Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc vs Bf109F-4 Dogfight Doubles Gift Set (A50194) ~ Build Review

[Ratch]

Although the A55001 Spitfire Vc Beginner Kit has been around since 2020, I have never reviewed it and although I recently posted a Review Build of the A55014 Bf109F I shall build both kits OOB. The plastic was washed and air dried before I started painting the internals. Although the build will be OOB, the painting will go into further detail; foe example, the instructions give a single colour for each figure, but I shall paint them in realistic colours. The cockpit interiors were painted in the correct colours before having a black wash. This has made them a bit too dark, but maybe that’s not a bad thing.

[A J Rimmer]

Good start! 

[Ratch]

These beginner kits are well designed with great fit and low parts count. The most time-consuming activity is painting. Once assembly starts, progress is rapid, as we see here with the Spitfire.

 

 

We already know how the 109 goes together.

 

The two subjects are well matched, as they were at the time.

 

These are being brush painted, no priming, with the supplied Gift Pot acrylics.

[modeling maniac]

The paints are actually alive! Generally when I buy models with paints included the paint I haven't got I my stash is the dead one.

[Valhalla]

These kits are going to make great Christmas gifts. Time I encouraged the youngsters in my family to take up a good hobby...and upset their parents in the meantime 🤣

Great job by the way

Ian

Edited September 13 by Valhalla

[A J Rimmer]

Nice work Ratch - they're both coming along well. I started the mk.V Spitfire (from an earlier boxing) yesterday and I concur that the most time consuming aspect is the painting. 

[Ratch]

The Spitfire canopy is not glued, it merely snaps into place. 

The upper surfaces of both aircraft were brush painted with the supplied acrylics. 

My only departures from the schemes advised were to add the yellow leading edge to the Spitfire wing, to paint the upper camo scheme on the 109 as the splinter scheme (I found references for this) and the tabs red on this aircraft.

[Valhalla]

That 109 looks so good (sorry Mr. Spitfire) 🙂

Good choice with the red balance tabs too

[A J Rimmer]

Very nice builds thus far Richard, you did well doing that Luftwaffe camo with a brush. 

[Ratch]

Thanks guys, I used the kit decals applied with Microset and Microsol, with the addition of Xtradecal swastikas for the Bf109. There are some remarkably small decals that I suspect may be omitted from some builds, but they are provided for the fastidious. To finish I brushed Vallejo VA28518 Polyurethane Matt Varnish over both aircraft.

In conclusion I can say that I’ve enjoyed both builds. It is refreshing to build as I did too long ago, now. The low parts count for both kits is a benefit to both the beginner, and the experienced modeller embarking on a mojo restoring build. The beginner will learn much from building these kits, and the experienced modeller will get to employ many of the skills already acquired. I fully endorse this set and the individual kits. Treat your kids and yourselves.

[Ratch]

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc AB216, DL-Z, RAF No. 91 Squadron, Hawkinge, Kent, 1941, flown by Robert Wardlow Oxspring, DFC & Two Bars, a flying ace of the Second World War, and Messerschmitt Bf109F flown by Hans Assi Hahn, Gruppenkommandeur of Stab III. Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen", St. Pol-Brias, France 1941. 

[Dominic Thomas]

Really good. Thanks, Ratch, for sharing the build and the insight.