Hello

I need help form you. I'm finishing my first fighter one Spitfire Mk IX (ART from World Models) and I don't know where to the buy scale accessories. (antenna, guns,radiators, etc..)
Give me some tips.

Thanks
Paulo M.

I'm afraid I can't really answer your question. But I really do think it's important to get passed this idea of "buying scale accessories" as soon as possible. You don't "buy" scale accessories, you "build" them! While extremely commonly produced models like the Mustang, Corsair and Spitfire in common scales have created their own miniature scale accessories industries, always looking to buy what you need is, in the long run, an extremely limiting approach.

Items like antannae, guns, and radiators are relatively simple to produce. And ultimately a lot more satisfying that gluing some store-bought bit to the surface of your model.

A few of the named items used to be (secretly) available in brass from Cal-scale Model Castings. That firm sold off the line to another located near Sacramento Calif. The new fellow was showing off the line up at a convention about three years ago. I can remember 50 Cal. machine gun barrels, and some antenna on the felt poster board. He had them in 5 different scales. In talking to him, he mentioned they were just experimental to see if there was a market out there for such items. The work on the rubber molds had been done in the 1960's and the new parts were pulled from those. They all needed new rubber for any sort of production. The castings were going to be known as former Cal-scale, but not brought out under that title specifically. I had his business card up until about two years ago.

Wm.

abufletcher,
Right you are. If a person is going to try to buy some of the stuff needed to complete a scale project he is going to soon be very frustrated. It's amazing some of the stuff that can be fabricated from other stuff. Plus, as you say it is a great deal more satisfying. I have a friend who is kinda ornery and only scratch builds, he would'nt be caught dead with a kit, and when guys ask him how he goes about scratch building, his stock answer is,"Well, first I buy a bunch of wood and then I cut away everything that does'nt look like an airplane". Although his answer is a bit oversimplified, it's basicly true. I gave up long ago trying to buy some of the things I needed for a project and in hindsight am glad I did.

Steve

Hi Paulo,

I must admit, scratch built realy is the only way to get true scale; quite often the bulk build guys do get it wrong (now I'm in trouble!), and cannot cater for the little changes made to individual aircraft, and it is very unlikly they will fit your plane without hacking bits about, and probably spoiling them in the process.

I've attached a couple of links for you to look at, one of which features an article I wrote way back about a 1/5th scale Hawker Hurricane I was building, and there's quite a few drawings showing how to go about scale detailing, although this is mainly about the cockpit.

The other site also has articles worth reading.

www.strictlyscale.com/articles.htm and www.rcscalebuilder.com/tutorials.htm

The biggest challenge, has always been finding a descent pilot, and eventually I did find a source, but they were much to heavy. As a result I set about converting them into lightweight for r/c scale airplanes.

Now the sales Pitch!

I now convert and supply scale 12" lightweight pilots with radio controlled heads , ideal for 1/5th - 1/6th scale models, so check out my web site www.scaleaircrewsupplies.co.uk

good luck with the build

Mark M.

Dynamic Balsa also indicates it sells scale supplies like bombs and machine guns. I think their website is www.dbalsa.com.
Sam

Paulo,
Try Mick Reeves Models in England. While I was at their site I noticed he makes a ton of scale parts for the Spits, Hurricanes, and Typhoons.
www.mickreevesmodels.com
Jake in Colorado