Supermarine Spitfire MK. VIII 1/24 Airfix

[Corky]

Great to see this new release. I'm in for sure. 

 

I was wondering since they had change alieron sizes, retracteble tail wheel and new instrument panel would this make the original IX kit done? Or they just do new a new mould for the MkVIII pieces?

 

Thanks for any insights.

 

cheers

 

 

[VMA131Marine]

1 hour ago, Corky said:

Great to see this new release. I'm in for sure. 

 

I was wondering since they had change alieron sizes, retracteble tail wheel and new instrument panel would this make the original IX kit done? Or they just do new a new mould for the MkVIII pieces?

 

Thanks for any insights.

 

cheers

 

 

Most likely they have used replaceable mould inserts to make changes where needed but there are clearly some new parts. We’ll have to compare sprues to the Mk.IX when the kit is released. 
 

The next obvious thing to do would be an ‘e’ wing for the Mk.IX and a cut down fuselage for the bubble canopy Mk.IX and Mk.XVI. The XVIs also had the more bulged top cowling to cater for additional bulges on the Packard Merlin engine and I’m not sure Airfix would want to make such changes, although Tamiya did in their 1/32 kits. The Mk.VII with its pressurised cockpit is probably a non-starter.

[Julien]

20 hours ago, TheKinksFan said:

Funny that they make a big deal about the collector's coin, "once they are gone, they are gone forever" 😄.I'm pretty sure 99% couldn't care less about pins, badges or coins. What is exciting is the new  mk VIII kit and that iconic scheme.

You would be surprised how many do care, if they did not im sure Airfix would not market it. 

[TheKinksFan]

1 hour ago, Julien said:

You would be surprised how many do care, if they did not im sure Airfix would not market it. 

I stand corrected.

[Giorgio N]

11 hours ago, Paul J said:

Quite interested in this. Perhaps I  can do one of the 67 Squadron ones in Burma that my late father in law worked on as an armourer courtesy of being in the RAF Servicing Commandos following his time in Normandy.

 

 Could Airfix be persuaded to re tool their retool of the Mk9of just a few years ago and do a Mk.8 too???

 

Which retool do you mean ?

 

5 hours ago, Corky said:

Great to see this new release. I'm in for sure. 

 

I was wondering since they had change alieron sizes, retracteble tail wheel and new instrument panel would this make the original IX kit done? Or they just do new a new mould for the MkVIII pieces?

 

Thanks for any insights.

 

cheers

 

 

 

It was clear when the IX was issued that the kit was designed from the start to allow further variants in the future. In particular the way the fuselage was moulded pointed at the possibility of adding the retractable tailwheel of the Mk.VIII. The wings on separate sprues also make adding a new set very easy without any need for permanent changes to the original moulds. The lower wing part would also include the new position for the downward fuselage light.

We'll sure see both the IX and the VIII in production in the future and of course a XVI may easily follow

[Bedders]

This looks very nice indeed. And with an VIII one is not far away from a VII or PR X/XI.

 

Justin

[Giorgio N]

7 minutes ago, Bedders said:

This looks very nice indeed. And with an VIII one is not far away from a VII or PR X/XI.

 

Justin

 

As some song said, so close but far away....

A Mk.VII would require a new fuselage for the different canopy configuration. Would Airfix do one for a variant built in a relatively small number ? Personally I doubt it

The PR variants would be even father away as would require a new fuselage for the different windscreen and then new wings. Again, would Airfix do this ? I have my doubts because the PR variants don't seem to have as much following amongst the wider modelling community, being generally something that only Spitfire fanboys like me search for.

Of course each modeller will be able to add the desired modifications and I don't doubt that conversions will be issued by a number of companies, I'm just not sure Airfix would offer such variants from the box. Of course should they do it I'll be happy to be proven wrong. Happy for you folks, personally I'm not into this scale at all... although the idea of a very large Spitfire VIII in my collection is indeed something quite tempting

[stever219]

On 7/15/2024 at 11:00 AM, Karearea said:

Best looking cover since the Eduard Weekend Ed. VIII

There are hints of the old FROG Mk. VII/IX box arr too.

[VMA131Marine]

2 hours ago, Bedders said:

This looks very nice indeed. And with an VIII one is not far away from a VII or PR X/XI.

 

Justin

A VII would require new fuselage halves. The pressurisation of the cockpit meant doing away with the sliding canopy and the fuselage deletes the canopy rails as a result. Then there is a pressure bulkhead at the back of the cockpit along with other changes. 
 

I don’t think a VII is likely but would be happy to be proved wrong.

