Jump to content

1/32 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. VIII


Recommended Posts

Hello all, 

I managed to pick this kit up from a bootfair so i was expecting some issues with bit missing....and it turned out the most of the engine was missing, which wasnt a major drama but it would have been nice to be able to have this opened up. 

 

I used Tamiya paints for this one with MLT and they worked like a dream, then used Mr Colour varnishes to finish it off. 

 

It was straight out of the box with no additions.

 

All comments are welcome but of note is there is no wire aerial attached due to travelling issues i.e. keep falling off 🙂

 

5S758mE.jpeg

 

CB7ydez.jpeg

 

hJ2dSlz.jpeg

 

0EqdzZ3.jpeg

 

OntrWQi.jpeg

 

bJJCvJ7.jpeg

 

zH6Wf9G.jpeg

 

pAhoAMc.jpeg

 

M7zZxz8.jpeg

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Like 64
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nicely done.  :goodjob: 

 

5 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said:

But wasn't this an Mk.VIII ? Im sure its just a typo. 😉

 

Agreed, a Mk VIII.  And as you say, probably a typo.

Edited by MikeC
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • David Mooney changed the title to 1/32 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. VIII

Beautifully created spitfire with such a schmooth and realistically weathered finish. And I do appreciate those slightly offset elevators… 😉

 

The third photo with the standing pilot is, in my eyes, a work of art.

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very good work.

 

Just a minor matter; would the pilot figure best be shown wearing tropical kit?

 

I'm tempted to pick up one of these, too. Recently, I grabbed the Eduard Mk VIII kit in 1/48, also containing decals for W/Cdr Robert Gibbes RAAF version, when I found it languishing on the shelves at my local supplier. Perhaps I should tackle this first. 

 

The aircraft as depicted dates from a controversial period of Gibbes career. It is notable that he was unable to add to his score of aerial victories after his Kittyhawk days in North Africa (see nationality of victory symbols below cockpit windscreen). After posting to the Dutch East Indies, he participated in the so called Morotai Mutiny, in which senior RAAF pilots objected to the relegation of fighter squadrons to ground attack missions that they considered not militarily justifiable and offered their resignations. Because of his grazier background, one mission which Gibbes found particularly rancorous was the strafing of cattle. In addition, ground attack was a role for which the Spitfire Mk VIII was ill suited. The findings of an enquiry supported their view and a change of higher command ensued. But Gibbes was then court martialled and temporarily reduced in rank for participating in a racket flogging alcohol to the Americans. Quite the character 🤓

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Maginot said:

In addition, ground attack was a role for which the Spitfire Mk VIII was ill suited

Hmm...I wouldn't agree with that. Mk VIIIs and IXs were very successfully used for exactly that purpose by Balkan Air Force (part of Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) in Italy and Yugoslavia, dive-bombing and strafing trains and trucks as the Germans were trying to resist the Soviet advance and the Yugoslav Partisan army. With 2 x 250 lb bombs, 2 x 20 mm cannons and 4 x .303, plus the use of a 30, 45 or 90 gal drop-tank, it had the performance, armament and range to strike at a wide range of targets over a good radius of action.

 

As an example, my father flew them with 253 Sqn in 1944/45 and - at least one occasion - flew a 4-hour sweep from Prkos, Yugoslavia into Romania. His logbook shows squadron dive bombing accuracies of 17-50 yards, locomotives and trucks destroyed - with camera-gun photos. The only obvious vulnerability of the Spitfire in this role was the loss of the cooling system to minor damage, but this was exactly the same as for the Hurricane, Mustang, Typhoon and Mosquito, all of which were Merlin-powered.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apparently depends on the sub-variant @KevinK. Mk VIIIs came configured in three versions designed to operate at different levels; LF low-altitude with Merlin 66, F medium-altitude with Merlin 63, HF high-altitude with Merlin 70. A58-602 assigned to Gibbes was an HF Mk VIII. Thanks for your observation; you made me look into the claim.

 

Scuse us @David Mooney if we're off on a tangent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, Maginot said:

Apparently depends on the sub-variant @KevinK. Mk VIIIs came configured in three versions designed to operate at different levels; LF low-altitude with Merlin 66, F medium-altitude with Merlin 63, HF high-altitude with Merlin 70. A58-602 assigned to Gibbes was an HF Mk VIII. Thanks for your observation; you made me look into the claim.

 

Scuse us @David Mooney if we're off on a tangent.

No, that's more than fine as this is great information for me and others. Some of these bits of information go along way to help with builds and the history of aircraft, so keep at it.

As for the uniform, it's just the figure that comes with the kit....so blame Tamiya for that one lol! 😉

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

In agreement with the general feeling, I must be going to the wrong car boot sales, great find and a super build. We're the decals OOB?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very nice work old sport!

 

Re the aerial wire, I believe they'd dispensed with the external wire by the Mk VIII and just had a short aerial which ran up the inside of the old plastic mast? I add the question mark because I'm not certain of my facts here and need corroboration.

 

And we all want to know how much you paid for it in the boot sale! 😜

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/20/2022 at 6:40 PM, Bertie Psmith said:

Very nice work old sport!

 

Re the aerial wire, I believe they'd dispensed with the external wire by the Mk VIII and just had a short aerial which ran up the inside of the old plastic mast? I add the question mark because I'm not certain of my facts here and need corroboration.

 

And we all want to know how much you paid for it in the boot sale! 😜

Well....(drum roll).....£45, which turned out to be quite a bargain 😀

 

On 6/20/2022 at 6:32 PM, MRMRL said:

In agreement with the general feeling, I must be going to the wrong car boot sales, great find and a super build. We're the decals OOB?

Decals are the ones straight out of the box, the worry from the get-go was the shark mouth....but it went on very easily

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...