Airfix Spitfire FR Mk XIV, 1/48th scale, Kit A05135

I have been looking forward to the arrival of this kit for some time.  The Mk XIV was the most advanced version of the Spitfire to see action in WWII.

A number of fairly critical kit reviews have appeared on YouTube from reputable channels, and that bothered me as I began the kit.  Unfortunately, the criticism was not unfounded.  For a kit that came on the market in 2019, the fit problems are simply not excusable.

I used three kinds of putty getting the airframe together:  Perfect Putty, Vallejo Acrylic Putty and Tamiya Putty. The gap between the wings and the fuselage and the lower air intake were the worst offenders.  Forward cowling top, part B01, has a loose fit, to be kind.

All the above being said, are these gaps a big deal?  I don’t think so.  I have come to expect this kind of thing with Airfix kits.  Just don’’t believe the hype in the British model magazines. These kits do not assemble as well as Tamiya or Eduard kits, nor are they as well-detailed.  But, they are a lot less expensive.

The kit is molded with the light blue styrene that is somewhat soft and has the tendency to tear even if you cut it very carefully.  I wish they used the same kind of plastic other manufacturers use.

Ultimately, with some extra effort, Airfix kits turn out okay.  And, getting decent models of such aircraft as the Spitfire Mk. XIV or the P-40C Warhawk, they are worth the challenge.  And, in the 1/72 range, the new Airfix kits are very nice.

In spite of some fit problems, I like Airfix kits. 

Some of the paints and other materials used:
    Vallejo Model Air 71.078 Gold Yellow
    Vallejo Model Air 71.003 Red
    Vallejo Model Air 71.080 Rust
    Vallejo Model Air 71.096 Panzer Olive (DarkGreen)
    Vallejo Model Air 71.049 Medium Sea Grey
    Vallejo Model Air 71.051 Barley Grey
    Vallejo Model Color 70.873 US Field Drab
    Vallejo Model Color 70.891 Intermediate Green

    Tamiya Acrylic X-18 Semi-gloss Black
    Tamiya Acrylic XF-71 Cockpit Green

    Microscale Micro Flat
    Microscale Micro Satin

    Tamiya Putty - White
    Vallejo Plastic Putty
    Perfect Plastic Putty

Pros
Very desirable subject.

Excellent decals with markings for two aircraft - one end of the war Spitfire in camouflage and one natural metal post-war version.  Very well-printed.  Went down well with Tamiya Mark Fit Strong.

Very clear assembly instructions.

Nice price for a 1/48th scale kit.

Cons
Number of gaps to fill.

Decals - prop logos shattered

All colors called out with Humbrol numbers only.  I made a chart translating those numbers to Tamiya and Vallejo paints before I started.

 As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.

Airfix N.A. P-51D Mustang, 1/72 scale, Kit No. A01004A - VERSION TWO

The Kit & Build

The lead photo may look a bit strange.  This is what happens when one foolishly allows the family cat (a 15 pound yellow tabby named Mr. Rudy) to snoop about the model room and he sees a spot three feet off the floor to explore.  I call it the Cat-astrophe.  Mr. Rudy jumped and landed right in the middle of my slowly growing 1/72nd scale collection. 

A number of models were damaged beyond repair, including an Airfix P-51D in RAF markings I had previously presented here on this blog.  (Upper right in photo) It was such a nice little kit and such fun to build, I decided to do another one.  And, the Xtradecal sheet had many more aircraft markings to select from.

This iteration of the Airfix 1/72 scale Mustang comes with markings for a USAAF blue nose Mustang of the 352nd Fighter Group.  It is the same mold they have had in their catalog for a few years now.

How does it compare with the Tamiya kit, which I have also presented here?  In terms of detail and fit, Tamiya wins.  No surprise there.  However, the Airfix kit is nicely enough detailed and many dollars cheaper.  I enjoy building both manufacturer’s kits. 

My biggest complaint about Airfix is the panel lines are too wide and deep.  I recognize that more precise and detailed surface detail would add much to the cost of the kit, so I live with it depending what I am looking for. 

