What's the best bubble top spitfire in 1/48?

[Jazzy Jase]

Morning all,

I've got a hankering to build a 1/48 bubble top Spitfire and was looking for opinions/suggestions on which kit to buy.

I'd like something that's accurate without being a pig to build. It must have engraved panel lines and be an example that served during the war.

I've done a bit of Googling and found the Academy XIV which gets a slating for being inaccurate.

Italeri/occidental XVI - Has accuracy issues?

Airfix XVI - Airfix club members exclusive. Can't find much info on it and as rare as rocking horse poo.

ICM XVI - Seems to get good reviews for accuracy but how well does it go together?

[Doug Rogers]

The ICM MkXVI gets my vote OOB. Wouldn't say it's a pig to buiild, but you can't just throw it together or it'll bite you.

The Academy MkXIV is a nice kit, but does have a couple of issues. If your prepared to deal with those, it can make a very nice MkXIV, or a MkXVIII if you like something a bit more unusual, and to my mind the best looking Spitfire of all.

[Wolfpack]

My suggestion would be to search the web for some reviews of the kits you mention. Each and every kit has it's "issues" and what would your definition of 'being a pig to put together' be?

Have you ever tried to build an FM kit? That would be my definition of a pig! If not then it would obviously depend on your skill level.

Good luck with you're googling.

W

[TheModeller]

Morning all,

I've got a hankering to build a 1/48 bubble top Spitfire and was looking for opinions/suggestions on which kit to buy.

I'd like something that's accurate without being a pig to build. It must have engraved panel lines and be an example that served during the war.

I've done a bit of Googling and found the Academy XIV which gets a slating for being inaccurate.

Italeri/occidental XVI - Has accuracy issues?

Airfix XVI - Airfix club members exclusive. Can't find much info on it and as rare as rocking horse poo.

ICM XVI - Seems to get good reviews for accuracy but how well does it go together?

The Academy kit is nicely produced and is easy to build but the deep fuselage and thick wings really spoil the look, particularly the sleek bubble-canopy version. Similarly the Ocidental kit is off in the cowl/spinner and looks odd but can be improved with an Aeroclub correction set if its still available.

As you said the Airfix XVI is hard to find and based on the earlier IX so suffers from the same clunky fit, heavy details, thick wings and god-awful seperate flaps!

The ICM XVI is the best of a poor selection (I can't believe we're still lacking a decent late-war Griffon Spit in 1/48th) but not a simple kit to build due to the multi-part cowl and engine, the best approach is to forget the engine, blank off the exhaust outlets from inside and glue the cowl parts together early in construction. You need to watch out for the width of the engine firewall, you can fit it as it comes but it stretches the fuselage open and forces the wingroots out, giving a very unrealistic 'flat' dihedral, either trim it down or leave it out completely.

Be prepared to fix some sinkmarks around the ailerons, cockpit and at the tail where there are fittings and details moulded inside, the XVI's seems to be much better moulded than the IX's but the ICM kits are well known for patchy Q/C and sinkmarks are common.

Take a look at the Ultracast range of extras; Props, spinners, cannon access panels, elevators and exhausts along with the usual seats and wheels. If you want you can get a replacement vac canopy from Squadron, some say the kit canopy isn't right but I've never noticed.

Another mod worth doing is too shorten the main gear legs by a millimetre at the oleos which improves the 'sit' no end, Aeroclub have replacements that drop right in, if John still makes them.

The ICM decals are pretty awful in my experience, but suitable replacements are not hard to find.

Edited July 24, 2010 by TheModeller

[Alex Gordon]

G'day Jase,

ICM Mk XVI all the way.I'm just on the vinegar stroke with mine.The control column needs a cicular spadegrip in place of the square one provided (odd error considering the standard of the rest of the kit) not a tricky fix with the right diameter sprue and a drill bit.Perhaps a little scratchbuilding in the way of a new seat,dryfit all components first.Possibly attach upper wing surfaces to the fuselage before joining lower to upper (wish I had,saves a certain amount of farting about).Decals tend to break up readily,easily cured by 2 or 3 applications of Klear while dry and still on the sheet.When you apply the decals park then as close as possible to final position on a good puddle of Klear,move as little as necessary and then leave well alone until set and dry.Might pay you to research the camouflage pattern too,I've gone with the kit supplied paint diagram and there's something a little less than convincing about the appearance of the upper starboard wing.You will have to work for it but the end result is somewhere between well worth it and sublime.

You will not be sorry.Good luck.

[wally7506]

I know it's not exactly a "Spitfire", but it's in the family. It's in most Spitfire monographs such as Morgan/Shacklady and "In Action".

But the Airfix Seafire 47 is a very nice bubbletop "Spitfire" kit in 1/48th.

Edited July 24, 2010 by wally7506

[Enzo the Magnificent]

Airfix 1/48 Spitfire 24, reboxed by Eduard.

Linky

Expensive, mostly due to the Aires resin cockpit - which doesn't fit, by the way. Don't get me started...

If you can find an original Airfix boxing it is highly recommended.

[lufbramatt]

I know it's not exactly a "Spitfire", but it's in the family. It's in most Spitfire monographs such as Morgan/Shacklady and "In Action".

But the Airfix Seafire 47 is a very nice bubbletop "Spitfire" kit in 1/48th.

or the f22/24 that it's based on- surely one of airfix's best ever kits, pretty much up there with anything from tamiya etc.

From looking at the pics that have been posted of the airfix spitfire 12, the forthcoming seafire 17 should be worth waiting for too.

[davidelvy]

But the Airfix Seafire 47 is a very nice bubbletop "Spitfire" kit in 1/48th.

I was about to jump in with the Airfix Mk 22/24 until I saw that Jase specified late WWII. Otherwise I would say is was unquestionably the best bubble top spitfire in 1/48.

[TheModeller]

I thought the requirement was for a wartime variant but agreed, the Airfix late Griffon Spits are hard to beat.

I'm looking forward to the new Mk.XII and the Sea Vixen, might go for the new Seafire, depends on the quality.

[Dave Gibson]

It's a no-brainer really.

Merlin powered - ICM Mk XVI. I have the Airfix and it's terrible.

Griffon powered - Airfix Mk 22/24.

Avoid all others except the Falcon vacforms.

Dave.

[Jazzy Jase]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The Airfix/Eduard 22/24 looks gorgeous but it's post war as is the Seafire 47 I think.

I'll go for the ICM XVI.

As a side note I notice Airfix is releasing a new Seafire XVII shortly. Hopefully it'll be accurate enough to build and sit along side the XVI.