I just read a review over on Hyperscale on a new Airfix 1:48 Spitfire Mk IXc. It sounded like a pretty nice kit, with new fuselage and wings. They appently even did engraved panel lines. I just wanted to know if anyone here has seen the kit and what their thoughts are on it. I was thinking of picking one up since the review was pretty favourable.
Saw the review Jay, but have yet to see the kit. I don’t think it’s available yet, at least not in my small corner of the World. Didn’t sound like a total winner, but I’ll prbably pick one up when I can.
Regards, Rick
The long awaited Airfix Spitfire Mk IXc is now available (and instantly sold out) price in the UK £10.99. You can take a look at www.hannants.co.uk According to last month’s Model Aircraft Monthly it would have optional parts for high-back and low-back versions and a high-flying Mk VII (extended wing-tips). However, I think it has now been decided to market the high and low-back versions separately. There should still be pictures of the test shots on the Airfix web site as well as a lot of discussion on the forum. www.airfix.com
Thanks Antoni, I’ll take a look.
The new kit looks OK, if you don’t mind some filling and sanding. The kit I saw has markings for the famous MH434 included. I will pick one up next time I’m in the LHS. Darren.
jboutin this might help http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/spitfirevcreviewrb_1.htm it looks like Airfix is finally joining us in the 21st century. I wouldn’t spend too much on this kit as there are many other 1/48th Spits out there that dont have the problems Airfix is prone to (questionable fit, cheap plastic) though this looks like it might not be that bad. Given the choice between an Academy, Hasegawa, Tamiya, or this latest offering from Airfix I would only pick this if it was $10 -$12 if it were around the same price as the others I’d go for them. (I would have a bit more of a problem deciding if i found the airfix hi-tech series 1/48th spit) well that my 2 cents.
Tamiya do not make a Mk IX/XVI in 1/48. The Hasegawa kit is much better than Airfix but is let down by being very inaccurate as are all the other 1/48 Mk IX/XVI kits. For many people the fact that the Airfix kit is the most accurate produced so far will be a major plus despite the extra work involved. Also some modellers prefer a kit that they can improve as they see that as modelling. Not everyone wants to just stick it together and paint it. Each to their own.
My April copy of Model Aircraft Monthly arrived today and the new Airfix Spitfire Mk I/II and IX/XIV kits are briefly reviewed.
The Mk IX/XVI appears to be dimensionally spot-on. There are enough optional parts to be able to build an HF Mk VII, through LF and HF Mk VIIs, to early, mid and late series Mk IXs. Straight and curved cowling tops, enlarged elevator horn balance tailpalnes, standard and broad chord rudders, clipped, standard and long span extended wing tips, broad and narrow c wing cannon blisters and e wing cannon blisters, short and long cannon barrels, solid and four-indent wheel hubs, fixed and retractable tailwheels, separate Aero-Vee Universal carburettor intake, two types of prop and six-stack exhausts. Canopy parts include internally armoured windscreen, blown hood and two different rear canopy sections. There are also separate flaps but it is very rare to see Spitfires with lowered flaps when on the ground. The Mk IX/XVI wing has post-war tyre clearance bulges moulded on them which need to be sanded away. The kit also includes sprues for the Mk Vc/Seafire Mk III wings. You can use the upper wing from this sprue instead but they are slightly larger and it will create a step on the aileron undersides that you will need to fill. The cannon blisters need to be sanded down as they sit slightly proud. The decals are dot matrix system and when you look closely at the lighter colours you can see the dots but are in register and go on well.
NB. MH434 was fitted with the earlier smaller carburettor intake not the Aero Vee universal. This is one of the things not actually included in the kit. You could take one from a Spitfire Mk Vb. Also it did not have the short outer cannon stubs so you will need to fill the holes for these.
The will be a low-back version later in the year. It will be basically the same kit with a different fuselage.
Thanks for the update Antoni. Looks Like I’ll have to get one, just to see how it compares to my Hasegawa Mk IX!