JohnT Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Following on the Hurricane question can anyone advise who makes/made the best Spit 1X C in 1/48. The consensus on the Hurri was that it was hasegawa by a mile. How do they stand up in the Spitire stakes? Thinking about the next build so any useful steer as to purchase would be very much appreciated Thanks John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham T Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Best quality & detail probably Hasegawa but this apparently has issues with some proportions but build it anyway because 99.99% of the people who see it wouldn't know. Best accuracy probably ICM but a bit softer on the detail/quality sides. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Hi John, The spitfire Mk IX is not quite as well served in 1/48 as its less glamorous brother- there was this thread on Hyperscale some years back at the time of the Hasegawa release: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/spitfir...parisonba_1.htm Personally I have built the ICM kits, although quality control was an issue with some kits (sink marks etc.) and the engine cowlings are a struggle to get right with or without the engine installed I was quite pleased with the result. I have a couple of the Revell Boxings of the hasegawa MkIX and intend to use the aeroclub fuselage correction set (A few more in the stash!) in order to overcome the Fuselage length issues with the hasegawa kits. I haven't built the recent Airfix offering so cannot comment. Hope that helps! Cheers, Troffa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dereknf Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I've just finished the Airfix MkIX and I have to say I was disappointed. I had heard good things about this kit but the wings are too thick, which I discovered when I tried to fit the standard wing tips. There were also a lot of small annoying fit problems. Again as in the Airfix Mk I, I had to glue a spacer to hold the fusleage at the correct width to make the wings fit. Dimensionally I believe it is OK. I've only built bits of the Hasegawa kit - I used the wings and interior in a MkXII conversion and they were fine. The fuselage of the Hasegawa kit is definitely a few mm shorter than the Airfix fuselage though. The Revell MkIX is the same kit as the Hasegawa I think. I've built the Italeri as a MK XVI and I was quite impressed. Looks OK too. I have the ICM in the stash so I can't comment on the build but I believe it is pretty accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted March 8, 2009 Author Share Posted March 8, 2009 Thanks guys much to mull over I think I will buy the Hasegawa one and also the ICM one and have a look at both - build one and the other to the stash ! I guess you can always find an excuse to build a spit without trying too hard Meantime parental duties call to set up the train set yet again. In a year or so he can do it for himself but whenever the track gets a knock I have to drop everything! And the boss wants some wardrobe door handles changed before tea time regards John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 My take on it would be this: Pro's Most buildable kit - Hasegawa, or the Revell rebox Most dimensionally accurate - Airfix Most options - ICM Cons ICM - can be difficult to build, quality control iffy, a bit "P-47ish" in the spine Hasegawa - too short in the fuselage Airfix - soft detail, wings could do with a thinning down They all need work, but my experience of these 3 kits is that the Airfix probably needs least effort to get a representative model out of the box . However I think the best all-round solution is the Aeroclub fuselage and the Hasegawa/Revell wings. That's how I'm planning to do my next one. I can't comment on the Occidental kit. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notdoneyet Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 John T, Here's a comparison of the ARII, Occidental, Airfix, Hasegawa and ICM kits on the IPMS Stockholm website HTH, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Aero Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 There are issuses with all of the 1:48 Spitfires and the Mk.9s are no exception. The Occidental nose is quite wrong and there are a couple more minor points. The Airfix kit missed the boat but can be improved with a lot of work, thinning down , reprofiling and replacement parts such as the prop. The ICM kit has too small a spinner and is a bit pinched behind the cockpit. Not an easy build but can look the part. The Hasegawa/Revell IX is beautifully engineered but has fuselage length issues which are very difficult to correct ( two places needing Z cuts and insertions) unless one uses my replacement fuselage, but looks the part if built from the box. Sadly again model Spitfires have a very poor track record. