Supermarine Spitfire MkI, II, V

'SOLID' TIPS FOR MODELLERS
by JOHN BLAKE
• Plastic modelling kits are all the rage again with 'keen' types

It is a curious fact that the Hurricane and Spitfire, though frequently produced, are almost always the most inaccurate of any kit—a fate shared in this range by the Me 109.

RAF Flying Review October 1958 Vol. XIV, No 2

Over the counter
FROG

In their 2s 9d range plastics, latest are the Thunderbolt, Typhoon, Kittyhawk and Fw190. The plastic parts are moulded in the colour of the undersides of the respective aircraft so that only the upper surface need camouflage. Future additions will include the Wellington, Hapmden, Spitfire, Lancaster, D.H.Rapide and Blenheim.

Model aircraft, April 1959 года

Trade Notes

The TRIANG Toy Fair included the range of International Model Aircraft and brought many new items to light, most impressive being the two versions of the new Frog 349 diesel, and the new range of World War II fighters to 1/72nd scale in plastic. Retailing at 2s. 9d., the W.W. II series includes the Kittyhawk, Typhoon, Thunderbolt, Focke Wulf 190 (radial version) and Zero. Each is moulded in the underside colour and will, we are sure, more than satisfy those who demand a high standard of accuracy in detail... Included in the projected range of plastics are: Fairey Rotodyne, Spitfire II, Blenheim I, Hampden, Wellington. Dragon Rapide, all to 1/72nd scale and the 1/96th scale Lancaster.

AeroModeller 1959-04

Over the counter
FROG

The latest addition to the FROG "World War Fighters" series of 1/72nd plastic models is Spitfire. Much care has been devoted to the preparation of this model, particularly around the engine cowling, the exact shape of which seems to elude most manufacturers. Production of the long awaited Rotodyne is also well advanced, and it may be in the shop by the time this issue appears. Other FROG plastics in preparation are the Blenheim, Hampden and Wellington. Altough no price has yet been fixed they will probably retail for around 3s 6d each, and will, we are sure, be extremly popular.

Model Aircraft october 1959

Over the counter
Under 2s 6d

From FROG this month we have a long awaited addition to thier 2s 6d World War II Fighters series in the shape of the Spitfire Mk II. Modeled in light-blue plastic to 1/72nd scale, attractivly boxed kit makes up into an accurate reproduction of one of the prettiest marks of Spit.

Model Aircraft december 1959

Model Talks
IN BRIEF:

Frog have issued a Spitfire II (price 2s. 6d.). Frog are also selling a Wellington 1c bomber which, with an 81-inch wing span, is considerably smaller than 1/72nd and which sells at 3s. 6d.

—Geoffrey Norris

RAF Flying Review January, 1960, Vol. XV, No. 5

Trade Notes

Frog's new plastic series includes a fine 1/72nd scale Spitfire, but be careful to get markings right way round with ZP for 74 Sqdn, together on both sides of fuselage, not as provided on transfers.

AeroModeller 1960-01

MODEL TALK
by Geoffrey Norn's
COMING NEXT MONTH:

Also coming under scrutiny are the Lancaster (price 6s. 6d.) and Spitfire II from Frog.

RAF Flying Review May, 1960, Vol. XV, No. 9

NEW AND IN VIEW NEW AIRCRAFT KITS
FROG.

For some little time now rumour has had it that Frog were revising and updating many of their older kits, and at the Brighton Toy Fair rumour became fact with the release of those described below. Retailing at 3/- each in a new clear plastic pack, complete with coloured dramatic art on the front and the now very popular Profile style drawings on the back of the display card, these will certainly catch the eye in any model shop display.

Each kit has had all traces of the original surface detail removed and replaced by fine and accurate new detail. Unfortunately, costs have prevented full corrections, and such refinements as cut-out wheel wells are still omitted. Cockpit canopies have received attention where necessary and are far better than in the original kits, while completely new markings and insignia are given, two alternatives being provided for each type as follows :-
Spitfire la/5a -
Mk.1A, 19 Sqdn. R.A.F. September 1940
Mk.VA W/Cdr. Douglas Bader's aircraft, Tangmere Wing 1941.

