Charlie Hugo

Please give me alternatives Airfix (1978 release) long OOP Hasegawa (1992 release) OOP? Academy (1998 release) Tamiya 2000 release OOP? IBG (unobtainable in my country other than direct import which may or may not arrive after up to 6 months via post) Italeri at least has local importer so good chance of getting the kit, which is not bad, old yes but not bad Inflation rules

I intend too, at least two

The Fujime Ju87 D-1 has an otion for a Stab SG3 in sandgelb over 70/71. It has the short wing. You can view the instruction sheet at scalemates.com to assist you on what you may need to change on the Academy one

#23 Hasegawa Spitfire Mk V kit markings No. 145 Sqn

Two for me plus any future variants BUT its the wrong Hornet

Well it appears as if both colours are correct, High visibily orange (not neccessarily dayglo) was the original and then repainted yellow according to Airfix's page on the kit. Of course trainer yellow is in the Humbrol range. For the actaul Arntartic trips the orange would be required. Airfix Auster blog

I would not be too hasty to cut the tail down. In the SS in action series there is very little external difference between a A-20A and a A-20C drawings, There are also some cooling slots on the cowlings of the A-20A. If starting from a A-20B the nose canopy should be different. Also the cheek gun blisters are generally not present on the A-20A.

I have the 1977 Mcdonald and Janes edition and it quite clearly states that Brown never had the oppertunity to fly the Me163B under power, which the Hikoki one does say

My Eduard MkXVI kits have three left hand halves and two right, The one left hand has the acess panel moved more forward in comparison to the others which is correct for a MkXVI. Visually I cannot tell the differnce between the other parts whilst they are on the sprue but suspect the minor variation in shape netween the cowlings is what is the difference, so as I said, I suspect that Eduard are the first to provide the cowling variations although AZ have (had) a limited edition with the very early modified MkV cowling

Very possible, always thought it was Kielkraft Nah all I have are the two wings, it is more a mid blue with a touch of grey in it rather than the bright blue that I associate with Airfix' first Spitfire

I may be wrong, the wings I have are solid and moulded in blue with the roundals etched in

Having just hauled my AZ Spit XVI out I can see where you can get confused The exploded assembly drawing (to my eye) show syou to add the canon bay blister in the inner positionwhich is wrong whereas the plan view at the bottom shows it in the outer position which is correct. For a WWII version, as mentioned, the blisters iver the wheels are not to be used

Never ever got my hands on taht even when I visited Italy in the '80's/ Also never got the Kielkraft although I have bits (wiings) of an odd Spitfire that I have never been able to odentufy. Managed to get a built Hawk Spitfire Mk22/24 that I will refurbish one day. Yeah right and pigs fly as well.

Giorgio You obvoiusly have forgotton (or never had the exquisite pleasure of building it) the original Airfix Spitfire MkIX. But boy did I ever lust after one back in the day. And was thankful I could get one, even sans canopy

Spitfire MkIX to Mkxvi external differences. minor to nil, it was all to do with the engine itself and minor cowling differences. It is the so-called balloon cowling. Not sure if any kit actually has the correct cowling for a Packard Merlin fit, maybe Eduard. There is (has been) articles and discussion around the various MkIX/XVI cowlings. The issue with the windscreen is that the frame at the bottom is too large/also part of the fuselage. I would need to find my references in this regard to get the full details. Radiators, cut them off shorten them and re-attach. I think this was in an old PAM News magazine.