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AIRFIX 1:48/1:72 SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK.VC TROP |
Reviewer:
Hrvoje Safhauzer (contact via SMAKR webmaster)
Kit Review submitted: 5 August 2009
Airfix 1-48 & 1/72 Spitfire Vc (trop)
JK
808 IN YUGOSLAV COLORS
In memory of Mr. David Ledger
Kit Details:
Aircraft History:
Spitfire development and history is so well known that it would be pointless to repeat it here. Just to note that Mk Vc was development of the earlier Mk Vb series with an universal "C" wing enabling variations in fixed armament: 8 x 0.303" MGs (rarely used), 2 x 20 mm cannons and 4 x 0.303" MGs (most common), or 4 x 20 mm cannons, as well as carrying two 250 lbs bombs underwing, or either fuel auxiliary drop tank or a 500 lbs bomb underfuselage. Spitfire Mk Vc soldiered in Italian and Balkan areas of the operations until end of the War, sometimes jointly with surviving Mk Vbs.
352nd (Yugoslav) Fighter (-Bomber) Squadron (1st NOVJ squadron)
After negotiations between Yugoslav Partisan leaders and Allies, establishing of two NOVJ (People's Liberation Army of Yugoslavia) squadrons was approved. First one (352nd Squadron) was established in April 1944, and the most experienced pilots that opted to join the Partisans were assigned to 352nd Squadron. These men were almost exclusively former pilots and technical crew from Royal Yugoslav Air Forces, with number of them flying with RAF at Middle East and some coming from Partisan units in Yugoslavia. Training started at Lete airfield, initially with selection flying at Harvard Mk II trainers for 20 hours per a pilot, followed by main training at Hurricane Mk IIcs for some 60 hours, and concluding with highly intensive (3 – 4 sorties per day) flying at Spitfire Mk Vs for 30 hours. During training, a Squadron lost three pilots, two in mid-air collision and one in landing accident.
By August 1944 the Squadron was considered ready for action, transferred to Italy, incorporated in the Balkan Air Force, re-equipped entirely with Spitfire Mk Vc (trop) fighter-bombers, and stationed at Cana airfield close to the Tremoli. Older Spitfire Mk Vbs were handed to Italian co-belligerent Reggia Aeronautica. Combat flights were started at 18th August, flying over the Adriatic Sea and providing the aerial support to the Partisan ground units, attacking the enemy, or escorting the Hurricanes of 6th RAF Squadron, and later 351st Yugoslav Squadron, as well as the transport planes ferrying supplies to the Balkans. At the beginning of 1945, the squadron moved to Vis Island cutting the travel towards the targets short, but by then the greatest losses occurred.
Combat spirit was pretty high, in fact so high that an original Squadron Leader, Major Mileta Protić when asked by the press about ways of enhancing the spirit complained that in fact he had to subdue it, because pilots were eager to fly again over their homeland and release a wrath on the enemies. Their spirit, coupled with long over-water flights and mountainous terrain over the targets yielded the losses. While terrain allowed closing in on the enemy undetected it also limited the potential directions of strike, enabling the enemy gunners to predict from where the planes would come. Enemy AAA shot down 7 Spitfires, damaging further five, killing six pilots, including Major Protić, two flight leaders, and a Squadron's Commissar, Captain Franjo Kluz. All of them were former either bomber or hydro-plane pilots in Kingdom of Yugoslavia service. In fact, 10 out of 12 downed or damaged planes were flown by four-ship formation leaders attacking a target, a fact caused by terrain, as well as the Spitfire's armament requiring long attacking runs, especially while strafing ground targets. Axis AAA was lethal at Balkans as anywhere in Europe. Yugoslav pilots' practice of going against a target until destroying it, no matter how strong defended it was, proved costly with unnecessary casualties. Ultimate example was death of a flight leader Major Ratko Jovanović, who, annoyed with a railroad train not stopping after four bombing and strafing attacks, attacked a medium-defended train for a fifth time to meet his death. An irony was that the Yugoslav Partisans captured that very train later that day only to find the engine crew killed by the aircraft bullets! Even more senseless was the death of Luigi Rugi, Zadar-born ethnic Italian, who tried to land on Vis airfield after an unsuccessful sortie with a Spitfire still carrying the unreleased bombs under the wings, in spite of being ordered to direct his plane towards the sea and to bail out – he ended in a ball of flame when the bombs were released and detonated in rough landing. In fact, he was the squadron's last fatality. Later when pilots learned their lesions the hard way, losses were reduced drastically.
