Models by Norm Sheppard, Sackville, New Brunswick

1. 1/72nd Italeri Mk.Vb built to represent BR471 PM-K, flown by Canadian Rod Smith, DFC and Bar, while serving with 126 RAF Sqn in Malta in 1942.		Spitfire Prototype, K5054
2. 1/48 replica of Anthony Hodgson's Spitfire TR.9, currently flying out of Wales in the UK.		Spitfire Mk.Vb EP120 402 Sqn. S/L Jeff Northcott, DSO, DFC and Bar Nov
1/72 Spitfire PR X, Special Hobby Kit		1/72 Spitfire PR.XIX, Fujimi Kit
ZP-N Spitfire Mk.Ia P7353, 72 Sqn. William Henry Nelson (RCAF)  DFC, October 1940

Additional Notes:

1. This is a 1/72nd Italeri MkVb built to represent BR471 PM-K, flown by Canadian Rod Smith, DFC and Bar, while serving with 126 RAF Sqn in Malta in 1942. I used an Eduard photo etch set, kit national insignia and stencilling, Aero Club prop, Tally Ho 8" black serials, custom ordered white codes from Josh Muma - Bedlam Creations (highly recommended for custom decal orders), Testor's Dark Earth, Polly Scale Azure and Aircraft Colors toned down Mid Stone paints. A little weathering and stretched sprue antennas. I sanded off Italeri's "gun bumps" and cannons, and used Revell Mk.V cannons instead. Drilled out the 0.303" holes. About a 20 hour build.

2. 1/48 replica of Anthony Hodgson's Spitfire TR.9 which he currently flies out of Wales, UK. A friend of mine travelled there in 2004 and flew this aircraft from the back seat. He asked me to build him a model of it if possible, so I set about to do it.  It was a rather involved undertaking involving the Hasegawa 1/48th Spit Mk.IXe with the Aires cockpit set, Eduard photo etch set, kit and homemade decals, and scratch built details.  I had a magazine article and lots of real photos to work with. This was my first major modification job. The original cockpit must be moved forward 13.5 scale inches. I grafted the stock cockpit onto the back of the Aires one, with some changes to it, then buttoned up the fuselage. I closed up all the shell discharge details under the wing and removed the small blisters. Anthony uses a wet wing so I mounted electric fuel pump blisters in front of the wheel wells. These were common on PR Spits (Mk X, XI, etc.) and I used upper wing cannon blisters from the 1/72nd Revell Mk.Vb Spit. They were near perfect! The real aircraft is finished in strange shades of gray and green, non authentic. I used Testor's Acrylics, which I tinted to match photos. Lower colour is Duck Egg Blue with a bit of black, topside is USN Light Gray as is, and RAF Dark Green lightened a bit with white. Stock early kit Hasegawa national insignia are used because the red is too bright, just like Anthony's plane, the white codes are SuperScale Pacific Theatre 24", and I made the serials, the Welsh Dragons on the fin, and the prop and electric socket stencilling on my inkjet printer at home. All of the radio and navigation antennas are scratch built. I drilled out the stock round exhausts. About 70 hours to build, with about 70 hours of research and decal making to boot. I had to form my own clear tunnel that runs between the front and rear cockpits using a homemade cedar mould and Squadron Clear Thermaform. 

Steve Sauvé, Website Custodian for IPMS Canada