Hi, I love the spitfire and I want to build a big one. Which is the best 1:24 spitfire out there. I am asking with regard to the best build ie. fit and least amount of filler needed. I can live with inaccuracies as long as they aren’t glaring ones. Also are there any pe kits for the cockpit at this scale? Thx Itz
I can only comment on the Airfix one. The shape is supposed to be good & the ones that I have built haven’t needed a lot of filler. I have never been able to get the removable cowling panels to stay in place so have always glued them down. The biggest downers with the kit are the lack of boxed in wheel wells & the very basic cockpit.
The side wall detail stops towards the bottom & instead of having a fuselage side that should continue curving round it just opens up into a void for the wing root. Have a google for a build review & you will see what I mean about the cockpit. The detail that is there isn’t up to modern standards. The kit is over 40 years old in its defence though.
I haven’t seen any PE for the Airfix Spitfire. The only additions that I have seen are a film instrument panel & a resin control column & throttle quadrant. (all on ebay). RAF seat belts are available in 1/24th as are brass Browning’s if you choose to open the gun access panels.
I have seen some spectacular builds of the Airfix kit as it makes a great canvass to detail.
Itz
You have two choices in that scale, the old Airfix and the Trumpeter. The Airfix is almost as old as I am but I’ve built it and you can build an nice looking kit. I’ve read reviews of the Trumpeter and they are not good.
If I was building one today I’d get the Airfix and all the extras possible in resin etc and it would cost about the same as the Trumpeter, it would be a better build.
You wont find a pe kit for anything that size but you may fine some bits to improve the interior and a bit of scratch building would improve it I’m sure
Hope that helps
Phil
Looks like Tamiya makes 3 Spitfires in 1/32. I haven’t built one, but did build the P-51 Mustang and it’s the finest kit I’ve ever seen.
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/category.php?sub-id=17000&page=1
I have the Waldron Model Products set for my 1/24 Airfix Spitfire which is still unbuilt. The set contains cockpit placards and photoetch parts for throttle quadrant ,switches, levers, etc.