Supermarine Spitfire Mk I
|
-822-p.jpg?v=7b0ce7d1-41f6-48a7-8641-66648361c982)
-822-p.jpg?v=7b0ce7d1-41f6-48a7-8641-66648361c982)
-822-p.jpg?v=7b0ce7d1-41f6-48a7-8641-66648361c982)
-822-p.jpg?v=7b0ce7d1-41f6-48a7-8641-66648361c982)
Kit Review
Airfix did a newly tooled Mk I in this scale back in 2007, just after Hornby took control, so it was very much an ‘old’ product of the previous management, this one however is all new. In their usual style box you will find five light grey-coloured sprues and a single clear one, all packed together but with the clear sprue also bagged itself within the bigger bag. Surface detail is all via very finely engraved panel lines, with no sign of rivets. The nose cowls all feature raised detail for the catches and I suspect a few will find these too heavy for their liking, they can easily be removed and the detail re-done with a fine drill bit though. The interior is made up as a sub-assembly with the sidewall panels that have separate oxygen bottles, trim wheel and throttle box on the port side and either the early or late style of undercarriage control box on the starboard. The seat is multi-part, with the backrest cushion moulded in situ and again you have the option of the armour plate behind it for the later options, or not for the early option. The same goes for the bulkhead on which the seat attaches, as the upper armour plate is separate. The rudder pedal linkage, separate rudder pedals and a control column with the upper section separate are also included, although you don’t install the rudder pedals if you fit the seated pilot figure. The front bulkhead has the instrument panel separate and it features raised dial faces etc., plus you also get a deal to lay over the top. The P-series compass is separate along with the bracket that holds it, although you don’t get a decal for its face. The whole unit fits into the fuselage, which has the option to cut out the access door and also has the cowling forward of the cockpit as a separate part, so that once again the early or late styles can be depicted.
The wings come with the option of cutting out the gun and ammunition access panels, because all this interior detail is included should you want to show it off. Spars are included in the wings, with the upper articulated joint of each oleo leg so that you don’t have to install the whole undercarriage unit at this early stage of assembly. The guns are moulded as the main breech and a stub of the barrel, as these disappear into the spar and you get each of the ammunition boxes. All the control surfaces are separate, including the rudder. The chin cowling is a separate part and the carburettor intake is in two pieces. The radiator unit has separate matric panels inside and the rear flap is separate, while the oil cooler is a single piece. The tailwheel is separate, but the wheel itself is moulded in situ. As usual you get the option of wheels up or down, each main wheel is split in two and the hub is keyed to the axle, but the tyres are not ‘weighted’. The sprues contain two styles of exhaust stacks, standard or ‘fishtail’, but only the former are used this time. The propeller is offered either as a three-blade unit for the later version or a Watts two-blade unit for the early machine. As you have the option of early of late this does mean you have two completely different set of canopy parts, the with the former having the flat-sided sliding element and no external armoured glass on the windscreen, while the latter has the bulged sliding section and the external armoured glass. As is their way nowadays, Airfix also give you each set in either the open or closed postion, as the former has to fit over the dorsal spine, whilst the latter needs to be snug on the frames. Having cut open all the gun bays you will be pleased to hear that replacement doors for both the upper and lower wing surfaces are included. The final stage is the fitment of the clear formation light atop the dorsal spine, and the choice of the basic ‘pole’ or aerofoil-shaped aerial mast.
The kit offers three decal options as follows; X4382, LO•G, flown by P/O O.V. Hanbury, No.602 Sqn, RAF Westhampnett, August 1940; AR212, LV•N, No.57 OTU, RAF Hawarden, mid-1941; WZ•H, No.19(F) Squadron, RAF Duxford, August 1938. Options 1 and 2 are the late machines with the three-blade propeller etc., and both are in the standard Dark Green/Dark Earth over Sky scheme, but option 2 has the entire nose section painted pale yellow. The third option is the early machine with the Watts propeller and it is in the Dark Green/Dark Earth over 50/50 black/white scheme with the undersides of the ailerons and elevators in aluminium dope. The accompanying decal sheet is well printed with a complete set of stencils, the overlay for the instrument panel and even the doped red patches for the gun ports. All images have good register, but are matt and the carrier film will be visible on things like the serial numbers and codes.