The very high standard of decals common to all Frog kits of recent months is maintained in these 'packaged' kits. AII are matt or semi-gloss with excellent register, and the minute detailing, such as that on 'kill' markings or the MC 202 insignia, is clearly readable if one uses a magnifying glass.

It is to be hoped that other kits from the Frog range will be upgraded similarly as time goes by, and we look forward to these in due course.

The IPMS magazine, February 1969 VOL.6 No.2

NEW LAMPS FOR OLD

COMMENDABLE venture by Frog is the revision of many of their older kits of 1 :72 scale aircraft models, which have just been ãeissued in a new series in polythene bags. All the moulds have been 're-worked' very deftly to eliminate such features as etched markings positions which marred some of the older items, and add accurate new panel detail and other surface improvements. We reviewed the old Fw 190 which had been so treated a few months back. Now this kit also appears in the 'bagged' series together with all the following: Hurricane, Tempest V, Me 109F, Typhoon. P-47. Zero, Spitfire, Sea Fury, Fokker D21, MS 406, and Macchi MC 202. Big new feature is the provision of completely new, splendidly accurate and imaginative transfer sheets, each of which gives a choice of two sets of markings. We had two samples from the range, the Spitfire and the MC 202. The Spitfire has transfers for either a Mk I of No 19 Sqn in September, 1940, or Bader's Mk Va of 1941, the quality of the new markings being excellent. Fine details include walkway markings and stencilled maintenance instructions and the modest price of the kit, 3s, would not be unreasonable for the transfer sheet alone! Whichever markings the modeller uses, he gets a spare set of value for other models. The MC 202 has a similar choice of two colourful marking schemes, probably the most accurate yet for a model of an Italian aircraft. The only improvement not possible, it seems, on the older Frog kiis is the etching out of the 'solid1 wheel wells, though the average modeller can do this himself, or use solid black transfer sheet which is surprisingly effective.

This improved Frog Spitfire is certainly a 'good buy' (even with the 'solid' wheel wells), which captures the graceful character of the early Spits absolutely perfectly. Added feature of all the kits is a colour plan on the card backing sheet which acts as a painting guide for the model. On our Spitfire, however, the printing was poor and the colour guide would confuse a novice who knew nothing about camouflage of 1940! This 'new lamps for old' policy by Frog is most refreshing and should be welcomed by 1:72 scale aircraft builders. Our samples, at 3s each, came from Jones Bros of Chiswick who can supply the whole range by post.
C.O.E.

Airfix magazine 1969-06

NEW to YOU?
MONTHLY REVIEW OF NEW PRODUCTS CONDUCTED BY BOB JONES OF I.P.M.S

We are still receiving for review new items obviously designed to fall in with the Battle of Britain film and its attendant publicity.

FROG have introduced some of their kits in two-some boxed sets: These being the Spitfire/Ju 88, Blenheim Mk. 1/Bf.109F and Hurricane IIC/Ju 87D, each set retailing at 10/6d.

For the extra value over the combined price of the two kits, one receives a most attractive box, the front of which features an excellent action painting featuring the aeroplanes provided. One is given a plastic picture frame into which this box top illustration is placed and two display stands which also fit on to the frame. The models may then be mounted on these and the whole hung on the wall of one's den or office etc. The frame is a sturdy unit moulded in polystyrene with a faked wooden 'grain' and colouring, which from a distance looks like an expensive picture surround. The kits for the aircraft are, of course, identical to those which one may buy separately. Taking into account the value of the kits plus the very high quality of the decals, together with the frame and stand mounts at 10/6d. this is good value for money and provides a new and unique method of display.

