1/48 Airfix Spitfires
I took these pics to share with a friend who is a Spitfire and Airfix neophyte. I thought I'd post them for you guys too. The fuselage decals on the City of Edinburgh Mk. 22 are oversized, but didn't know it until a year after it was done.
I can't wait for the new Mk.Vb to get to the US. Got to have a yearly Spitfire fix!
I thought the Neophytes were in Doctor Who LOL;),gorgeous little Spitfire collection ,I especialy like the Mk1,thanks for sharing these John.
N.
Thanks Neil1 It's the only kit that comes with parts for an early Mk. 1.
Airfix & Spitfires! can't go wrong there 🙂
You are correct Gregor!
Some lovely planes there John.
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Simon!
Nice collection. If you're doing a lot of Spits in 1/48, it is worth investing in the Falcon "Spitfire Special" vacuform canopy set, which includes several sets of each. Spitfire canopies are much easier to open up with vacuform canopies, not to mention the Falcon vacuform canopies are the proper shape (the one thing Airfix got irremediably wrong on the 22/24, and ICM got wrong on the XVI).
Thanks Tom! You're right about the canopies. The two Mk. 22s have Squadron sliding sections and kit windscreens.
Nickel ok king Spits John. Well done
Thanks Rick!
hi john,
great metallic finish- makes me want to start mine if not for the fact
I have too many "ongoing" kits. can you tell me if the kit decals are okay for size? I assume you used aftermarket ones?
Dan.
Thanks Dan. The decals are from an Aeromaster or Eagle Strike sheet for late model Spits. I don't remember if the kit decals were oversized, but they were horrible. Thick, waxy, out of register, and ivory whites. FYI, the Mk.22/24 has never been re-released as a stand alone kit. Eduard issued it as a special addition with some extra upgrades as a limited run a few years back. Interestingly, the current Airfix red box issue of the 1/48 Seafire 46/47 contains all of the parts to make an RAF Mk.22/24 should you be so inclined. It only has decals for the Seafires though. The other Mk.22 I posted, the light blue Rhodesian bird, was finished with decals from the same sheet as the silver Mk.22 However, the Rhodesian markings are accurate.
Excellent set of Spitfires John.
Thanks Al!
Hi John a great collection of Spits, i ve got the Mk.22 in the same markings
using Aeromaster decals as well. Love the Seafire, very colourful : - )
Bernd
Thanks Bernd! The Seafire is a treat to build. I can't wait for them to get to the wartime Seafire IIIs.
Great collection. I never net a Spitfire I didn't like. 🙂
Thanks Paul, me either!
Nice John, I liked Paul's comment, to true! I think one must be able to model the entire Spitfire model line up in 1/48 these days. When I saw the light blue Mk22 I wondered looking at those colours, if that was early Rhodesian markings, very interesting. The Rhodesians had to retire their Mk22s because apparently the wooden prop blades shrunk in the African heat and the normally tight fit in the prop hubs went out of tolerance. By then the Vampires were coming into service and basically the propellor age was over.
Thanks James! The Rhodesian a/c is one you don't see everyday. I'd love to do a 1/48 Rhodesian Hunter or Vampire.
Great looking collection John. You'll be wanting an Airfix new tool Mk Vb no doubt? Maybe an Eduard Mk IX as well? I think you could pretty well do every version now with a little bit of ingenuity.
Thanks Tony! I will be getting a couple of the new Vb kits. I think it's great they chose McNair's Malta a/c as one of the options. I already built the Eduard IXc, great kit. I posted it here, take a look. I did it in USAAF markings from the Italian theater.
Nice Spits. FWIW the 603 fuselage decals are not only oversize but the wrong colour, the checks should be pale blue and pale red.
I should have also added that PK570 probably had a nmf nose with the rest of the fuselage painted aluminium. See here: http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1035920/
HTH
Andy
Thanks Andy! It's such a sharp plane I may do it again armed with your info.
Beautiful pictures, John.
Thanks George! They're a colorful bunch.
John,
These are gorgeous. You do Spitfires proud.
Thanks Frank. They are my favorite WW2 fighters.