Airfix 1/72nd Spitfire I/IIA

[Greenshirt]

I bought a couple of the AZ Spits from Hannants before the Airfix new tool came out. I think by the time they were shipped over here, they still cost about what buying one here in the US would have cost. After building one of AZ Mk II kits (while supposedly quite accurate), I will happily deal with (or ignore) any nits the Airfix kit may have for future Spitfire I/II projects. I did get the Sword Vc, mainly because I didn't want to convert a 'b' wing to a 'c'.

We're on the same page. I've got a number of those Aeroclub Vc wings...it's time to take stock of what I can do.

Regards,

Tim

[rowmk9]

I am all over this kit!

I've been looking for a cheap and easy way to do a two bladed Spitfire and Airfix has come to the rescue!

[Wez]

I've still got to make a decision on this. I'm minded to provide a simple decal sheet with the serials and identification codes only for a couple of aircraft, leaving the modeller to use the roundels and fin flashes from the donor kit. Alternatively, I could provide a complete decal sheet for say, 4 aircraft, but that would put the price up. The alternative is no decals, which would make for the cheapest package.

Which would you prefer?

Stewart

Just the serials and codes plus any personal markings for me.

Wez

[Greenshirt]

Which is incorrect, as code letters are Sky instead of MSG. Got two of them and in both there are mistakes (exept IILR there are others, e.g. Kent's "code letters" are also Sky).

I hadn't noticed that! Unless the basic profile/schemes are wrong, the others all appear correct; just the II LR UM-R and Vb JAK are wrong. Unfortunate as I'll have to use codes from the spares bin.

Thanks for pointing that out.

Regards,

Tim

[Arpie]

I picked one up today in the hope that a bit of mold fettling has been done to fix the poor fit along with the addition of new parts. Plus I've been eager to build a 19 Sqn example to go with the 19 Sqn Spithawk from the Airfix limited edition. A couple of things to note is Airfix have gone back to recommending Hu30 as the green of the camo rather then Hu163, this could be to do with stated plans to revamp the Humbrol line and reset a few colours (Hu 30 is one) that have slipped over the years. Another is that the box now has a little Cartograf logo above the bar code, Airfix decals have been Cartograf for a while now but it's nice to see the logo on the box should help with identifying which kits get them.

[Obi-Jiff Kenobi]

Thanks for all the info, guys. This kit looks like a winner for Airfix. I haven't bought the MkIA yet, and now I probably won't - but I will buy lots of the I/IIA.

Re: the 3D LR tank, I would prefer a decal sheet with codes and serials only. If the set contains, say, one tank and four decal options, I'll buy at least four sets. I've always had a fondness for the LR Spit II.

[Work In Progress]

Providing the featured aircraft had standard roundels and fin flashes and stencils I am happy to use them from other sources on a II(LR), so all Iwould want on the sheet is serials and codes, plus any non-standard markings such as presentation markings.

[Killingholme]

I'm really looking forward to this one! Spitfires weren't my really my 'bag' before the airfix Ia came out, but I've built a few now and am rapidly becoming a bit of a Spit 'fan'. I suppose Airfix has succeeded in the job it set out to do in regards to my experience!

Will

[Pat C]

Awww. The free Revell Spitfire from the Telegraph a while ago had nice decals for P8088 (the kit was horrid) which I was going to mate with the old Airfix Mk1 and the 3-D set and think I was terribly clever. Now Airfix have gone and spoilt everything. They've even printed the code letters in the right colour unlike Revell (who chose white for some reason).

Pat

[davidelvy]

I bought one in the previous boxing when it came out last year. At the time I could not understand why, unlike their other releases, Airfix only included one decal option. Also, why was it in a horrid end-opening box? Maybe it was aimed more at the younger market as it was one or two quid cheaper.

[Giorgio N]

I bought a couple of the AZ Spits from Hannants before the Airfix new tool came out. I think by the time they were shipped over here, they still cost about what buying one here in the US would have cost. After building one of AZ Mk II kits (while supposedly quite accurate), I will happily deal with (or ignore) any nits the Airfix kit may have for future Spitfire I/II projects. I did get the Sword Vc, mainly because I didn't want to convert a 'b' wing to a 'c'.

If you're buying eastern european kits from the US, better try some modelshop in Poland or the Czech republic. Hannants has a lot of plus points, but on such items their prices are hardly competitive. Mind, not that by the time they are shipped they'll cost half of what you pay in the US, but you might save a few dollars

[The wooksta V2.0]

I bought some of the Admiral Seafire F45s from an ebay trader in Poland at 10.99 each. Even after the postage was factored in, I'd saved a couple of quid on the Hannants price. Bonus bits in the kit too - it's their complete Spitfire F22 (sans canopy) plus a new fuselage & tailplanes plus canopy for the Spitfire F21 or Seafire F45. Well worth the candle.

However, the AZ Silver Line F21s are a con (of sorts) as they're the same kit as the F45 justt different decals and a couple of quid extra. The F21 contraprop doesn't have the larger F18 rudder.

Graham, the Admiral Seafire Vs are the same kit as the AZ Ib/IIb/Vb/VI - same plastic in each so lots of spare bits - but have an etched fret for the arrestor hook. Just keep the metal for something else and you'll get a nice Vb out of the box. Mine's part assembled and it goes together better than their mk I.

