Recommended 1/48 Spitfire MkIX Models

[Guest]

Hi general I can find what I’m looking for on this forum from tips, help and inspiration.

I’m looking to make a 1/48 replica on the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s MkIX Spitfire MK356.

Can you recommend which 1/48 scale model to go for?

[Ian M]

Well if you are prepared to build a spitfire rather than just stick it together, the Best MkIX has to be the one from ICM..

It has the shape and the size of a Mk IX. One thing is the lack of locating pins. Its a line it up and glue it kind of thing. The fit is good (mostly :-) ) and the detail is also very good. If I reacall it even has the engine in it..

I love ICM spitfires, some hate them but its the best one out there.

Ian M

[stona]

I don't disagree with Ian about the ICM kit,but if you want something that looks like a Spitfire and would be an easier project the new(ish) Airfix release,from 2005/6 I think, will do a good job too.

Steer clear of the Hasegawa kit.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thank you for replying.

I have never hear of ICM before (possible down to the fact that the local model shop only stock Airfix or Tamiya) so I will have to have a bit of a look on Google, but it sound a bit scary without the locating pins.

@Stona can I ask why stay clear of the Hasegawa kit? I like to buy kits from people’s experiences rather than name and price.

Thank you

[Ian M]

The hasegawa spitfire is 4mm to short tail to cock pit. And about the same from the windscreen to spinner. The fuselage is to deep, the wing is to wide......Costs twice as much as the Airfix and almost three times as much as the ICM one.. John at the Scale model shop has just the one you need for £12!!! ICM 1/48 Danish Air Force Spitfire HF.IXE 48079 And for every pound you spend at the shop you get a point, and what do points make........No not prises... money.

For every 100 points you get £5 to spend in the shop!

Dont worry about the fact its a Danish one, lol, You will be finding Decals for the BBMF spit somewhere else I assume. One thing ICM can't do are decals, they are utterly worthless. They fall apart as soon as they hit the water....

Not trying to push the point but the ICM is a much better kit than the Airfix one and the detail is better. Its just not a typical build self Tamiya kind of kit. Just take your time and you will be fine.

Ian M

[Guest]

@Ian M picked a ICM for £8.99. Did you have sink holes if so what did you use to fill them?

[Guest]

Hi glued.

I'm building one at the mo and have filled the many sink holes using good old humbrol stuff in a tube (every time I pick it up I find more filling is needed!).

The lack of pins doesn't seem to cause too much trouble, things line up quite well. One tip I have picked up is don't try to fit the engine, apparently it causes fit issues around the nose area. I'm building my engine as a static display in a trolley, its not a bad base to start from (to my eye anyway!).

[Ian M]

I use Humbrol thinned down with a drop of either liquid poly or cellulose thinner, Be aware that if you make it to runny it will leave a scare! I thin it just enough so I can put it in the holes with a brush.

You can also use that white stuff for correcting typing with, Tipex...

Leaving the engine out does make it easier to fit the nose but its actually the frames that cause the bother .... :-/

Nether the less a nice Spitfire will come out of it.

Ian M

[chameleon 2009]

Airfix have a very good kit out, here is the finished item[ATTACH]48607.vB[/ATTACH][ATTACH]48608.vB[/ATTACH][ATTACH]48609.vB[/ATTACH][ATTACH]48610.vB[/ATTACH][ATTACH]48611.vB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51446.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51447.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51448.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51449.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]51450.IPB[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

Nice build chameleon. Is that an out the box build or have you added some aftermarket parts?

[Ian M]

Its a nice build Mike but that's a Mk XII, Glued is talking MkIX...

All very confusing these Roman numerals :-)

Ian M