'The Spitfire Story: Per Aspera ad Astra'

Being a 'Dual Combo' edition, this kit contains two complete models, so inside the box you will find two clear and eleven dark grey-coloured sprues, plus two sets of die-cut, self-adhesive paint masks and two frets of pre-painted photo-etched. The kit only offers the MK Vb, but you do have the option of standard or clipped wings. The interior is mainly plastic, but etched is used for things like the seat belts and instrument panel, although you get a plastic alternative for the latter as well. The 'B' wing halves have the cannon bulges moulded in situ and the control surfaces are all separate. The carburettor, oil cooler and radiator all use etched detail parts and the clear sprues contain a mass of options for both the main canopy and windscreen, dependant on the particular option you are building plus there are a lot of unused parts that can go in the spares box. The sprues still contain four types of propeller and spinner combination, although the two-blade Watts option is not used for the Mk V, so again, this can head into the spares box. The kit has the option of a closed or open canopy and/or access door and die-cut, self-adhesive masks are included for all elements of the canopies, gunsight lens, downwards identification light and tailwheel hub, but not the main wheel hubs.

Markings
The kit offers the following decal options: 
• AB509, J•MC, flown by Wg Cdr John M. Checketts, No.142 Wing, RAF Horne, Surrey, June 1944
• AR511, DU•U flown by Sqn Ldr Tomáš Vybíral, No.312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF Churchstanton, Somerset, November 1942 - June 1943
• AB174, RF•Q, flown by P/O Antoni Glowacki, No.303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, August 1942
• VF-R, flown by Lt. John Anderson, 5th FS, 52nd FG, 12th AF, USAAF, La Sabala, Tunisia, February 1944
• WD•A, flown by F/O James H. Montgomery, 4th FS, 52nd FG, 12th AF, USAAF, Corsica, August 1943
• JK448, •W, No.352 (Yugoslav) Squadron, Vis, Yugoslavia, September 1944
• JK891, •M, No.335 (Greek) Squadron, Hassani, Greece, February 1945
• BR349, C•3, flown by P/O John L. Boyd, No.185 Squadron, Takali, Malta, May 1942
• BR294, GL•E, flown by P/O Donald G. Reid, No.185 Squadron, Hal Far, Malta, May-June 1942
• MA654, KW•R, flown by Flt Lt Kevin F. Gannon, No.615 Squadron, Palel, India, July 1944
• BS295 (A58-20), CR•C, flown by Wg Cdr Clive R. Caldwell, No.1 Wing RAAF, Strauss Airstrip, Australia, March-June 1943
• A58-145 (EE852), UP•V, flown by Flt Lt Llewellyn Wettenhall, No.79 Squadron RAAF, Kiriwina, Trobriand Islands, December 1943
The decal sheets are all beautifully printed and includes all the unique markings and national insignia, with two additional smaller sheets offering a complete sets of airframe stencils for each model.
 
Conclusion
This is a stunning kit, which offers some excellent decal schemes and being a limited edition, it should be one that sells rather well and quickly! It is therefore highly recommended to all RAF and/or Spitfire fans.

Our thanks to Eduard (www.eduard.com) for the review sample, UK modellers can obtain this kit from Hannants here.