Scale Models No.5 1970 FEBRUARY Vol.1 No.5

A triple double

From Frog we have received a trio of double kits presented in novel fashion, each having a moulded frame for the box-top which is intended to be affixed to a wall with brackets to support the two models, a single- and a twin-engined type in each case, the twin being provided with electric motors for each of its airscrews. The overall effect is both attractive and decorative, though perhaps of limited interest to the serious modeller as all the aircraft kits have been available individually for some time.

The pairs comprise the Bristol Beaufighter and Focke-Wulf Fw 190A, the Junkers Ju 88A and the Supermarine Spitfire IA, and the Bristol Beaufort and the Messerschmitt Bf 109F. The kits themselves vary widely in quality, and where faults — such as the completely inaccurate cowlings of the Beaufort — were present when originally issued, they survive as re-issued in this new form. Nevertheless, priced at 99p per pair they represent relatively good value for money.

Air Enthusiast 1973-07 vol.05 no.01

Over the counter

Lindberg Products Ltd. are a firm well known in America for their large range of ¼ in. = 1 ft. scale plastic solids, and now, under an exchange agreement, the dies are being loaned to a British manufacturer for production over here. First off the line will be a Spitfire II and a Mig 19; both will retail at 7s. 11d. and should by now be in your model shop. These will be followed by a Cutlass and a Thunderceptor at 12s. each.

Peter Smith, of 40A, Parsons Mead, Croydon, who is one of the trade distributors of these kits, tells us that because of the demand in America the moulds can only be loaned for one month at a time; it is, however, anticipated that this will allow sufficient to be made to fulfil all demands.
Model aircraft, november 1956

За прилавком

Lindberg Products Ltd. - фирма, хорошо известная в Америке благодаря большому ассортименту пластиковых монолитных моделей в масштабе ¼ дюйма = 1 фут, и теперь, по соглашению об обмене, пресс-формы переданы британскому производителю для производства здесь. Первыми с конвейера сойдут Spitfire II и Mig 19; оба будут продаваться в розницу по цене 7 шиллингов 11 пенсов и уже должны быть в вашем модельном магазине. За ними последуют Cutlass и Thunderceptor по 12 шиллингов каждый.

Питер Смит, 40A, Parsons Mead, Croydon, который является одним из торговых дистрибьюторов этих наборов, говорит нам, что из-за спроса в Америке формы могут быть предоставлены только на один месяц за раз; однако ожидается, что это позволит изготовить достаточное количество форм, чтобы удовлетворить все потребности.
Model aircraft, 1956 ноябрь

MODEL TALK BY PHILIP BURDEN
ALL TO ONE SIZE
Constant scale from Revell should please

Conversion jobs have always been featured prominently in this column and now I am pleased to announce one of the most welcome conversion jobs for a long time. It is the conversion of the Revell company to a constant scale! For years Revell have been giving us excellent models but many have been upset because their kits had little uniformity in scale. Now comes a series of World War II fighters all to the popular 1/72nd scale. I first made a mention of a new range of nine Revell models some months ago but as they were in the blue-print stage at that time was only able to give the briefest details. Since then four of the models—the Spitfire II, Hurricane IIB, Fw 190 A-4 and A6M5 Zero—arrived at RAP Flying Review offices for close inspection, and these should now be in the shops. The other kits are of the Bf 109E, P-47D Thunderbolt, P-51D Mustang, Tempest V, and Kawasaki Hien, and these too will soon be appearing.

Taking the Spitfire first, it is certainly a smart model and my only real criticism is that the wings are too straight. On the credit side the spinner and three-bladed propeller are very nice and general detail is excellent. Transfers should also please. One special point of interest is the sliding canopy which adds a real touch of authenticity to this model.

Turning to the Hurricane, this, like the Spitfire, is another polished job. Again detail is good and transfers of a high standard, making it a worthy companion for the Spitfire in any display.

Not so good are the Fw 190 and Zero as regards detail and transfers. Both, however, are accurate and with the Fw 190 I suggest modellers substitute Frog 190 transfers which include the swastika which is always omitted in Revell boxes.

