Full - size Airfix Spitfire model

famvburg · **Joined:** Fri Oct 07, 2005 9:41 am **Posts:** 540

Got this email from a friend. If the links don't work, copy & paste.

Just finished watching a repeat of James May's Toy Stories on the BBC, in which May (one of the Top Gear chaps) tries to interest modern schoolchildren in building Airfix models. As a grand finale, he has them build an Airfix Spitfire kit that's been scaled up to build a life-size model!

Sadly the BBC makes sure you can't watch the programme online outside of Britain (unless you muck about with your IP address) but here's some impressions:

the kids get to see the kit (at an RAF base museum)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8327914.stm

Pictures of the kit at various stages
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37955259@N ... 875869701/

Two pics of the finished article (scroll down a bit). The second one was take at the official rollout, with Mum & Dads and also RAF Spitfire veterans present
http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic. ... 3b#p174603

(for EU readers: if you can get BBC, watch Tue BBC 2 with repeat Sunday for next in series: building a garden out of Plasticine; building a life-size Lego house, building a Scalextric track on the full length of the Brooklands racetrack, building a model railroad the full length of a real stretch of railroad and building a real bridge out of Meccano)

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:08 pm

Wow... looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffin' glue!

or

No raised rivets and no flash - are you sure it's an Airfix kit? :twisted:

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Looks like great fun. Good for aviation and good for model building.

Dave Cheeseman · **Joined:** Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:49 pm **Posts:** 171

This can be downloaded from mininova.org, Just got done watching it myself.

James goes up in the Grace Spitfire for a flight, when he lands he can't even speak much due to the overwhelming em,otions of flying a Spitfire ( a life long dream of his )

A real cool show.

Cheers Dave C

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:42 pm

I'm surprised there wasn't a huge bottle of glue to go with it!
Neat project!
Jerry

Jollygreenslugg · **Posted:** Sun Nov 01, 2009 11:54 pm

Applying the decals must have been a hassle!

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:07 am

Reminds me of what I thought about the full-size carbon fiber P-51 Mustangs that are available!

Robbie

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 8:37 am

That is too friggin' cool! Now wheres the American version? :wink:

TAdan · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:43 am

Haha, that is great! I'd love to have one of those. That is one aircraft I know I could put together.

I've been a fan of May since seeing him on Top Gear, he just gets cooler and cooler.

T6flyer · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 10:58 am

The company that built the Spitfire for use in this program were the same people that built the P-40 and P-51s used as background dressing for the George Lucas 'Red Tails' film.

Martin

Dave Lindauer · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:54 pm

Where is the Spitfire model now?

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:32 pm

You could make a market by selling those to us "Garage Builders". I'm sure there's a market for these.

Anyone have an idea as to how much one could cost? I'm sure the shipping would be the biggest headache.

Russ Matthews · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 7:14 pm

I found the whole thing posted to Youtube (not sure how long it will stay up, though)...

Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/user/pully87#p/u/17/5-gjJIbBEBI

Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/user/pully87#p/u/16/bTFCyZWfzcM

Part 3

http://www.youtube.com/user/pully87#p/u/15/FTTHZOJMPYk

Part 4

http://www.youtube.com/user/pully87#p/u/14/e433yczzEPU

Part 5

http://www.youtube.com/user/pully87#p/u/13/bkDx0N49zUU

Part 6

http://www.youtube.com/user/pully87#p/u/12/Oig_i__sgv0

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Full - size Airfix Spitfire model

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