Conclusion
Overall this kit looks to be a vast improvement even on the 2007 kit, so we are sure it will sell and sell. The extra detail included has to be applauded and the finesse of detail is excellent and well illustrated by the excellent pilot figure.
Buy it and build it, we don’t think you will be disappointed.
Airfix did a newly tooled Mk I in this scale back in 2007, just after Hornby took control, so it was very much an ‘old’ product of the previous management, this one however is all new. In their usual style box you will find five light grey-coloured sprues and a single clear one, all packed together but with the clear sprue also bagged itself within the bigger bag. Surface detail is all via very finely engraved panel lines, with no sign of rivets. The nose cowls all feature raised detail for the catches and I suspect a few will find these too heavy for their liking, they can easily be removed and the detail re-done with a fine drill bit though. The interior is made up as a sub-assembly with the sidewall panels that have separate oxygen bottles, trim wheel and throttle box on the port side and either the early or late style of undercarriage control box on the starboard. The seat is multi-part, with the backrest cushion moulded in situ and again you have the option of the armour plate behind it for the later options, or not for the early option. The same goes for the bulkhead on which the seat attaches, as the upper armour plate is separate. The rudder pedal linkage, separate rudder pedals and a control column with the upper section separate are also included, although you don’t install the rudder pedals if you fit the seated pilot figure. The front bulkhead has the instrument panel separate and it features raised dial faces etc., plus you also get a deal to lay over the top. The P-series compass is separate along with the bracket that holds it, although you don’t get a decal for its face. The whole unit fits into the fuselage, which has the option to cut out the access door and also has the cowling forward of the cockpit as a separate part, so that once again the early or late styles can be depicted.
The wings come with the option of cutting out the gun and ammunition access panels, because all this interior detail is included should you want to show it off. Spars are included in the wings, with the upper articulated joint of each oleo leg so that you don’t have to install the whole undercarriage unit at this early stage of assembly. The guns are moulded as the main breech and a stub of the barrel, as these disappear into the spar and you get each of the ammunition boxes. All the control surfaces are separate, including the rudder. The chin cowling is a separate part and the carburettor intake is in two pieces. The radiator unit has separate matric panels inside and the rear flap is separate, while the oil cooler is a single piece. The tailwheel is separate, but the wheel itself is moulded in situ. As usual you get the option of wheels up or down, each main wheel is split in two and the hub is keyed to the axle, but the tyres are not ‘weighted’. The sprues contain two styles of exhaust stacks, standard or ‘fishtail’, but only the former are used this time. The propeller is offered either as a three-blade unit for the later version or a Watts two-blade unit for the early machine. As you have the option of early of late this does mean you have two completely different set of canopy parts, the with the former having the flat-sided sliding element and no external armoured glass on the windscreen, while the latter has the bulged sliding section and the external armoured glass. As is their way nowadays, Airfix also give you each set in either the open or closed postion, as the former has to fit over the dorsal spine, whilst the latter needs to be snug on the frames. Having cut open all the gun bays you will be pleased to hear that replacement doors for both the upper and lower wing surfaces are included. The final stage is the fitment of the clear formation light atop the dorsal spine, and the choice of the basic ‘pole’ or aerofoil-shaped aerial mast.
The kit offers three decal options as follows; X4382, LO•G, flown by P/O O.V. Hanbury, No.602 Sqn, RAF Westhampnett, August 1940; AR212, LV•N, No.57 OTU, RAF Hawarden, mid-1941; WZ•H, No.19(F) Squadron, RAF Duxford, August 1938. Options 1 and 2 are the late machines with the three-blade propeller etc., and both are in the standard Dark Green/Dark Earth over Sky scheme, but option 2 has the entire nose section painted pale yellow. The third option is the early machine with the Watts propeller and it is in the Dark Green/Dark Earth over 50/50 black/white scheme with the undersides of the ailerons and elevators in aluminium dope. The accompanying decal sheet is well printed with a complete set of stencils, the overlay for the instrument panel and even the doped red patches for the gun ports. All images have good register, but are matt and the carrier film will be visible on things like the serial numbers and codes.
Conclusion
Overall this kit looks to be a vast improvement even on the 2007 kit, so we are sure it will sell and sell. The extra detail included has to be applauded and the finesse of detail is excellent and well illustrated by the excellent pilot figure.
Buy it and build it, we don’t think you will be disappointed.