RAF Flying Review April, 1963, Vol. XVIII, No. 8

The IPMS magazine, may/june 1975
New kit reviews
AIRFIX SPITFIRE Vb (Series 2)

First impressions are of wide open spaces; the Hurricane box was full, but this is really a Series I kit in a Series 2 box. Not that I would object if the manufacturer were anybody but Airfix! Disappointment soon fades as one examines the 33 useful plus 2 optional parts. Outline accuracy is of an extremely high order; apart from a slight doubt about the radius of curvature of the dorsal fin fillet I am unable to fault the main airframe. The "gull" section under the wing fillets is captured beautifully, and the general 'Spitfirishness' is delightful. Details are also very good. Especially worthy of note are the wheels and undercarriage, prop, spinner and exhausts. The oil cooler is moulded in two halves to get a nice hollow effect, but seems a shade short, not enough to notice. The cockpit detail is limited to seat, floor, rear bulkhead and gunsight. This latter is nice, though it would have been better as a transparency of course. It needs its mounting shortening a little. All the little bumps and bulges around the engine and guns are there, but no cannon shell ejection slots. Panel lines over most of the airframe are raised, and for the most part in the right place, though those over the cannon bays are missing. These can of course be scribed in with no difficulty. However, the main engine cowling panels are surrounded by slit-trenches, and the Dzus fasteners would scale up to coffee-cup sizes.

Fit of parts is generally very good, but the upper wing leading edges need a little trimming at the root, to ensure that the mating face fits snugly to the lower half. The fillets also need some packing (about .010" Plasticard) or the wing bottom will go too deeply into the fuselage. Incidentally Airfix have been very crafty in splitting the wing/ fuselage joint along genuine panel lines - an indication of the care and thought which has gone into this kit. If they had also made the tailplanes and tailwheel a snug fit - all three items are very sloppy - I would have appreciated such touches more. A touch of ,005 " Plasticard cures all ills, though, except the sink marks above the exhausts which need filler.

The canopy is very good and a near-perfect fit, but will benefit from a careful polish inside and out. Transfers are for BM144, "RF-D"of 303 (Polish) Sqn. R.A.F., and EN851, "MX-D" of the 307th F.S., 31st F.G., 8th U.S.A.A.F., U.K., September 1942. The latter codes are white, which I cannot confirm. The smaller details, such as personal and kill markings, are a bit fuzzy and the roundels are, of course, off register. But even by today's standards it is not a bad sheet.

Instructions follow the usual symbolic style and apart from some artistic confusion over the undercarriage in stages 5 and 6 are quite satisfactory. One hopes that Airfix Deep Cream Ml 5 is a reasonable match for M.A.P. Chrome Yellow!

Overall this is a very nice one indeed of a late production Vb, with external b.p. windscreen, pointed spinner, broad root-chord propellor and "fish-tail" exhausts. Were it not for the coarse panel joints, this could have been the "definitive" early-model Spit for which we have been waiting. It should do well - but it would do better still if it had any or all of such options as an early-type prop and spinner, tropical intakes (either or both) drop-tanks .......... there is room on the sprues and this kit is obviously due for further production runs. How about it, Airfix?
Useful References:
Scale Models April 1971 - or equivalent M.A.P. plan pack.
Profile No. 166.
Camouflage & Markings Nos. 1 & 21.
Fighting Colours and of course innumerable back numbers of IPMS Mag, the "Q" and Airfix Magazine.
B.D.