[Test Graham]

With a stack of the old Airfix Mk.Is and Vs, plus Airwaves conversions, still awaiting completion (or even starting) I'd resisted the AZ and Admiral early Spits. I did pick up the Mk.45, partly I have to admit in error about just what a Mk.45 involved (since revised), and it's great advantage was that it had a spare pair of the larger tailplanes. The 45 looks quite nice but I haven't done anything to it, and after a few weeks attacking Italeri Mk.Vs and various Ventura kits it wouldn't have to be outstanding, would it?

I'm sure the new Airfix Mk.I/II would be much more tempting had I not had the 3D parts plus a stack with just those versions waiting. Now I don't have a Mk.III.......but that would call for considerable cross-kitting. (Although maybe not - it might even be a use for the Italeri "Mk.IX"!)

[Greenshirt]

Now I don't have a Mk.III.......but that would call for considerable cross-kitting. (Although maybe not - it might even be a use for the Italeri "Mk.IX"!)

I'd like to know more. I've got one idling with the Brigade Models Seafire XV conversion and another with an Airwaves early nose conversion. No decals for the latter so it's languishing, but I've been thinking about the Mk III. Do we need a new thread?

Regards,

Tim

[The wooksta V2.0]

The Ginger Lacey F14 boxing is the AZ F18 plus the fuselage sprue and canopy from the Spitfire F21. Interestingly, the fuselage fits the Fujimi wing - drops straight on but the latter will need a modicum of surgery. I've been playing around with various Spitfire components over the past week or so and found that the MPM PRXIX fuselage will also sit on a Fujimi wing. The latter also takes an AZ fuselage with the latter needing a tad of sanding.

[The wooksta V2.0]

I'd like to know more. I've got one idling with the Brigade Models Seafire XV conversion and another with an Airwaves early nose conversion. No decals for the latter so it's languishing, but I've been thinking about the Mk III. Do we need a new thread?

Regards,

Tim

That would be the early mk IV Griffon rather than the Merlin mk.III. Not a subtype I know much about.

As for a new thread, just keep it here? There are rumblings from some members with regard to the preponderance of Spitfire threads. Actually, sod them - new thread!

[thx6667]

I bought one in the previous boxing when it came out last year. At the time I could not understand why, unlike their other releases, Airfix only included one decal option. Also, why was it in a horrid end-opening box? Maybe it was aimed more at the younger market as it was one or two quid cheaper.

That's how I'd read it - Series 1 is the entry level, single scheme keeping a low price point with extra bits and decals added to a Series 2 release.

[Work In Progress]

True. And how nice to have a set of very usable decals, with full stencilling, for one aircraft, than an unusable sheet for two aircraft, which is what we all too often used to get with earlier Airfix kits.

[3DStewart]

Mmm, interesting - so how does the Rotol prop compare with the 3D one?

Here's a comparison of the two:

Obviously, I'm not an impartial commentator, but the photo shows the difference.

Edited May 16, 2011 by 3DStewart

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

Just to be clear we (MJW Models) can get AZ and Admiral Spitfires/Seafires for people cheaper than Hannants and without the need to resort to buying from foreign sellers. So we can do decent prices for UK customers.

http://www.mjwmodels.co.uk/home

thanks

Mike

[lufbramatt]

in "spitfire the history" it gives the diameter of the rotol prop as 10'3", with the Dehavilland prop being 10'9". Which gives a scale diameter of 43.4mm, not 45.5mm. So I think airfix may have been right with the smaller diameter?

[3DStewart]

in "spitfire the history" it gives the diameter of the rotol prop as 10'3", with the Dehavilland prop being 10'9". Which gives a scale diameter of 43.4mm, not 45.5mm. So I think airfix may have been right with the smaller diameter?

All sorts of blades were trialled on the Spitfire, but Rotol blade RA640 (the standard fit on early to mid MK II Spitfires) was definitely 10' 9".

If you want a quick scan of the confusion around propeller types on early Spitfires have a look at this thread on another board.

Stewart

Edited May 22, 2011 by 3DStewart

[Wez]

Finally got my sticky mitts on one and I'm quite pleased - I liked the new Spitfire I kit and this now allows me to make an early Mk.I, a BoB era Mk.1a, a Mk.II and even an early Va thanks to the inclusion of the later oil cooler. Well done Airfix

My only complaint is the captions for 118Sqn, the name of the RAF Station is Ibsley not Ivesley.

Wez

[Jazzie]

Dont post on here often as im not up to the standard of some(ok most) others on here. I am getting better though!

I have a bit of a Spitfire obsession just now and having bought 2 of the new boxing i thought it rude not to try a quick build. Having built the Ia boxing twice now, i found although the fuselage halfs pointed away from each other it still fitted together well barring one of the wing roots. The new boxing i have seems to be a quantum leap ahead as the fuselage halfs almost clicked together and there was virtually no step at the wing root!!!

Just have to throw some paint at her and its finished!

Arabest,

Geoff.

[Pete Tarttelin]

Hi I'm new to this game but have been hoarding kits for 20+ years and it's about time I started making them again! I've recently bought the Mk I/II and it does seem to have an Mk V oil cooler and fishtail exhausts (with small pipes around them) so I guess a new Mk V should be in the offing at some point. I've emailed Airfix but had no reply yet. I presume the 'new' Mk Vb boxing is in fact the old one.

Pete