Compared to its famous adversary, the Bf109, I find that the iconic Spitfire is poorly represented in 1/32 scale, though nowhere near as badly as the Hurricane.
Having built most examples and studied reviews of the rest, here is a run-down of Spitfire kits in 1/32 scale. I am referring to mainstream injection molded kits only.
Revell Mk 1 - the old 60's vintage kit with raised panel lines. if you search around you might still find examples available. I built this in 1971, when I was age 16 and it was the first 1/32 I built. All I remember was being blown away by the size and detail, but that was then. I knew no better. It is typical of its time and is not up to today's standards.
Hasegawa Mk V. I bought this kit in October 1980, from Beatties in Brighton and the reason I remember it so well is because that very day, a few hours after purchasing it, I was present at that iconic moment in British history when the lady told us 'turn if you want to, the lady is not for turning'. It was a tropical version with the Volkes filter and this was a massive step up from the Revell kit and I thought, it at the time, it was the best fitting and engineered model I had ever built. It was my first Hasegawa and not my last, though it was the last before career and family meant that I stepped out of the hobby until 2012 when I returned.
Revell Mk II. This is a new tool kit that I have just finished as a Mk 1. If you want a Battle of Britain Spitfire in 1/32 this really is the only game in town. It is a step up from the older Revell but not as good as the Hasegawa Mk V. There are a number of accuracy issues and the Revell plastic is prone to warping.
Revell Mk IX. A basic Mk IX which I have not bothered to build and will not build. It is cheap and I know a decent Mk IX can be obtained from the kit, but there is a much better Mk IX out there.
Hobby Boss Mk V. This kit has shape issues and needs a lot of work to add detail but, although I have not built this one, I would choose this over a Revell if I wanted a cheaper Spit (but not as cheap as the Revell).
Tamiya Mk IX. This is the holy grail of Spitfire kits. Superb in ever way and you don't need to spend a penny on aftermarket to get a great result. There are improvements you could make, even though it is no more than gilding the lily. Brass cannon, a cockpit door, placards, engine rocker covers with Rolls Royce on them, will all add something, but are not essential and anything else is a waste of money.
Tamiya Mk VIII. Well, all I said about the Mk IX applies here. If though, you are building a New Zealand Squadron then some resin tyres with a pattern tread might help.
Tamiya Mk XVI. Again, all that applies to the other Tamiya's apply here. This is the clipped wing, bubble canopy version with a bomb to sling under each wing. therefore it can be quite distinctive to the other 1/32 Spits.
So which should you build...
Reasons to build one of the Revells.
Reasons to build a Tamiya
Reasons to buy a Hasegawa
Reasons to buy a HobbyBoss
That is it...... I hope that I did not leave any out.
Having built most examples and studied reviews of the rest, here is a run-down of Spitfire kits in 1/32 scale. I am referring to mainstream injection molded kits only.
Revell Mk 1 - the old 60's vintage kit with raised panel lines. if you search around you might still find examples available. I built this in 1971, when I was age 16 and it was the first 1/32 I built. All I remember was being blown away by the size and detail, but that was then. I knew no better. It is typical of its time and is not up to today's standards.
Hasegawa Mk V. I bought this kit in October 1980, from Beatties in Brighton and the reason I remember it so well is because that very day, a few hours after purchasing it, I was present at that iconic moment in British history when the lady told us 'turn if you want to, the lady is not for turning'. It was a tropical version with the Volkes filter and this was a massive step up from the Revell kit and I thought, it at the time, it was the best fitting and engineered model I had ever built. It was my first Hasegawa and not my last, though it was the last before career and family meant that I stepped out of the hobby until 2012 when I returned.
Revell Mk II. This is a new tool kit that I have just finished as a Mk 1. If you want a Battle of Britain Spitfire in 1/32 this really is the only game in town. It is a step up from the older Revell but not as good as the Hasegawa Mk V. There are a number of accuracy issues and the Revell plastic is prone to warping.
Revell Mk IX. A basic Mk IX which I have not bothered to build and will not build. It is cheap and I know a decent Mk IX can be obtained from the kit, but there is a much better Mk IX out there.
Hobby Boss Mk V. This kit has shape issues and needs a lot of work to add detail but, although I have not built this one, I would choose this over a Revell if I wanted a cheaper Spit (but not as cheap as the Revell).
Tamiya Mk IX. This is the holy grail of Spitfire kits. Superb in ever way and you don't need to spend a penny on aftermarket to get a great result. There are improvements you could make, even though it is no more than gilding the lily. Brass cannon, a cockpit door, placards, engine rocker covers with Rolls Royce on them, will all add something, but are not essential and anything else is a waste of money.
Tamiya Mk VIII. Well, all I said about the Mk IX applies here. If though, you are building a New Zealand Squadron then some resin tyres with a pattern tread might help.
Tamiya Mk XVI. Again, all that applies to the other Tamiya's apply here. This is the clipped wing, bubble canopy version with a bomb to sling under each wing. therefore it can be quite distinctive to the other 1/32 Spits.
So which should you build...
Reasons to build one of the Revells.
- You really want a Battle of Britain period model. the Mk II (or I) is the only game around.
- You don't have much cash and have difficulty saving for a more expensive kit and don't mind the inaccuracies.
- You like sanding, filling and using aftermarket to get an accurate kit.
- You are a masochist.... well that is something of an exaggeration, there are worse kits around.
Reasons to build a Tamiya
- You want an accurate, well engineered and detailed kit out of the box that is a joy to build but, still manages to provide some challenges but challenges in a good way.
- You want true value for money and are not constrained by the cost of a kit.
- You want a Mk IX - yes there is another, but do you want the best or the second best.
- You want a Mk VIII or a Mk XVI, that looks somewhat different to the other 1/32 Spits.
Reasons to buy a Hasegawa
- You want a nice but basic Mk V and don't mind raised panel lines.
Reasons to buy a HobbyBoss
- You want a newer tool Mk V and don't mind the shape issues.
That is it...... I hope that I did not leave any out.
As such, I really can’t say much about it, but it has a full interior and probably Matchbox’s typical overly large engraved panel lines and somewhat crude detail.
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