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Spitfire Mk.IXc "Beer Delivery" - ICM 1:48


Julien

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Spitfire Mk.IXc "Beer Delivery"

ICM 1:48

 

beer1.JPG

 

 

A fairly well-known aircraft of WWII, the Supermarine Spitfire was the mainstay of British Fighter Command for the majority of WWII, with the Mk.IX being the most popular (with many) throughout the war, seeing extended periods of production with only minor alterations for the role that it was intended for differentiating between the sub-variants.  Originally requested to counter the superiority of the then-new Fw 190, a two-stage supercharged Merlin designated type 61 provided the performance in spades, and the fitting of twin wing-mounted cannons in wing blisters gave it enough punch to take down its diminutive Butcher-Bird prey.

 

In what was no doubt considered good publicity for the war, following D-Day the the Heneger and Constable brewery donated free beer to the troops, however as stretched as the logistics chain was there was no way to transport it across the channel. Spitfire pilots and ground crew came up with the idea to fit beer barrels to the racks on a Spitfires wing, and to transport beer in adapted fuel tanks. Such aircraft often had to return to the UK for "important" duties only to return with their valuable cargo. It even came to be that an offical mod XXX was referred to for these beer mountings.The practice came to an end when Customs stepped in as the Brewery was exporting beer without a licence. Even in Wartime officialdom ruled. It does seem that even though it was not officially done after this point various squadrons continued with the practice! 

 

The Model

This new tool kit arrives in a rather small box making you think they have boxed the wrong scale kit! however be assured it is the right kit in the box. The moulds from ICM look cgood and crisp. Construction starts with the Merlin Engine as ICM have managed to squeeze a full engine onto the sprues. It should be noted that if you dont want to build your model with the engine covers off then you dont have to add the full engine, though the fact it is there is great.

 

beer2.JPG

 

Once the engine (or not) is in the fuselage can be closed up with a few cockpit parts and the area behind the pilots head being added before closing up. The cockpit is now built up with the pilots seat being added to the rear cockpit bulkhead. the fllor is then added joingin up the seat and instrument panel area. Once complete the whole thing is added through the bottom of the fusselage. The engine top cowling is then added along with the front canopy and main aerial.

 

beer3.JPG

 

Construction then moves onto the wing. This is convention one part bottom and left/right uppers. The underwing radiators are added and the cannons are added into the bays moulded into the lower wing. The uppers are then added along with the cannon covers (these can be left off as needed). The main fuselage can then be added to the completed wing assembly.

 

beer4.JPG

 

The main canopy is then added (this is provided as a one part closed, or two part open affair), followed by the rudder and tailplanes. The ailerons can then be added to the main wing, and under the fuselage the lower engine cowl. The propeller is made up from its four individual blades and added to the front.

 

beer5.JPG

 

The main landing gear is then made up with the single piece mainwheel being added to the leg, then the door added on. They can then be added to the model. Last up the all important beer barrels can be made up. They can be made as normal barrels or some which were fitted with an aerodynamic front nose cone as I would imagine the drag from a pair of barrels was considerable! Mounting racks are provided. A centre line beer tank (an ex fuel tank) is also provided to add to the centreline as needed, this also comes with its own rack.

 

beer6.JPG

 

beer8.JPG

 

 

Decals

A small decal sheet provides marking for two aircraft know to have done these flights, the modeler will have to paint their own invasion stripes. The decals are printed in house by ICM, look to be in register and colour dense.

 

  • MJ452 No.412 Sqn Royal Canadian Air Force.
  • ML316 No308 (Polish) Sqn Royal Air Force.

beer7.JPG

 

Conclusion

There is something totally British about going to the time and trouble to send beer to fighting troops in the midst of one of the biggest battles on the Western front. It is good to see ICM providing a kit to model this eccentricity of the time, and even if you dont want to model this the kit is a fine example of the Mk.IXc Spitfire. It also seems to be available at a good price point. Highly recommended. 

 

Review sample courtesy of

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1 hour ago, Steve in Ottawa said:

The upper wings still seem to have that irritating sink mark just ahead of the ailerons. This appears to be the original tooling of the kit; what makes this new, aside from the beer barrels?

Hello Steve,

That sinkmark is a signature !! How don't you know it ?? :rofl2:

Luckily, the sink mark Under the horizontal stab seem to be gone for good !

thanks !

I manage to finish my 3rd ICM Spitfire, still got 2 on the stash !

Sincerely.

Corsaircorp

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3 hours ago, Julien said:

New tool.

Thank Julien,

But the sprues are exactly the same as the old ones.

Moulds has been cleaned a lot :yahoo:

Whatever, I use to make these Spit's

Sincerely.

Corsaircorp

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3 hours ago, Steve in Ottawa said:

no pictures of the beer barrels available?

 

There is I just forgot it, will upload it. Its done now.

 

For other question, the info about a new tool came from scalemates, and on the kit I can see no evidence of any sink marks.

 

Julien

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This kit is not new tool , compare sprue s to the old kit in this link- https://www.super-hobby.com/products/item_name-189105.html 

   And they are 100% identical to the new kit , the new kit even has the same bits of flash here and there, the beer barrel sprue is new and thats all .

Edited by gavingav1
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