THREE MORE SPITFIRES

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Although I do actually build other aircraft (and AFVs!) as well, I have to confess that the plethora of Spitfire variants available, combined with a fascination for such an iconic aircraft, make the Spitfire a definite “go to”, so I’ve just completed a more or less simultaneous build of three more Spitfires to add to my collection – and of the three latest builds, two of them were Airfix!

The first was the Airfix 1/72 PRXIX model. I’d already done one in Swedish livery, so this one was built to represent the other set of decals in the box, that of 81 Squadron in 1954, based in Malaysia, which is interesting in itself because I was living there at the time (although as a two year old, I wouldn’t have much recollection thereof!). I added to the OOB decals with some spare stencils for late variant Spitfires, and also I put a bit of wheel-well detail in before putting the wings together. The driver was an addition from the spares box as the kit supplied one was completely out of scale.

The second of the trio, again an Airfix model was the delightful to build new mould 1/72 Mk Vc – again built OOB and representing the 307^th Fighter Squadron based in North Africa in 1942. Interesting to do it as a ‘different’ colour scheme, complete with blotted out roundels on the upper wing, and the shark mouth decal – whilst needing a large amount of Microsol – enlivens the look. It was a real pleasure to build this one – being a new mould, it’s exceptionally well-engineered and went together very well.

The third one saw a deviation from Airfix, because it was the AM Models 1/72 scale Floatplane variant, of which only a very few were actually built – three, as far as I could discover. And it was a nightmare to build! What a shame Airfix don’t do this otherwise rather interesting and impactful version. To get the lower extension to the tail plane involves a certain amount of micro-saw surgery and lots of filling to get the supplied part to fit and blend in with the back of the fuselage, and the lack of locating pins was an additional headache. If I were doing it again, I’d buy the kit just for the floats (which seem to be quite accurate) and graft them on to an Airfix model, also using the AM supplied tail-plane bottom. I also had to source replacement decals because the AM-supplied ones were more or less see-through, and fell apart anyway...

So three inevitably similar looking – in terms of basic shape anyway – aircraft, but each with a very different story to tell, and each, in their own way, enjoyable to build. They were all brush-painted, using my usual Vallejo Model Air acrylics. Thanks for looking.

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I've just checked my original text - and the floatplane kit was actually made by PM Models, not AM as I posted. Apologies. I can only blame the time of day (pm rather than am...). That said, if you're willing to overcome some of the fit issues of the kit, and don't mind using lots of filler, it does build into a reasonable facsimile of a very rare variant.

For info, the base is just a piece of foam board with bits cut out to take the floats, and painted/textured using thick artist's acrylic paints.