While the Squadron started the operations with 16 Spitfires, losses and damaged ones were duly replenished, so within a year about 100 Spitfires were passed through this unit– a real mine for the modelers. At the end of the War, 13 Spitfire Mk Vcs, 5 Mk Vbs, and 3 Mk IXcs were transferred to Yugoslav Air Force.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
Photo of Spitfire Mk Vc trop., serial JK808, taken at Vis or Cane airfield (depending on a source). Note a De Havilland propeller with a long pointed spinner, individual exhausts stack common to most of Yugoslav Vcs, main wheels with solid (non-spoked) hubs, replacement rudder in desert colors, white code letter "B", underfuselage long-range ferry slipper fuel tank, and underwing faired bomb pylons. (Taken from reference 2)
At the beginning of its life in Yugoslav Aviation Museum (YAM) collection, the JK808 was not properly identified. What was known was its JRV (Yugoslav Air Force) serial 9489, which was allocated after the WW II and transfer from RAF to newly established JRV. At the end of service in January 1953, 9489 was handed over to JA (Yugoslav Army) Museum at Kalemegdan Fortress plateau in Belgrade, still painted in the standard service colors applied to planes overhauled locally – Yugoslav equivalents of Soviet AMT-11 pigeon gray over uppersurfaces and AMT-7 light blue over undersurfaces. Some of the other planes from that era had uppersurfaces painted in AMT-12 dark gray. Somewhere during its service, including in 352nd Squadron, main wheels and propeller were replaced. In this museum, the Spitfire Vc was exhibited painted in wartime colors and carried a spurious code letter.
In the mid-70s, "9489" was allocated to the newly-established YAM and transferred to Surčin airport, during which a wing spar had to be cut facilitating the passage through a fortress gate. The plane was pretty damaged, especially the blades, and a number of panels, with instrumentation missing completely. Bringing it up to the exhibition condition was a laborious task, requiring resourcefulness especially for obtaining the missing or non-repairable components, but it was somewhat eased by full cooperation given by both JAT (Yugoslav Air Transport) and JRV. During the restoration process headed by Mr. Čistogradov, the plates with serials were found, as well as the trace of a "W" code letter at the fuselage. However, British authorities were unsupportive in providing information in that time, and after necessary repairs it was decided to paint the plane in wartime colors and mark it as the JK448/W since there were photos of such plane in 352nd Squadron service. Later in early 80s doubts were cast about that markings, because JK448 was not at a list of the planes taken over from RAF in 1945, which was unearthed. In the meantime, information came from UK revealing that JK808 was in question, and final restoration was made and plane painted and marked accordingly, but not with rudder in desert colors. Since the exhibits in other museums are in colors other than original more often than not, insisting on 100% accuracy is somewhat pointless. As an example, ex-YAM Bf-109 G-10/U-4, after being traded as beyond the resources for restoration, allegedly ended in a museum painted in Eric Hartmann's colors…
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
Two photos of Spitfire Mk Vc trop., serial JK808, preserved in Yugoslav Aviation Museum at Belgrade International Airport. Note a Rotol propeller with a long pointed spinner, a round rear-view mirror, main wheels with five-spoked hubs, cannon barrel covers shape, and underwing faired bomb pylons, as well as the markings. Machine gun ports are without red fabric protective patches, there are no aerials, and there is no dorsal identification light. (Photo at right taken from reference 4)
The Kits:
The kits were a last-year birthday present to me, or sort of. For a time I was moaning around for not being able to get my hands on Airfix Spitfire Vcs, and even gathered an aftermarket resin Spitfire filters set and other parts for converting a 1/72 Revell Vb and started preparing/copying required parts. Then, in a conversation with our business partner from UK, I got an idea and asked him to purchase the kits on my behalf there. And on my birthday day, an e-mail came advising me that kits were obtained, and soon a parcel arrived with compliments from Mr. David Ledger. Unfortunately, this fine man lost his final battle with terminal illness few months later. A lot of us are going to miss him.