If I want a model that takes me months (off and on) to build and wow everyone with the result, I would start with the Tamiya.  If I am looking for a quicker build to add a particular aircraft to my collection (like a natural metal US aircraft in RAF markings), I am happy with Airfix.  I am in this hobby to have fun.  Airfix kits are fun to build. 

Another point about Airfix is that the plastic is soft and the sprue gates are wide resulting in difficulties with separating the parts from the runner without damaging the part’s surface.  For example, the radio antenna (not an example of the mold maker’s art in the first place) was impossible to remove without damaging it beyond repair.  The one on this model I fabricated from sheet styrene. 

And, sharp eyes may note there is no pitot tube on this model.  It suffered the same demise the antenna did the I tried to remove it from the sprue and since it is on the bottom of the right wing, I simply left it off.  If it had been on the leading edge, I would have made one from stretched sprue.

All the above being said, I am still very happy with the result or I would not be publishing it here.

Here are the paints I used:

Vallejo Model Air 71010 Interior Green
Vallejo Model Air 71-078 Gold Yellow
Vallejo Model Air 71.057 Black
Vallejo Model Air 71.103 Grey
Vallejo Model Air 71.003
Vallejo Model Air 71.063 Silver
Vallejo Model Color 70.988 Khaki
Vallejo Surface Primer 73.660 Gloss Black
Vallejo Metal Color 77.701 Aluminum
Vallejo Metal Color 77.702 Duraluminum
Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color - Black

I have been very pleased with the Vallejo Metal Color paints used in conjunction with their Gloss Black surface primer.  It was easy to achieve a natural metal finish and use the darker duraluminum for the panel around the exhaust pipes and the gun cover panels in the wing.  These paints are the first product I have used successfully to achieve a natural metal finish.  And, you can mask over the metal fish with Tamiya tape or Post-its with no fears of lifting the metal paint when removing the masking.

I use the Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color to bring out the surface details, and I am happy with the way it looks.  Somehow it gives the finish a more natural look.

Decals

 

Xtradecal X72131 P-51D Mustang Mk IV in RAF, RCAF and RAAF service provided the markings.  I chose the markings for No. 154 Squadron at RAF Hudson in March 1945.  According to Wikipedia, the squadrons that received the Mustang Mk IV (i.e., the P-51D) only had them during the final two months of the war.  How long they remained in service with the RAF after that, I do not know.  Since demobilization was fairly rapid, I doubt many of them were in active service by the end of 1946.

The finished model is rather small, as one can see from the Vallejo bottle. 

As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.

Eduard Spitfire Ixc Early Edition ProfiPACK (Converted to Late edition) Kit #8282

The Kit

Actually, the kit I used was an Early Edition, but all the parts needed for the Late Edition are in there too.  Some time ago, I had pirated the markings, the masks and some parts from this ProfiPACK kit for another project.  I put the reminder away for another day.

At some point, Eduard offered a Spitfire in Israeli Defense Force service markings.  But for the fact I simply had accumulated too many ProfiPACK kits in my stash, I would have bought it.

Then I saw Techmod decal set 48064, with markings for Spitfires in IDF service.   After examining this kit,  I found that all the parts for a Late Edition with the clipped wings and the cannons mounted outboard were all there.  All I needed were for the Late Edition instructions to identify the correct parts.   That was easily easily available on the Eduard website.

Confused?  I hope not.  The kit went together perfectly with no issues.  The Eduard Spitfires are well-known and do not require much recounting here.  This is my second Eduard 1/48th scale Spitfire, and I was again unable to figure out the odd arrangement of parts for the exhaust manifolds.  But that was no issue as they fit perfectly without all the parts called for.  Some of the parts are extremely small and difficult to work with.  However, patience will be rewarded.

Tamiya paint was used over Tamiya Surface Primer.  Colors used were:

    XF-10 - Flat Brown
    XF-19 - Sky Grey
    XF58 -  Olive Green
    XF-71 - Cockpit Green (IJN) - appears to be the same of Pale Green RAF cockpit color.

