Airfix Spitfires

[HawkerTempest5]

Airfix Spitfires are quite popular around here at the moment, and a good thing that is too! There are many better and more modern kits about today but there is something special about the old Airfix kits.
Over the years I

[EJW]

Wow. They're far better than my Spits!

[Hagar]

Very nice Roger. You certainly know your Spits.

Spitfire F.22. And finally the only Airfix Spitfire I have built from the box with no add-ons or alterations.

Our Squadron had its own F.22 for a while when I was in the ATC. It was actually owned by the Brighton branch of RAFA but it was stored out in the open at our HQ. It was pretty dilapidated & the engine was missing. We were allowed to look but not touch. It's now been restored for static display in Oz. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Supermarine-356-Spitfire/1275996/L/

[61_OTU]

Beautiful Roger, I wish I had the patience.

Are there any larger scale kits around?

Steve

[expat]

Beautiful Roger, I wish I had the patience.

Are there any larger scale kits around?

Steve

There are several 1:24 scale kits of the Spitfire available. However steer clear of the Airfix version. It is rubbish. The mouldings are bad and the fit is even worse. If you want a large scale Spit, got for the 1:24 scale by Trumpeter.

Matt

[HawkerTempest5]

Beautiful Roger, I wish I had the patience.

Are there any larger scale kits around?

Steve

There are several 1:24 scale kits of the Spitfire available. However steer clear of the Airfix version. It is rubbish. The mouldings are bad and the fit is even worse. If you want a large scale Spit, got for the 1:24 scale by Trumpeter.

Matt

There are also a few 1/32 scale kits about. Revell have re-issued the old Matchbox 22/24 kit but this is very "chunky" and over complicated. Makes a nice model though. Also from Revell is the old (very old) Seafire kit. It has a few nice touches, like moving control surfaces, but it is showing its age. It is based on a MkVb and there is also a MkIIa version but I'm not sure if this is currently in production. Hasegawa produce a MkVb and a MkIIb in 1/32. Pacific Coast models do a couple of MkIX kits. These are limited run mixed media (injection moulded plastic, resin and etched parts) and need some work and some skill to build. Look awesome when built though.
Of the big 1/24 scale kits, Trumpeter kits are more modern and are easier to build but have some accuracy issues. The old Airfix kits are based on a mould dating back to the 1970s and are really showing their age now. The Vb also has a bodged wing modification that just does not work.
I find 1/48 to be the best scale for Warbirds. Not too big and plenty of detail.

Our Squadron had its own F.22 for a while when I was in the ATC. It was actually owned by the Brighton branch of RAFA but it was stored out in the open at our HQ. It was pretty dilapidated & the engine was missing. We were allowed to look but not touch. It's now been restored for static display in Oz. http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Supermarine-356-Spitfire/1275996/L/

It always surprises me that there are so few late model (post PR XIX) Spitfires in preservation today. Other than the US based Seafire 47 I don't think there is another late model flying today. TFC have a 22 but I doubt that will ever see the light of day.

[ozzy72]

This is because Merlin engines are much better than Griffons Roger, so people want those sort of "proper" Spitfires

[HawkerTempest5]

This is because Merlin engines are much better than Griffons Roger, so people want those sort of "proper" Spitfires

Yes Mark, that must be why.

[ozzy72]

We're never going to settle this argument are we?

[C]

It always surprises me that there are so few late model (post PR XIX) Spitfires in preservation today. Other than the US based Seafire 47 I don't think there is another late model flying today. TFC have a 22 but I doubt that will ever see the light of day.

I suspect it's down to timing. We're lucky with the XIXs in that they were used by THUM, and then went straight to the fledgling RAF Historic Flt, before being sent to various gates. The reason the Merlins have survived? Maintenance school airframes, which never needed replacing by later Spits; gate guardians and ATC airframes - Merlin Spits were more readily available, often having been maintenance school airframes, and to an extent were more easily dressed up as BoB/operational airframes for display purposes, and leading on from that, the BoB movie in 1968/9.

[Capt.Propwash]

Beautiful Roger, I wish I had the patience.

Are there any larger scale kits around?

Steve

depends on how much you have in your wallet.... largest one that i found on the net.......... http://gizmodo.com/278044/build-your-ow ... 263000-kit

[masmith]

Brilliant 

Ill get some of my progess up soon 

I still hope we can get an Aero-modelling board 

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

That looks better then any thing I have painted.

[tcco94]

Looks great to me.