These kits are mixture of new sprues added to (unchanged) old ones dating from 1979 and 1974, for 1/48 and 1/72 scales kits respectively. In 1/48 scale, four new sprues molded in light gray are added to two old ones still in pale gray. The new sprues have engraved panel lines, which are deep and wide, like patterned on undernose ones on original fuselages. The new mold plastic is harder and thicker than the old one, and the sprue gates are thick sometimes entering into the parts, similar to short-run kits which this one is not. Two separate windshields are here, one for Spitfire Vc and other for Seafire IIIc, but other part is single piece, not enabling placing the canopy in the open position. Sight and underfuselage light round out the clear parts count. While mentioning old Vb parts, all are there so one could almost make a stock Vb out of a box, but appropriate canopy. Cockpit detailing has been retained unchanged. Parts are enabling making any Spitfire Vc wingtip/filter/armament combination as long as a Rotol propeller is in question. Later, browsing over net I have found out that exactly the same new parts, plus some additional, are included in Airfix 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.IX/XVI kit.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
1/48 sprues- new ones are first and old ones are last
In 1/72 scale, a new sprue in light gray is added to two old ones in pale blue-gray. New sprue parts are also with trench-like panel lines, in fact I have an impression these being of same width and depth as in 1/48 scale kit, providing a standard-span wing parts, two armament options and applicable gun bay panels. The kit has retained old Vb sprues intact, meaning that cockpit is just a seat, a pilot, and a floor. Pity, the chance to beef up the interior was missed, for adding an instrument panel and a control stick at least – there is enough place at a new sprue for that. In this case, only standard-span Spitfire(s) can be made, but standard air intake filter can be made. The clear parts are at two small sprues joined together, providing a one-piece canopy and a light each. Both canopies are having same part number and looking same to me, and this could be either for providing a spare set or due packing mistake – in any case I am not to make any objections. A product number shown at this clear sprue is not for an airplane kit, but for some other Airfix product – figure it out.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
1/72 sprues- a new sprue first and old ones after
Instructions:
Instructions are standard Airfix fare with A3 pages folded to create A4-sized documents, with 14 and 7 pages, respectively. In both cases, the instructions commence with the plane(s) general history and data in five languages, followed by a page with instruction notes in no less than 12 languages. That is followed by the assembly instructions comprising 22 and 11 steps, respectively. Assembly instructions are described by the exploded views and applicable symbols where required, giving interior painting details. This is rounded out by 5 and 2 pages, respectively, providing the camouflage and marking instructions as well as being used to determine armament options to be chosen. In a 1/48-scale kit one of the ages is dedicated for stenciling only, common to all options. All painting instructions are given in Humbrol range, with codes only, not giving even the generic names. Since 1/72 instructions look like being developed from 1/48 ones, some misleading could occur if rushing too much in advance during construction.
Colour Schemes/Decal Sheet:
The 1/48-scale kit offers four options, three Spitfire Vcs and a Seafire IIIc. First two options are for a UP-T from 79th Squadron RAAF, in RAAF green over sky and with white details, and for a 4-cannon plane DB-R from 2nd Squadron SAAF both with standard span wings and equipped with undernose Vokes filter. Third option is a plane equipped with Aboukir filter and extended wingtips from 103rd maintenance unit and armed with 2 0,5in MGs – probably intended for intercepting high-flying Ju-86 recce planes. Both these options are in desert colors. Final option is a boxart Seafire III from 687th Squadron FAA in British Pacific Fleet colors.