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I'd go with the ICM every time. The biggest fit issue is caused by the firewall... leave it out, or cut a chunk out of the centreline, and leave the engine out. Put a tiny wedge of card in the front of the spine behind the cockpit, and you've got the best-shaped Mk IX there is. And if you follow the guidelines here: http://www.lincolnmodelclub.co.uk/ICM%20Spitfire%20Mk.IX.htm You should get it to fit together OK! http://hyperscale.com/features/2002/spitfireviicbs_1.htm ....is also helpful. The last couple of ICM Spits I've bought at shows were a fiver each, and I don't think you can go far wrong for that price! bestest, M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pascal Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I would also go for the ICM kit, I've bought a couple a few weeks ago, and they look very good. Here's a comparison between the IMC, MPM, Hasegawa and Occidental Mk IX Spits in 1/48 scale, by Bruce Archer : http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/spitfir...parisonba_1.htm Greetings Pascal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidelvy Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I think the one you go for depends on your priorities. The Hasegawa one strikes me as being expensive - especially if you decide to ditch the fuselage and get a replacement from Aeoroclub. The ICM is a nice kit for detail, but I've struggled with the two I've made, though they would be less trouble for a more competent modeller. The Airfix kit is a little more expensive, but cheaper than the Hasegawa and always available. It has it's problems, but the fixes are reasonably simple. Unfortunately the detail is also reasonably simple, but take a step back and this is less of an issue than would be a problem with outline. I've not made the Italeri kit, but understand it is a re-issue of the Occidental version. Price is good and the decal options interesting, but there is an issue with the nose. So I reckon that if price is not an issue, but detail is then you'll go for the Hasegawa/Aeroclub option. If you want straightforward value for money and are confident of your ability to cope with a kit which is over-engineered then go for the ICM, although you may wish to get aftermarket decals as the ones in the kits I've bought had a tendency to fall apart. If accuracy of outline is more important than engraved detail, you don't want to spend more than £11.00 and don't mind thinning the wings and spreading the fuselage then the Airfix kit may be the one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheModeller Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 My vote is for the ICM kit, of the current range available it works for me, decent outline, easily dressed up with aftermarket if you want, and its cheap. Not a simple build but pay attention to things like the firewall and wing roots and it'll come together. The Hasegawa kit is an easy build but stunted and almost comical with it's oversized spinner. The Italeri kit is the poor Ocidental tooling re-issued, the Revell kit is a re-pop of the Hasegawa so has the same problems. The Revell decals are nice though, with a 43 Sqn machine on there which is nice to see. The Airfix kit I have is thickly moulded, poorly detailed and suffers from all sorts of fit ptoblems around the wingroots, I don't like it at all but it does seem to have the best overall outline save the doorstep thick wings! YMMV... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennings Heilig Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Absolutely the *best* way to an accurate IXc is the Hasegawa kit with the Aeroclub fuselage. The fuselage of the Hasegawa IX is anemic and mis-proportioned. Some will argue that, but I've seen the measurements *and* I've tried to fit known size markings (decal art) onto the fuselage and it is *not* possible to get known size markings to fit on the fuselage the way they fit on the real Spitfire. That tells me unequivocally that the proportions of the fuselage are out of whack (not to mention my Mk.I eyeball computer telling me so the nanosecond I opened the box). The Hasegawa wings are gorgeous and extremely well detailed. But the fuselage is anemic. J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I've not made the Italeri kit, but understand it is a re-issue of the Occidental version. Your understanding is correct. There's a replacement cowling and propeller in the Aeroclub range. Joseph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desmojen Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I agree with Jennings that the absolute best way would probably be the Hase kit with Aeroclub fuselage. BUT, the ICM kit is a very close second, much cheaper, and not nearly as hard to make as urban rumour likes to make out. Jen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Absolutely the *best* way to an accurate IXc is the Hasegawa kit with the Aeroclub fuselage. The fuselage of the Hasegawa IX is anemic and mis-proportioned. Some will argue that, but I've seen the measurements *and* I've tried to fit known size markings (decal art) onto the fuselage and it is *not* possible to get known size markings to fit on the fuselage the way they fit on the real Spitfire. That tells me unequivocally that the proportions of the fuselage are out of whack (not to mention my Mk.I eyeball computer telling me so the nanosecond I opened the box). The Hasegawa wings are gorgeous and extremely well detailed. But the fuselage is anemic.J I'm with Jennings.Hasegawa with Aeroclub fuselage and Ultracast bits finish it off. Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I guess it depends on whether you want to spend £25+ on the Hasegawa, Aeroclub and Ultracast bits, or a bit less than £10 on the ICM... bestest, M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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