A masterly Spit Five

After so many years of modifying, converting and adapting — even cross-kitting — to achieve an accurate representation of the Spitfire, the 1/72nd scale addicts are at last relaxing with basically accurate kits that enable them to produce, with the minimum of effort, models of most of the Merlin-engined versions of this fighter from prototype to Mk IX. We have recently welcomed Hasegawa's Spitfire I and Frog's Spitfire VIII-IX, and now, to complete a fine trio of kits, comes an excellent Spitfire Vb from Airfix. We were less than enthusiastic about this company's recent P-51D Mustang, but in the case of the Spitfire we have no cause for complaint at all, awarding it top marks for accuracy and very nearly so for detail, although, in the latter respect, the modeller will find a few items to add, particularly in the area of the cockpit. The planforms of the wings and tailplane are absolutely right and the fuselage lines have been beautifully reproduced — of special merit are the concave sections under the wing trailing edges where they meet the fuselage and which have been simulated perfectly by dint of moulding integrally with the wing underside — and surface detailing is fine, the bumps and bulges in the wing surfaces enclosing the undercarriage and guns all being present and nicely to scale. The landing gear doors are of correct scale proportions as are also the wheels. Alternative one-piece mouldings are included in the kit for assembly in the retracted position if preferred. The airscrew and spinner are separate mouldings, making a neat assembly, and the exhaust ports are also separate parts. The 35 component parts of this kit are moulded in light blue plastic and their fit is particularly good. The decal sheet is up to Airfix's highest standards, providing markings for an aircraft of No 303 Sqdn or for a reverse lend-lease USAAF machine. What more can we say! The kit is included in Airfix's Series 2 and is priced at 34p in the UK.

Air Enthusiast 1975-05 vol.08 no.05

... and others from Heller and Airfix

The WW II aircraft model addicts have been particularly well catered for recently as, in addition to the previously-mentioned Frog offerings, we have received Heller's l/72nd scale Supermarine Spitfire I and Airfix's Lockheed P-38F Lightning, also to l/72nd scale. Heller's Spitfire is perhaps more accurately described as being to about l/75th scale, and is a big improvement over the Messerschmitt Bf 109F from the same company, if still leaving very much to be desired. There are serious errors in the outline of this model, notably the rudder shape and the line of the top of the engine cowling which is too flat forward of the windscreen. The undercarriage covers are too thick and clumsy-looking, but may be easily replaced by new covers made from plastic sheet, while the wings have insufficient dihedral as moulded (the lower wing surface being manufactured in one piece) which must be adjusted during assembly. Cockpit detail is good, except that no control column is provided, and also on the credit side is the extremely good surface detailing and, in general, the good fit of the component parts.

The colour scheme given by Heller for its Spitfire is spurious; for the "Battle of Britain" period it should be dark green/dark earth upper surfaces with sky undersides, and as is usual with Heller decal sheets these suffer high gloss and too bright colours, although their register is accurate. The codes QV-I for an aircraft of No 19 (F) Squadron are printed in white but should, of course, be in grey. At the UK price of 30p Heller's kit is reasonable value but can only be recommended with reservation. If the modeller is willing to take the trouble to correct the previously-mentioned faults then the result can be quite pleasing. Our review sample, incidentally, came from VHF Supplies.
Air Enthusiast 1973-01 vol.04 no.01

A Nip Spit

Also from VHF Supplies and with the same £1-25 price tag comes another Hasegawa offering, this time a Supermarine Spitfire I. It is odd that it should have taken us so long to get a really accurate kit of this famous British fighter and that, when it finally reached us, it should have come from a Japanese manufacturer. Whatever its source, this 1/72nd scale kit of the Spitfire is absolutely right in all respects and really captures the graceful lines of the full-scale original.

Two airscrews are provided, a two-bladed wooden type for an early production aeroplane and the more usual three-blader, and there are alternative canopies — the original straight-lined hood and the later bulged hood. The surface detailing is really superb, and the trailing edges of the wings and tail surfaces are really knife-edged. The decal sheet provides, markings for a machine of No 19(F) Sqdn in 1939 and for an aircraft flown by No 54(F) Sqdn during the following year. If you like Spitfires — and we have yet to meet a modeller who doesn't — then you really must get this one, which is easily the best kit available in its scale and unlikely to be bettered for a long time to come, if ever!

Air Enthusiast 1975-03 vol.08 no.03