The 1/72-scale kit offers two options only, identical to first two options from 1/48 scale one. I would prefer more variety, but I understand that offered options could boost sales at antipodes. And there are aftermarket decal sheets in abundance around. Both kit decals provide a fair amount of stenciling, in line with recent competitor offerings, but there are no decals for the instrument panels.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
Decal sheets, 1/48 scale first and 1/72 scale second
Construction:
After purchasing this in May a 1/48 scale aftermarket decal sheet was required, I started with choosing the final appearance for each kit, and gathering the required parts from the spares, especially for the 1/72 scale kit due to it's not so well appointed cockpit. Parts availability dictated that a 1/72 kit would be made as much as possible to look like a plane from a wartime photo, while the 1/48 one would be made as a museum exhibit – my 1/48 spare box is limited and only De Havilland props available were from a new Revell Mosquito Mk.IV B kit, blades of which are too long. And looking after 1/72 model additional parts started. So, Heller Vb kit bulkhead with instrument panel and control stick were sourced, as well as faired bomb pylons from KP Spitfire IXe kit. I have used all four of my KP's slipper tanks on other Spitfires, and my build was to be without one. Initially, I intended to chop-off the propeller and spinner from my old Heller Vb, but in the meantime Carlos Giani "hit" me with Heller kit's DH propeller and spinners, making things easier. However the main wheels were scavenged from my old 1/72 Matchbox IXc model, which in turn got the look-alike bastard ones created by mating the wheel halves from Airfix Spitfire I and Fiat G-50 kits. Another option would be using putty on the kit wheels, and I was not ready to use it yet. The bombs in 1/72 scale were sourced from a Revell Hurricane IIc kit, and I thinned their fin cylinder stabilizer fairing trailing edge interiors as much as possible, followed by cutting the locating pins off and filling the cavity – Revell always finds a way to blow things in such small and annoying details. Individual exhausts stacks came from a Heller XVIe. Naturally, Heller control stick rectangular handgrip needed reshaping into a spade one, and I sanded off raised detail at Heller instrument panel, since I was to use instrument panel decals originating from Revell kit, and laser-printed at a transparent sheet both in 1/48 and 1/72 scales. Time for prepainting…
For that, I studied instructions for both kits and determined which available Revell paints I should use for replacing Humbrol ones indicated where applicable. Revell R99 aluminum was used for the landing gear legs, all wheel hubs, and propeller blade pitch mechanisms. R91 steel was used for the rudder pedals, rudder control rods including a stretched sprue made ones, pilot armor, oleos, radiator faces and rears, and for pitot probes. While doing that and paint still wet, I added a fine mesh sourced from my used blood glucose measuring strip to 1/48 scale radiator front and painted it, just to detail the things a little. All the fuselage interiors, radiator fairing interiors, filter intakes, cockpit components, main wheel wells and cover interiors, as well as the all wing interior surfaces to be visible later, were painted in R360 satin green for interior green. Propeller blade tips were painted in R15 mat yellow, including the parts I was not to use in the construction. R9 anthracite came in for all tires, propeller blades, pilot seats, instrument panels, control stick spade grips, and sights. All exhausts were painted in my mixture of R84 leather brown and R91. Pilot seat cushions and headrests were painted in R84. Several days later, looking at a museum photo, I realized that restorers painted the main wheel cover interiors (and probably the wheel wells) and hubs in a Soviet/US Navy manner, i.e. in the same color as the aircraft undersurfaces. So I drafted Humbrol H64 light gray for sea gray medium and overpainted all applicable surfaces in 1/48 scale model – Revell specified paint looked too dark, more like ocean gray. Backsides of instrument panel "decals" were painted in aluminum bronze. I have printed RAF harnesses in 1/48-scale at self-adhesive paper, so I attach them to the seat in a manner shown by a Mk.IXc cutaway drawing.
