners etc.

[@johnmckenzie7705]

pretty in pink

[@Juno58]

I don't know it either... i think i would look for aftermarket decals. Or may be the desert scheme.

[@garys_stuff]

The vote has decided the PRU pink version...

[@bigbuild9993]

Yikes! I’ve voted for Johnny Johnson, but second place is Pretty in Pink, I think that actually might be the hardest paint scheme, weathering such a light coloured scheme with all that dirt and grime would not be easy, too much and it would look overdone… my own personal choice when mine eventually arrived will be ML214, I just love the invasion stripes. BUT!… that French Fancy scheme does look nice. I did my MK Vb in the desert scheme. Can’t wait to see the build.

[@Vice1-4]

I say that the pretty in pink would be interesting but would be better suited in a 1:48 kit with added resin or metal parts, and for the desert poles scheme, there’s plenty of other good desert spitfire kits so I’d say if you wanted to have a amzing looking spit I’d go for the johnnie Johnson scheme or if you wanted to go crazy do the fancy French fancy scheme!

[@gorrie3113]

The desert poles would be nice

[@jeffslade1892]

My late father was quite good at identifying allied aircraft, because he wasn't supposed to shoot them from the back seat of the Lancaster. The high altitude, unarmed PR IX was a uniform blue. It had modifications that differed from the standard IX, such as windscreen. The low altitude, armed FR IX was pink, a standard IX modified with one port camera. Tactical ground support, low level recon. Pink paint over the original camo which may show through on the body, applied more heavily on the wings. Not to be confused with the desert pink, a drab pink wash applied over the camo. The "c" refers to the wing, it's shape differs from the FR XIVe with the "e" wing. A useful, "it's not a FW 190" identifier. For D-Day, everything got 'invasion stripes' and continued with it. Paint was not standardised, no two batches the same. Applied with a brush, often a long handled broom. Johnnie Johnson's marking are probably most authentic either as Mk IX EN398/JEJ or EN392/JEJ

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks for all that Jeff. Paint continues to be applied however it can - in the Falklands the aircraft on HMS Hermes were over-painted with grey all over by brush, our more modern carriers having spray facilities!

[@paulturner7292]

The dessert scheme does it for me .

[@jonmorgan4233]

Pretty in Pink for me, looking forward to this build...

[@kevinatkins9154]

Johnny Johnson I think. Here’s a true story. A client of mine was Sir Hugh Dundas ( former CEO of BT I believe ). I was doing some building work for him and his wife back in the 1980s, on his cloakroom wall he had a painting of a spitfire signed by Johnny Johnson. Being curious I asked about the painting. Mrs Dundas told me it was given to her husband by Johnson (apparently he was quite the artist) as a thank you for smuggling some brandy back from France during the closing stages of the war. Turns out Sir Hugh was also a fighter pilot during WW2. Hugh “Cocky” Dundas! His uniform and other artefacts can be seen at the museum at the former RAF base in Tangmere near Chichester! UK 👍 👍 Any

[@garys_stuff]

Brilliant story Kevin, thanks for that!

[@russhodges8218]

Pink for me 👍

[@christopherevans6752]

Pretty in pink gets my vote👍

[@garryprettyman8927]

Desert gets my vote.

[@davroshalfbeard8368]

They are all really good I think the pink because it's so unusual though

[@JCOC1971]

Desert Poles looks very Interesting for me.

[@mrjockt]

I’ve built many Spitfire models in the past, mainly in 1/72 scale but the one thing I always tried to do is avoid doing them in R.A.F. North West Europe colours, you end up with a load of Spitfire’s that all look similar, many countries used the Spitfire and I always tried to find a paint scheme and aircraft markings that made every model I built unlike every other one.

[@randytaylor1258]

First rate, Gary! Love the music.

[@garys_stuff]

Cheers Randy!

[@AVeryAverageModeller]

Morning Gary. It has to be the desert scheme, that will really standout in the display cabinet. Do you have the ability to spray the national and sqn markings ~ in 1/32 or 1/24 scale they really add to the look of the finished model and it really isn’t that hard to do, in fact it’s probably easier than decaling. If you were interested in going down that route I could make some for you to try?

[@garys_stuff]

I was thinking of spraying the national markings as you suggest. It will make fitting to panel lines somewhat easier!

[@AVeryAverageModeller]

@@garys_stuff as soon as you’ve done it once you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before.

[@AVeryAverageModeller]

@@garys_stuff if you need any pointers just give me a shout 👍

[@garys_stuff]

@@AVeryAverageModeller thanks mate, I appreciate it. Probably the biggest issues will be alignment and the order of spraying!!

