[Dustybin]

I'm a noob here, so please forgive me if this post isn't quite the way it should be....

I currently have 19 FM 1:48 planes from the Armour Collection - mainly WWII models, but I have a Tomcat arriving in the post soon which may kick me off on modern jets!

I have just bought (and am awaiting) one of the first FM Spitfires that I snagged on ebay (link below if you're interested)

DIE-CAST MODEL SPITFIRE MK 1 PROF X4590 .... good cond on eBay, also RAF, World War II 1939-1945, Militaria, Collectables (end time 10-Jun-08 20:44:07 BST)

I wasn't very bright this time and didn't notice that it looks as if the nose cone is missing. Would anyone know where I might get a replacement? I guess a, dare I say it, plastic cone would suffice if painted to match.

Any help or advice very gratefully received.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Welcome to the forum Dusty...
I have that same Spitfire right there..
I have never had to replace a FM Spitfire prop yet..
One or two things you can do is check around for another FM Spitfire on ebay thats cheap i have seen some on there for under 30.00 here in the USA
and you might be able to take off the prop from one of them and use it....The other thing would be to find a plastic model 1:48 kit and use the prop from the kit.
This Spitfire you have is the oldest one of all FM Spits so getting a replacement from FM would be zero i think.
JP

[Cruver Collecter]

Welcome to the forum! Maybe some one on the forum may have a Spitfire spinner in their parts box for you.

[trex0770]

Hi DB,
I too have the same model but mine is missing the canopy.....FM must've pieced together extra Spits with leftover parts that weren't enough to make complete planes! I got mine from Ebay too and the seller didn't have that in the description. The photo was taken at an angle where you really couldn't tell that the canopy was missing!

Anyway, I feel your pain and have thought about getting a model and cannibalizing a canopy from it. Nice Spit otherwise......just chalked mine up to getting a dud every once in awhile from Ebay!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Dustybin

I wasn't very bright this time and didn't notice that it looks as if the nose cone is missing. Would anyone know where I might get a replacement? I guess a, dare I say it, plastic cone would suffice if painted to match.

Any help or advice very gratefully received.

Hi Dusty, & welcome to the Forum.

Always good to see another Brit' onboard !!!!!!!!!

And now the bad-news (lol !).

I WAS gonna suggest a CHEAP plastic kit (as 'Starman' has) & initially thought of the 'old' Airfix Spitfire in 1/48th scale......

Can pick 'em up for (Literally) 'peanuts' (£ 5 , or less); at IPMS-plastic-kit fairs & off of E-bay.

However, it's a Mk.Vb & "off the top of my head" (thinking about it) it's not quite as blunt/snub-nosed as the cone on a Mk.1 (IIRC).

Truth be known, though - most folks wouldn't notice... & GOD-KNOWS, there's been enough Spitfire IX's painted-up to portray the earlier Mk.1's in Films & T.V. series ('Piece of Cake' T.V.series & the "Battle of Britain" film spring to mind).

If you ain't fussy (& bothered by 'accuracy') then that's the "cheapskate" method.

That, & a pot of Humbrol 'Duck-Egg' paint.

Breaking-up a Tamiya Mk.1 for accuracy's sake, would make you a Heretic

Plus you could buy (about) 4 - 5 Airfix 1/48th's for the price of just ONE Tamiya kit.

Let us know how you get on (?)

[Dustybin]

I've managed to find another of these models which is hopefully intact.... so I may well take the coward's route out and sell on the noseless Spit to someone with more time, skill and patience than me....!

[STARMAN 352ND]

Remember too that is the only Spitfire that has retract landing gears and sliding canopy and comes with a stand made by Franklin Mint.
If you still have the orig box and cert with it...I keep it and maybe down the road you can fix the prop...I have a feeling in time this Spitfire will hold it's value
since it's the first one ever made by FM.
JP

[Cruver Collecter]

I went through my parts box an all I had was a Mk Vb spinner, not much help with regards to a Mk.I. The missing canopy issue could probably be fixed pretty easily. Squadron has a vacuform canopy set for the Spitfire in 1/48th scale.