1/48 scale ICM Spitfire Mk. VII & Italeri Mk. XVI

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi guys,

Just bought my first 1/48 scale aircraft models (see title)
I’m planning to make all Spitfire types ever produced in 1/48 scale.

The ICM kit is really nice: exellent detail, exposing engine and guns, and that cool Mk. VII shaped wing… Only minor is that the decalsheet is a little bit out of register…

The Italeri kit is the new mould one. It looks also very nice, but has less detail then the ICM kit (altought it costs more !!), it has a very nice decalsheet: 2 versions of the RAF ( 21 and 349 sq ), 1 Free Frensh airforce, and 1 Belgian Airforce ( I’ll make that one !!! You know why ??? LOL)

Who maid these kits before or knows some reviews?
Please post them for me

Thanks in advance…

Cheers,

Jürgen

2

Jurgen,

http://www.scalevision.com/new/spitfireviicbs_1.htm

And although these are for the Spitfire IX rather than the VII, they are applicable to the VII too, since the kits are pretty much identical (the Mk IX box contains all, or almost all, the parts needed for a VII).

http://hsfeatures.com/spitfireixcwp_1.htm

http://www.lincolnmodelclub.co.uk/ICM%20Spitfire%20Mk.IX.htm

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/allies/gb/lacombespit9.htm

http://m2reviews.cnsi.net/reviews/allies/gb/cleaverspits.htm

From my experience (and that of others) , the engine is too big to accommodate the panels, so if you intend to build the kit with the engine hidden away, it seems that the consensus is to include only those parts necessary to get the exhaust stubs inthe right place; i.e. sticking out of the side of the engine panels (I’ve put that badly, but hope you know what I mean).

The Italeri Spit XVI is a reboxing of the Occidental kit. I’ve not yet unwrapped mine (it’s in the pile with the other 32 48th scale Spits I have), but I have seen rumours that Italeri tidied up some of the failings that kit had (like including decals, for starters).

You can find an in-box review at

http://armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=947

Hope that helps.

3

The ICM kit is their own tooling. It’s the most accurate of the later Mark Spits, but a much more challenging build than say the Hasegawa kit. The Italeri is a rebox of the Occidental kit… I don’t know how much, if any, Italeri cleaned it up, but the original release was harshly criticized for accuracy issues & led to the demise of Occidental.

Regards, Rick

4

Depending on which series you have, the ICM kit can have lot’s of sink marks etc. The quality control was bad at ICM. But nowadays it’s OK.
If you have one of those first production Spits, make sure that you have some putty at hand!

5

I agree with RemcoGrob. I have the Israeli (although I would have preferred British markings) version and it has severe sink marks on the wheels. I will have to use other wheels with center hubs from the ICM kit installed. Good luck on your project.