paddy
Well-known member
Here we go again and a massive departure for me from recent builds. This is often described as the greatest kit ever produced but I suspect most would beg to differ. Nearly 400 parts on 22 trees +clear and 2 PE sheets make for a pretty comprehensive model definitely not aimed at the beginner. That said the Airfix 1/24 spit has 430 parts but its obviously a lot bigger and both kits contain duplicated parts for different variants, My guess is Tamiya decided to just push the boat out and build the ultimate spitfire model to say to the opposition, put up or shut up once and for all….and 20 years on I haven’t seen any opposition. Maybe the Kotare but its not really aimed at the same market.
Considering you can pick this up for £68.00 on eBay now with free postage from Japan I would class this in the real bargain bucket area ($90)
Of course, the after -market guys have jumped on the bandwagon with seat belts, instrument panels and PE and resin upgrades but I have been down their road before and its mostly rubbish
and I will do the best I can with what’s in the box. My plan is to build the Desert version which in this case is more or less a std MkIX with supplied decals to suit.As for finish I am still undecided (you didn’t expect me to be fully prepared with a plan did you ?) . I think sand would be a real killer for aircraft, it gets everywhere inside and out. I wouldn’t be surprised if sliding hoods and gun mechanisms were a problem as well as everything that hinges or moves
Prop wash mixed with sand would make an excellent paint stripper and bare alloy would be bright…ish. Its hard to see how I can add to what’s in the box especially in this scale, I usually work in 1/12 these days or even 1/9 which lends itself to detailing. Fitting a 1mm hex head where a 10mm hex head would have been is easy ….fitting 1/3mm hex where a 10mm might have been on this is not going to happen .likewise you see a lot of this model built with 1mm copper wire in the pit but that would be 32mm in reality and that’s one and a half inch with is a pretty big “wire”/ ”pipe” we will have to see as we go.Now..where to start ?........... I know, put the kettle on and make a cup of tea, then perhaps an afternoon snooze.
