1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk1a new tool

[Schweinebacke]

Hello all

 

I have just picked up the new tool  TamiyaSpitfire  Mk1. From what I see there is still no head armour  provided.  Is that  correct for the period  or an omission by Tamiya. Thanks

 

Tom

[redleader]

Up to late 1939 most Mk Is had no head armour, windshield armour, nor fuel tank armour - so it would depend on the time period, and the particular aircraft you're depicting

[fishplanebeer]

In addition the early Mk1's also lacked the seat armour behind the pilots seat but by the time of the BoB this and the other items already mentioned had been retrofitted.

 

The Wingleader book on the Spitfire Mk1 has excellent photos of Mk1's plus a useful diagram showing the arrangement of the head and seat armour and there is no need to buy the book unless you want to as the freely available 'sample pages' on their web site show the armour arrangement plus plenty of other photos as well. Just go to www.wingleader.co.uk, find the book and then click on the 'sample pages' and you'll see what I mean.

 

Hope this helps.

 

BTW the Tamiya 72nd scale kit also lacks the head and seat armour as well but in addition it also lacks the gun heating vents under the wings so it may be worth checking these out on your new kit as well.

 

Regards

Colin.

[Rolls-Royce]

Eduard does produce a photoetch set for that kit that contains the pilot's armor plates. There are two versions, one for their older Mk I, and one for this kit.

[fishplanebeer]

The Eduard set is very good and will give you all the whistles and bells you need to build an early or later version but if it's just the armour you really want then the Wingleader diagram of the armour set up along with some plastic card would be a less expensive option as scratch building this should be relatively simple.

 

Regards

Colin.

[JackG]

The framework directly behind the seat actually has the four mounting points for the head armour  - bizarre Tamiya decided not to include the armour option.

 

regards,

Jack