New kit news – Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I
This article is part of a series:
Here are a few "factory photos" of a brand-new 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk. I kit by Tamiya. This kit is set for release in December, and we hope to see more of it in Telford during the weekend. For now, we'll let the pictures do all the talking..
[All images by Tamiya]
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- 1. Revised nose shape compared with the 1995 Tamiya kit
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- 1. Pre-war unarmored windscreen
- 2. Two styles of mirror are provided for the armored windscreen
- 3. Early style antenna mast
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- 1. Different turtleback insert for hood in open position
- 2. Cockpit door open
- 3. Closed canopy and matching fuelage insert
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- 1. Pilot figure is included...
- 2. ...along with a full set of photoetched harness
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- 1. Full cockpit interior
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- 1. Three styles of windscreen
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- 1. Early ring & bead gunsight
- 2. Reflector gunsight
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- 1. Early style of pitot tube
- 2. Main production style of pitot tube
- 3. Gun heating vent can be left out for early model Spitfires
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- 1. Photoetched parts for the water cooler grille
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- 1. Clever solution to a landing gear adjustment problem
- 2. This panel insert hides the landing gear assembly AND will provide a neatly faired-in carburettor intake
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- 1. One-piece horizontal tail, Again, this caters for trouble.free alignment
- 2. Separate rudder
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- 1. Photoetched parts
- 2. Early and late type harness is provided
- 3. Solid wheel covers retrofitted to some late-production Mk, Is
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- 1. Three versions of squadron markings
- 2. Pre-cut canopy masks
- 3. Full set of stencils
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- 1. 610 Squadron (BoB markings)
- 2. 65 Sqn (pre-war markings)
- 3. 19 Squadron (Dunkirk)
This one looks fantastic ! Personally I'm going to try and get my hands on a few of these.
When I saw that Tamiya was releasing a brand new Spitfire and it was a Mk 1, I was really excited.
That's why I posted a review for a set of Eagle Cal decals in case our veiwers wanted to build up one with aftermarket decals.
This one looks to be a real beauty.
I especially like how they made the landing gear as a one piece unit. This will ensure the plane has the proper stance and that the "legs" are correct. That's almost always been a trouble spot for Spitfire kits.
Another thing I like is how they have provided features such as the open canopy, different styles of pitot tubes, gun sights, landing gear controls inside the cockpit, and wind screens.
This will allow us to build up some early Spitfires.
Now only if they added a two bladed Watts propeller ... 😉
I also can see a new market emerging for decals on this one.
Thanks for posting this for us !
If I'm lucky enough to grab one I'll write a very detailed review similar to the Tamiya Bf-109 that I did a little while ago.
Thanks again Martin, and I'll be watching for your photos from the Telford show.
Thanks, Louis. With all the options available in this kit I'm also slightly disappointed that they did included everything for an early model Spitfre but the two-blade propeller.
As it is, it's an obvious proposition for the aftermarket industry
This has all the hallmarks of an absolute classic of a kit. The details are superb and considering the saturated market for Spitfires I think it’s going literally fly off the shelves.
I agree 100 percent David. This one will probably be gone from the LHS shortly after they're put on the shelves.
If they did a wheels up option I would say its the best Spit ever. So many kit makers still think the only way people might want to display planes is on the ground.
Good point there.
For anyone thinking of doing the model OOB and doing the 610 Squadron markings, Tamiya got those right in their first Mark I - i.e., the small upper wing roundels and the fin flash in reverse order. I don't know how they managed to do the same plane wrong here.
Havn't noticed it myself, but it's surely worth checking! Thanks
Wow! you even get a masking set for the canopy ,I hope father Christmas brings me one, I have been a good boy, honest!
N.
This is making my "no more kits until my stash is under 100" really hard
Wish it was in 1/32 scale.
If so I can buy 6 kits at least.
wow, this will be an awesome model to build especially being modern Tamiya, it will just fall together with great details, and respectable parts counts. I love the look for the PE provided with this kit, especially the design of the seat belts (they r assembled already, no buckles to add). I wonder how this will compete with the other modern molds of the Spitfire in 1/48 like the excellent Eduard line?