I painted both pilots, although the 1/48 one was not to be used. While stationed in Italy and at Vis island, Yugoslav pilots wore standard RAF uniforms – RAF blue – so I used available H25 blue for that, with faces painted in R35 flesh, helmets in R84, boots and gloves in R9, and Mae Wests in R15. Goggles were picked using permanent black soft tip pen. While there, I used various permanent soft tip pens to accentuate 1/48 kit cockpit interior details, as well as to hand draw some of them to bare 1/72 surfaces – not to be too visible with pilot in and canopy closed but it made me feel better.
I mostly used Revell Contacta glue from tube, only occasionally using Contacta liquid Professional with needle applicator where required. Construction actually started with assembling the Vokes filters, 1/72 kit instructions state that the undernose panels need to be removed for attaching it and I hoped to avoid that. No way, the new-mold filter in 1/72 is thick and removal was necessary; why the Airfix designers have not followed the Heller ones and making it thin to fit over the undernose panel – beats me. Consequently, I used a strong blade and cut carefully along deep panel lines at both fuselage parts until sections separated, followed by careful sanding after I dry-joined fuselage parts together, secured by rubber bands, and made test fits using new-mold single-piece lower wing also. While talking about the lower wing, there are engraved cutting lines at a front side interior, and while assembly instructions do not say anything about removing that section, next construction step is showing that part with section removed, like already molded in 1/48 scale kit. DO NOT REMOVE anything there! The 1/72 Vokes filter rear curve was designed to go directly over intact surface, removing it would create a big gap.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
I used this opportunity to test fit cockpit parts, and found out that "floor" trimming was required in 1/72 kit – duly done. In the meantime I glued instrument "decals" to respective instrument panels. Cockpit interior parts were assembled together as indicated, placed into the respective fuselages, and glued to the starboard ones, mostly using liquid glue. While fuselages being kept together by rubber bands and clothespins, I test fitted propeller subassemblies. In 1/72 scale Heller DH blades fitted nicely in Airfix propeller hub, shaft requiring slight widening of the hub, retainer and fuselage holes. I also test fitted Heller pointed spinner since Airfix one was slightly damaged/wrinkled in molding, and trimmed it slightly. In 1/48 scale individual Rotol propeller blades were placed in their hub seats and secured with liquid glue, only slight scraping of the molding seams was required there. Time came for gluing fuselage parts together, duly done and secured by the rubber bands, and cockpits secured to port parts with liquid glue. Fit was nice. I also placed 1/72 propeller with hub in nose, as instructed, during that step, but omitted it in 1/48 noting that it would be relatively easy to assemble the propeller shaft into the hub later in build due to the big undernose gap for placing the Vokes filter. To speed up work, I assembled together appropriate halves of the underwing oil coolers for both builds. In the end, I added rudder control rods from pedals made of steel-painted stretched sprue in 1/72 cockpit and under a floor, it would not be visible at all but since I added some other parts it should be done too. I test fitted a pilot and finding out that I should glue 1/72 control stick in its place after gluing pilot in his position. Cleaning and sanding the join seams followed carefully exercising care not to damage raised panels, with rescribing the obliterated engraved detail where necessary. The hole for the fuel tank filler cap was too deep for my liking in the 1/48 scale model so I made a covering disc from scrap styrene sheet and glued over it. Not entirely correct, but it looks better to me. And I scribed same cover at 1/72 scale model at the same position.
Sensing that the new wings could create the problems, I dry fitted them and in both cases the upper wing halves stuck nicely to the lower ones. While removing them from the thick sprues I damaged one 1/48 scale part with the sptue cutters - I should constantly remember that the new sprues were of harder plastic and with large sprue gates. However, dry fitting to the fuselages revealed that gaps would occur between the wing root fairings. I glued together respective wing parts and left them to dry clamping them with clothespins. If one would position flaps in closed position at 1/48 scale model, than the structural ribs at both flap seats and the flaps should be sanded off, but I opted to have my flaps deployed like at the exhibit. To mitigate the gaps in 1/72 scale I later added the tin strip of scrap styrene to upper halves, and let everything to dry overnight. Since JK808 had narrow cannon bulges I assembled appropriate panels to the wings.