The red stripes on the tail were masked off and painted and came out really well.  I used Vallejo Model Air Red/RLM 23, 71.003.

The Techmod decals work very well and settled down with Tamiya Mark Fit (regular strength).  Mark Fit Strong should be reserved for heavier decals, such as Tamiya's own.  Techmod decals come from Poland, and they are very high quality and beautifully printed.  Full color instructions/diagrams are included.  This is my second model using them, and I am quite pleased.  I obtained mine from Hannant’s in the UK.

Historical Information

Looks like White 26 has been reduced to gate guard status.  Or maybe it is another one.  My research told me that the Czechs painted over the RAF Dark Sea Grey with Dark Earth and left the Dark Green and Medium Sea Grey alone. Who knows for sure about these things with no contemporary color photos?   Photo by Oren Rozen.   

Operation Velvetta  involved the ferrying of some 60 Spitfires purchased by the the newly created State of Israel in 1948 from Czechoslovakia at $23,000 per plane.  Israel was involved in a rapidly expanding war with their Arab neighbors.  See Wikipedia article here.

During the war, there was actually an air battle where Egyptian Spitfires fought Israeli Spitfires.   Another ironic fact is that Israel also flew a number of Bf109 ex-Luftwaffe fighters.

Although the U. S. was the first country to recognize the Jewish state upon its creation, the arms cornucopia had not opened at that point.  Israel had to make do with what could be bought on the open market.  Only 4 years after the end of World War II, there was a lot of war material available for purchase.

I was very pleased to be able to add this Spitfire to my collection.

 As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.

Hobby Boss M706 Commando Armored Car in Vietnam, #82418, 1/35 scale

I was one of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam during the war (9.8% of the male members of the Baby Boom generation).  In my case, it was as a member of the U.S. Army Intelligence Service.

I spent some of my time in country at Tan Son Nhut, the air base just outside Saigon.  Security at Tan Son Nhut was the responsibility of the USAF and some ARVNs.  The Air Force guys had M706 Commando Armored cars they rode around in, only their model had a single .50 caliber M2 mount on the top, not the twin .30 caliber M1919 mount this kit replicates.

The Air Force guys would ride around wearing those huge ear protectors the guys wore on the flight line.   Inter-service rivalry required that we say something, so we not-all-that-bright Army guys would make fun of their “ear muffs”.  Haha.  So funny.  Of course, those USAF guys are home now listening to their TV’s without the volume so high that one can hear it in the next county.

With that background, and never having made a Hobby Boss kit, I was immediately attracted to this one.

Generally, I liked the kit.  It went together well with no huge problem areas.  I had to use some putty on the front to eliminate some gaps, but they may have been more my fault than theirs.  There is a partial interior.   I say “partial” because the main pieces are there, such as the crew seats and the engine cover, but there is little other detail.  The driver’s seat has to be too small, and maybe the entire drivers compartment is too small.  I don’t know.  However, I closed all the hatches, so the only way it can be viewed is to remove the turret, which is easily done.

I liked the separate clear windows.  The vinyl tires left something  to be desired.  They have an indented seam in the center of the tread that is way too deep to be sanded out.  Otherwise, the tires are nice, but I would have preferred plastic.

There is a fret containing two stone guards for the headlights, a nice touch.  The decals went on very well with Tamiya Mark Fit.  The markings are for two Army MP vehicles, and I selected the one with the colorful name on front.  (For those who don’t know, “Blind Faith” was a short-lived “super group” formed by Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton in 1969-1970.)

Here are two Internet kit reviews I found useful:

Armor Modeling and Preservation Society

Perth Military Modelling Site ((Perth, Western Australia)

This is my second Vietnam War vehicle.  I have gathered some after market items for a Tamiya M48A3 I will be building at some point. 

All in all, this was an enjoyable build and I recommend it to modelers interested in the Vietnam War.

A tab made of masking tape provides a helpful method for quickly finding the correct sprue.  On the upper right, you can see part of the foamcore base I made for my adhesive bottle to prevent spills.  Don't ask me why I made that.

As always, thank you for visiting my blog.  Comments are always welcome.