[@AVeryAverageModeller]

@@garys_stuff absolutely right - before you get to that stage we can have a chat - the biggest thing with spraying the markings is having the confidence to actually do it.

[@krzysztofg.9675]

It is necessary to paint the Skalski Circus (PFT). Airplane in desert painting of the Polish squadron in Tunisia.

[@dand9495]

Pretty in pink, a less common scheme for sure

[@toboldlygosmodelworks1973]

Yep I got the spitfire through your link👍👍So Pink is the theme for Squadron Leader Blobby's one for sure😉😉

[@garys_stuff]

Cheers man! Yellow dots on the PRU pink for a Blobby's Circus one then...?

[@toboldlygosmodelworks1973]

@@garys_stuff yep that's the one, with the lozenge coloured underside.

[@johnrycroft3906]

Pretty in Pink please. 16 Squadron lived next door to me when I was on 20 in the early/ mid 80’s.

[@petecole7991]

I think pretty in pink sounds like a plan there won’t be many doing that scheme good luck

[@stuartrae4005]

Hi Gary, just thought I’d let you know that it’s Aldi madness time again. Aldi on line has the same 6 kits as last year for £6.99 a pop with free delivery on orders over £30

[@garys_stuff]

Thanks for thinking of me Stuart - yes I saw that the other day (I've been looking at their web site every day!!!) - video about it will be out this week. They are also doing a few Quick Builds, Lidl have got about 8 QuickBuilds this winter too. Lidl also have three Revell ship sets at £20 each - HMS Victory in 1/225, the Mayflower in 1/83 and a twin pack of the Titanic at 1/700 and 1/1200! Waiting to see what Hobbycraft is doing!

[@MrAndyhull]

Pink! Be interested to see how you modify the camera panel.

[@garys_stuff]

Ha! Sadist.... it would be a challenge though!

[@ktos337]

Desert Poles will be great build

[@csf6614]

Pink.... but JE J ... or either of the other 2 .... sorry know bloody help or idea ... just looking forward to the videos as always ...

[@speedymg1962]

The photo of ZX-1 In pieces would be a good diorama build😉

[@pkmodeling]

I have to say pretty in pink!

[@marksinthehouse1968]

They protected my grandad in the desert so it’s desert poles for me

[@kristhijs3180]

2 Days ago saw in the movie "Spitfire over Berlin". I had the idea to make that type of Spitfire. The film is about a Spitfire that has to take pictures over the newly supplied AA/flak around Berlin. The pink version almost matches as "Recon Version" of the movie. Only it wasn't pink, but blue variant like in your video. I would choose the French version or change the pink to blue version

[@garys_stuff]

The only trouble with the PRU Blue version is that (and I'm no Spitfire expert here, so anyone might want to correct me) the PR versions had two camera ports in the belly and I think that level of conversion might be beyond me!

[@kristhijs3180]

@@garys_stuff True, 2 extra ports in the belly. That's why I would make the French version or desert versions (pink or polish) without extra after market kits. If I have the necessary after market kits then I would start with the Blue Recon version.

[@randytaylor1258]

@@garys_stuff Those ports are in other 1:48 PR kits if you want something to look at. You could always fake them with black decal circles (shiny, for glass').

[@gadeeshi]

Yeah, convert it into FR Mk. 9C and paint it PRU Pink or PRU Blue. It would be awesome!

[@steveallsopp5399]

Gary Gary Gary.........pink spit perrrrrrr lease!!!!!

[@767aviation6]

Desert colors

[@julianmhall]

As others said not the JEJ as many will do that, and TBH it looks normal apart from the code. French looks a little too garish for my liking. I like the Polish desert camouflage as they are to a large extent unsung heroes.. aside from that the PRU pink is unusual. Ultimately I'll go with the flow but those two are my picks.

[@jameschadwick8750]

I would say Johnnie Johnson’s, but I would go with the desert version.

[@crazylocha2515]

Is there a Pink Polish Desert Recon option? 😜🙃☕🐢

[@garys_stuff]

Please, Locha, don't be difficult.... although it would make sense - I mean what with SAS desert pink and all...

[@FinsburyPhil]

I echo the comments about highlighting the Polish contribution to the RAF.

[@chriswalker2858]

Got to be the Pink recon spit Gary, not easy to get a subtle colour though, cheers from Perth WA....

[@The-Sea-Dragon-1977]

Got to be the pink PR version.

[@alcopower22]

The french one !!!!!!! greetings from Buenos Aires !!!!

[@franciscovenegas1810]

Hola, para mí el esquema francés me parece genial y a la vez distinto, gracias por sus videos , me ayudan a ser mejor modelista, saludos

[@garys_stuff]

Muchas gracias, mi amigo!