In 1/72 scale I used just a little of liquid glue to secure them and in 1/48 scale fit was so tight that I left them in positions unglued fearing I could damage them if trying to force them out. A strip of thin styrene was added to the rear part of the wing root fairings bottom, since test fitting revealed that the new part was not thick enough in that area. Attaching the wingtips in 1/48 scale revealed some problems, since the port one appeared to be thinner than the surrounding area – some of that could be due me not gluing aileron completely correctly, but it was also noticeable towards the leading edge. Also, the underfuselage landing light was glued in its position from inside 1/48 scale lower wing, followed by painting its back in aluminum bronze, and I also painted in same color a landing light casing in the 1/72 scale kit. Time came to glue wings to the fuselages, and in 1/72 it was with no trouble, but in 1/48 scale I needed to clamp tightly the lower wing trailing edges at wing root area to correspondent fuselage parts. I also added thin stretched sprue into the wing root fairing gaps at this model, reducing the filler quantity and thickness required later. Undernose Vokes filter subassembly was glued to 1/72 scale model and all left overnight to dry. OK, in the meantime I brush painted rear fuselage sky bands using R59 sky blue, I was to mask them and I felt better to have fully cured paint by then.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
All the scrap styrene strips protruding above the surfaces were trimmed, and then I looked after the areas to be filled. I noted gaps not only at the wing roots, but also at the Vokes filter mating surfaces, so I took out my Revell putty and filled the gaps, including the underside of the port wingtip join. I already noticed that I was to lose rivet details in this process, but that was a price to be paid. This process was made in sequences, each followed by smoothing the filler using a cotton bud stick soaked with nitro-thinner. Everything was left overnight, again, to be cured properly. Sanding followed, using wet&dry fine sandpaper until I was more or less happy. Tailplanes were positioned and glued easily, and then the time came for placing the wheels to the respective landing gear legs. I had to make the axle holes in the Matchbox wheels wider, easily done by hand with a dentist drill, and in 1/48 scale slight sanding of the wheel brakes molded together with legs was required. In 1/48 scale I glued the flaps in slightly down position using the flat toothpicks for getting even drop. Note that the flap parts are not numbered correctly in the instructions, in fact these were swapped and it was easily determined by test fitting. Brush painting of the yellow wing leading edge identification stripes followed, using R15, taking in account that ones at the YAM exhibit have been applied slightly shorter than it would be standard. Deciding that the wartime plane should be equipped with IFF aerials, I made two holes at the fuselage sides, just behind radio compartment, at 1/72 scale model using a hot needle. And I removed aerial post at top of the rudder at 1/72 scale model, this being absent at Yugoslav planes.
The main landing gear legs went on with no fuss in their respective slots, and I attached the tailwheel to the 1/72 scale kit. In 1/48 scale it was made previously while mating the uselage halves together. Oil coolers followed, with cooling radiators subsequently. In 1/48 scale I opted to use a deeper radiator bath, looking more accurate when studying photos from the references and quite logical for planes used in the Middle East. Faired bomb pylons and bracings were commandeered from Hasegawa 1/48 Spitfire IXc kit and glued in their positions. Propeller subassembly in 1/48 scale followed, and at the end both spinners were glued in positions. Rear fuselage bands were masked with Scotch "Magic tape", with 6 mm and 9 mm width, respectively, based at dimensions provided by Italeri 1/72 Spitfire IXc decal sheet. Later I found out that Lift Here instructions recommend 6.3 mm and 9.5 mm widths – that much about my research before work. Pitot probes followed, and then I glued antenna masts. In 1/48 scale, I glued the cockpit canopy, in the closed position naturally, using the recommended windshield. The other one is for Spitfire IX, presumably. I made a mistake not attaching the 1/72 scale canopy then, since some painting was required under it in ocean gray, because it would be easier to correct the poor fit in that stage. At 1/72 scale model I added a horizontal bar made of stretched sprue behind the headrest, patterned after one in 1/48 scale and painted it in green. For round rear view mirrors, I used a Hasegawa 1/48 part and an Italeri 1/72 part. At the end I attached inner cannon barrels, and outer covers, cutting of the tips of barrels previously since having the shape at the muzzle not seen at the Yugoslav Spitfires, and very rarely at other photos. Now, time was for painting.Painting & Decaling:
Since both models were to represent the same plane in various stages of its life, I used dedicated Lift Here decal sheet instructions for the painting and marking guide. I used R59 for spinners and H64 for sea gray medium undersurfaces. The next day, when dried and using a pencil I drew the camouflage pattern on the uppersurfaces, and then realized that some panel lines are missing, on both kits. Comparison with kits's own instructions yielded the same conclusion, so I quickly scribed some at the uppersurfaces taking care not to make any damage. Transparent soft tip pens were used for making red and green wingtip identification lights. I used Revell-specified R68 dark green for RAF dark green first, bombs in 1/72 scale included. Several days later the time came for applying the ocean gray. Humbrol charts indicate two Revell paints are equivalent in R47 and R57, and after testing them on a piece of sprue I opted for R47 mouse gray. Canopy frames were painted while doing that, using the pointed brush. In this stage, the dorsal light was sanded on the 1/48 scale model. When the paint dried, I removed the masking, touched up where required slightly widening a band at 1/48 model, and painting a dorsal identification light at 1/72 model in H64. Wartime photos show the rudder in desert colors, and I used R82 dark earth and household gloss ochre enamel to that effect at 1/72 scale model. The alkyd clear gloss was applied over all surfaces for decaling purposes.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
Final Touches:
In 1/72 scale I attached the canopy first, noting the poor fit – if windshield fit was proper the rear canopy was elevated, and vice versa. I opted to have proper front fit, and gap at the rear was filled with white glue and touched up by paint later. Then, all surfaces at both models were covered in R02 clear mat for sealing the decals, and later for placing IFF and radio aerials. In 1/48 scale, I attached the prepainted exhausts for Seafire III, followed with reattaching the Pitot probe and one landing gear cover that I managed to knock off during painting process. In 1/72 scale, I positioned aerials, exhausts, and bombs (using a white glue), placing the underfuselage landing light at the end. Done!
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
Conclusions:
There is a saying: "Be careful with your wishes!", and that happened. While providing kits upgraded to the Mk Vc variant, long neglected by the manufacturers, it appears that Airfix failed to do that up to recent standards especially fitting wise. That is hardly understandable, I had two of their 1/72 Spitfire Mk Ia made and these are exhibiting no such fit flaws, and these were from the late 70s. How that happened with modern design and tooling capabilities it is a mystery to me. I simply did not dare to test fit original Spitfire Mk Vb wings, fearing to find bigger disappointment if their fit was better. Paint covered petite raised fuselage panel lines, so one could maybe think about rescribing them before assembling any of these kits. OK, cockpit interiors are treats of 70s, but it is not of much significance to me, as I am not building my kits with opened cockpits.
While I do not have 1/72 or 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk Vc drawings, comparison to drawings published in various sources and to the kits's own painting and decaling instructions has shown that some of the wing panel lines and covers are missing – a pity. One should check references and scribe them beforehand. Also comparing to Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk Ia, it appears to me that the wings lost some of the Spitfire's typical shape at the wing roots, but this is debatable.
Obviously these kits, especially the one in 1/72 scale due to cutting being required, cannot be recommended to beginners. I am not a perfectionist or rivet counter, but to me it seems that Airfix has not achieved anticipated results putting some new wine into the old bottles. In 1/48 scale, there are new Classic Airframes and Special Hobby offerings now, but being of short run nature and pretty higher priced these are also asking for more experience. So it is up to ones preferences, kit availability, and at the end – a wallet.
Review courtesy of late Mr. David Ledger and his generosity.
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
References:
© Hrvoje Safhauzer 2009
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