PRU (Photo
Reconnaissance Unit) Spitfire type "G"
Serial No. 4748
No. 140 Squadron RAF Hendon 1941
There were many
variations of the PRU Spitfire, among them was the "G" type, which was
an armed version. This particular aircraft serial no. 4748 flew with
the 140 Squadron RAF Hendon around 1941. The Pink colour of the PR spit
would allow it to fly at low altitudes where it could blend in with the clouds
during dawn and dusk when the clouds would take on a pinkish hew.
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
|
The kit was
constructed mainly out of the box, with the exception of drilling holes in the
port side access hatch of the fuselage and in the ventral position for the
camera lenses. I had minimal references for this particular aircraft so I
followed the position of later PRU types for the camera locations. Once
the cockpit was built and painted, I painted and detailed the fuselage halves
and inserted the cockpit and glued the fuselage together. The kit goes
together very smoothly and minimal filler is needed. I tend to only use
liquid paper or "white out" to fill the seams. This can be filed
smoothly with a polishing stick or fine grade sand paper. Once the kit was
completely built, I masked the canopy and cockpit and began the painting
process. Since the entire aircraft is pink including the landing gear, I
mounted the struts in place as well, but did not glue them in. I
began the painting by preshading the panel lines with Tamiya Hull Red.
Once this was done , I mixed the hull red with Tamiya pink and matte white and
sprayed thin layers over the entire plane. This was allowed to dry and
then a lighter mixture of the same colour was sprayed along the panels to give a
faded look to the model. Decals were pieced together from
Aeromaster and Tally Ho sheets. Once the kit was painted I glossed it with
Pascoes Long Life applied with a soft sable brush. I like applying the
gloss this way since it self levels and I have more control. The decals
were applied with the help of Microset and Microsol. I used Citadel brown
ink for the panel lines and a final coat of Pascoes Long Life mixed with
Tamiya Flat Base was sprayed and allowed to dry over night.
Note: There are two
brands of PRU Pink on the market one by Don Color and the other by Xtracolor.
Below is a sample chip of the Don Color PRU Pink. From what I have been
told both of these brands are a bit dark compared to the actual PRU Pink which
was used during WWII. I am not an expert on the RAF and would only
speculate on the exact colour used, without someone who would have actually seen
the colour or an original paint chip you would have to mix your own colour to
your satisfaction.
|
(Don
Colour Paint Chip) |
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
|
Final details included adding the
camera lenses which I made from Krystal Clear which is basically a white glue
that dries clear, invisible thread for the antennae wire and Tamiya tape
for the seat belts as well as the gun covers.
Click on
images below to see larger images
|
|
|
|
|
Final Note:
The colour came out to be a little more pink then intended, but I thought I
would settle with it. Some photos of restored PRU Spits have been painted
a much darker pink, probably because they wanted it to stand out more as the
Pink Spitfire, but from what I have been told, the pink is very light almost an
off white. I settled for something in between. The finished kit
makes for an interesting conversation piece in my display case, amongst the grey
and greens of my Luftwaffe kits this one really stands out. The
following link has photos of restored PRU Spitfires including the Pink PRU
|