[@peterwalker6868]

Polish Desert scheme please!

[@Jeff-cv4qn]

Has to be JEJ for me as I remember building the Airfix 1/72 kit as a kid

[@MrPDoff]

Well. Imho There is only one Spitfire and that's the MkIX. And there is only one MkIX to build JEJ. I didn't know that was going to be an option or I would have Pre- Ordered. But I'm getting one now.

[@garys_stuff]

They added the JEJ markings quite late in the process!

[@ianbagley172]

Got to be Johnnie Johnson…. No contest!

[@willwoods6466]

Go Canada Eh, picked Johnny Johnson's steed!

[@Jacky_man542]

Desert poles or French which one.Okay I’m going to say the French one.can’t wait to see the build Gary which ever one gets chosen 👍

[@stephenayscough230]

desert poles thats what i,m doing my spit arrived yesterday i vote desert poles

[@ianbeale2527]

PRU scheme all the way. Edit: Or maybe just wait a while until the aftermarket guys put out some alternative decals, then you really will have a dilemma on your hands..

[@garys_stuff]

The PRU and the Polish scheme are both aftermarket - and there are already plenty more!

[@arthurrytis6010]

For me it would have to be either J Johnson or the Polish one.

[@jameshill7375]

Pink for me

[@bobtano7824]

I have done a pink recon one in 72, it's nice, but do the French one!

[@keithsimpson512]

Hands down the French scheme

[@BAGHEAD1995]

Pink!

[@rossdavis397]

got to be pink contrasted with invasion stripes

[@ianwilliams9127]

Desert Poles for me mate.

[@Maddog-nb9vu]

If you do JEJ I believe the maple leaf was red not green. All 127 RCAF Wing Spitfire Sqn's had the red maple leaf roundel on either side of the cockpit do display their Canadian identiy. None had green. EN398, coded AEB, flown by Ian Keltie just before Johnnie Johnson took it over did have the red maple leaf. Out of curiosity I used black and white to colour photo software on a photo of JEJ with Johnnie Johnson standing in front. After the colourization the maple leaf did indeed have a red tinge to it. Is it possible Johnson painted it green at a later date. Yes. However, I don't think that would have gone over to well with moral considering it was an all Royal Canadian Air Force wing. To bad you don't have AEB as a choice as Popeye on the nose gives the scheme quite a bit of character. Being a Canadian I would pick that in a second. 🙂

[@garys_stuff]

Because there is some discussion about the maple leaf colour, Airfix have put both on the decal sheet.

[@Bossnuggetmodels]

Pink

[@1001kjk]

Pretty in pink please

[@oricalco555co9]

For me its gotta be JJ scheme.👍

[@roykliffen9674]

Pretty in Pink would be a nice and unusual scheme, but I voted for the Polish pilot, if for nothing else they - and Poles in the other allied services - were treated horribly after the war just to appease the Soviets.

[@iannicholls7476]

I’ve voted for the Desert Poles. All RAF aircraft look better in desert camouflage. It’s a fact! Whenever I get around to starting my Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX y’all know what colour it will be!

[@bradpearson9466]

zx with the red spinner. Pink one for a second. Why not build two

[@garys_stuff]

Cost, time and space - the model maker's perennial problems!

[@markbelsom3174]

Pink.

[@MrVolvobloke]

JJ version for me followed by Pinky.

[@bearbergmann2782]

I picked desert Poles

[@michaeldenesyk3195]

Do not build the Johnnie Johnson version, too many have done that. The Desert Poles is a fetching scheme.or the French version

[@listerofsmegv987pevinaek5]

I'd buy 4 models and do 4 colour scheme's.

[@garys_stuff]

Hope you're in the Airfix Club then - 10% off that lot is substantial!

[@listerofsmegv987pevinaek5]

But can you ever have enough spitfires

[@dukewellington9308]

Johnny Johnson for me...

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

Personally none of those four. It would mean tricky hand painting and scouring for decals but either Israeli or Soviet schemes.

[@jons7658]

Johnny Johnson

[@GregHall1956]

French Fancy

[@JakeCole1453]

I'd pick the French one but the Brits wouldn't go for that

[@rodneydraper8164]

ZX scheme

[@wkelly3053]

The British schemes are great, but everyone does them. Pink?...a lot of work on a huge kit you may not build again (I wouldn't) to have a pink Spitfire...no. The French scheme is just cool. Vive la France!

[@guaporeturns9472]

The pink scheme is the coolest of all.

[@wkelly3053]

@@guaporeturns9472 It would be interesting. All in fun.

[@guaporeturns9472]

@@wkelly3053 fun indeed

[@vaughanlockett658]

A Polish Africa desert.