[Rabbit Leader]

1 hour ago, stever219 said:

There are hints of the old FROG Mk. VII/IX box arr too.

yes… I totally agree! 
 

 

[Paul J]

On 16/07/2024 at 09:19, Giorgio N said:

 

Which retool do you mean ?

 

 

 

The one that came out just a few years ago. The new tool one.

[Whitewolf]

In all honesty a MKVIII was expected as a spin off from the IXc, bit like Tamiya did in 1/32. trying to make the maximum amount of money out of the investment in the IXc moulds.

This is a great kit, I already have the IXc to build as a IXe, but once again a further focus on a Merlin engined variant, would rather see a 1/24 Griffon engined Spit like a PRXIX.for example, but most manufacturers seem oblivious to the fact Griffon engined Spits existed in the 1/32 and 1/24 ranges.

Edited July 17, 2024 by Whitewolf

[fightersweep]

I think we all expected a Mk VIII eventually, but this is very welcome. Also a better starting point for the forthcoming Laminar Flow 1/24 Mk XIVe conversion I suppose what with the short span ailerons, retractable tail wheel etc. My wallet won't like this one bit. 

[Admiral Puff]

Ordered - to do a non-sharkmouthed RAAF aircraft!

 

Having spend several golden splonders on Laminar Flow 1:32 conversion sets for the Tamiya Mk VIII/Mk IX, I won't be going down the same path in 1:24, though!

[Giorgio N]

13 hours ago, Paul J said:

The one that came out just a few years ago. The new tool one.

 

You mean the 1/72 one ?

 

If so, IMHO Airfix would do a good thing to replace it as I find it a poor kit, Not that it bothers me though as with the very good Eduard kit around ar similar prices there already is a proper Mk.VIII in that scale (actually the only proper VIII, all others are just IXs with a retractable tailwheel)

 

[At Sea]

11 hours ago, Admiral Puff said:

Ordered - to do a non-sharkmouthed RAAF aircraft!

 

Having spend several golden splonders on Laminar Flow 1:32 conversion sets for the Tamiya Mk VIII/Mk IX, I won't be going down the same path in 1:24, though!

How did they go together?

 

i am very tempted by the LFD conversion kit so would be interested in hearing how challenging it is.

[jenko]

The obvious next possible incarnation would be a high back 16.

 

There is an excellent example just a couple of miles away from Hornby at the Spitfire and hurricane Memorial at the old RAF Manston. (This is the one Eduard did but made several mistakes)

 

https://www.spitfiremuseum.org.uk/

 

Dick

[Admiral Puff]

11 hours ago, At Sea said:

How did they go together?

 

i am very tempted by the LFD conversion kit so would be interested in hearing how challenging it is.

The ones I've got (the low-back and high back Mk XIVs and the Mk XII) are going together beautifully - I can thoroughly recommend them.

[PeterR]

Lot's of great subjects for this version, but hopefully we get decals for Clive Caldwell's Mk VIII. 

[AeroNautique]

I'd considered doing Bruce Ingram's 152 Sqn VIII, so this kit with the 156 Sqn markings is great news, I'll be picking up at least 1 of these.

 

On 7/17/2024 at 10:02 PM, Whitewolf said:

would rather see a 1/24 Griffon engined Spit

Amen brother. I do sympathize a little (just a bit) with those who are tired of Spitfires...but a decent Griffon Spit in 1/24, is a hole in the market that needs plugged....c'mon Airfix 🙏

Edited July 20, 2024 by AeroNautique
typo

[Karearea]

15 hours ago, AeroNautique said:

I'd considered doing Bruce Ingram's 152 Sqn VIII, so this kit with the 156 Sqn markings is great news, I'll be picking up at least 1 of these.

Exactly what I’m considering- not hard to substitute the ‘L’ code and serial numbers, even if each Panther was slightly different.

[MrB17]

Never fails. I started mine on February 8, 2023!

I guess I should get back to it and finish it off. 
 

Cheers

 

Jeff

[New Tool]

On 7/15/2024 at 4:01 PM, keithjs said:

Schemes here.

 

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AX17002?result-token=PTTAi 

 

It is priced there at £75 at time of writing. Isn't that unusually low for an Airfix 1/24 Spitfire?

[352nd Fighter Group]

There is no point me getting this Because I have the Eduard 1/72 MK.VIII

[Work In Progress]

On 7/21/2024 at 9:16 PM, New Tool said:

 

It is priced there at £75 at time of writing. Isn't that unusually low for an Airfix 1/24 Spitfire?

Must have been a data entry error, now showing as £89.99 on pre-order, which is about what one would expect at Hannants