Airfix Model Set - A05126A Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia Model Building Kit - Plastic Model Plane Kits for Adults & Children 8+, Set Includes Sprues & Decals - 1:48 Scale Model

Another good kit from Airfix.

This version of the airfix spitfire in 72nd scale is probably airfixes best, separate mold for all the intakes gives great detail and good detail on the cockpit for the scale. Clear parts are decent not the best but pretty good. All the parts have a good fit and require little filler. However I found the cartograph decals a bit thick and took a few passes of solvent to get the larger ones to conform properly. This might be an issue for beginners. But if you have decal solvents it’s no problem. The only big gripe I have is that on the reference they give for the identifier scheme in the bottom of the aircraft (the black and white) it only shows the wings having this scheme when in reality the whole lower of the aircraft had this scheme including the stabilizers, any refrerence picture shows this and I’m not sure how airfix got this wrong. Overall if you do your research and take time with the decals it’s a brilliant 72nd scale spitfire kit probably the best in this price range. Only having Edward or tamiya models be better out of the box but those kits usually run more than double the price. Can’t really go wrong for the price!

Read the small print on the back of the box first if you want the correct colour scheme for this registration of aircraft.The box clearly displays that one wing is black and the other white. Little did I notice the small print first that says that this colour scheme is incorrect. I only notice this as I was applying the decals. Okay not biggy I guess. But a shame after so much work has been put in.The kit goes together pretty easily but the decals are just too fiddly. On the side of the fuselage. The GR is separate from the RAF circle and the U is separate again.The U was a pain trying to get right. It was incredibly fragile. As was the tiny 2mm red squares that cover the guns. I gave up on those in the end.I've built the Spitfire before from Airfix and in the 1:72 Scale. That one came with paints, glue and a brush. That was a more enjoyable experience. The large lettering much easier to apply.I've ordered ( and it's just arrived actually) another one of these kits. Just to put in to practice everything that went wrong on this build

ProsThis is a very authentic scale model of the Spitfire Mk IXc. Most of the parts are accurately moulded to scale - the rivet lines are faithfully reproduced on the airframe skin, even showing stress deformation patterns.ConsThe supplied Sutton harness is not to scale for practical mechanical reasons, to give it the required strength, nor is the pilot’s crowbar, which is slightly oversized. The cockpit assembly is mostly fairly straightforward but some proactive measures are required when installing the oxygen hose - the instructions are not very helpful in this regard and best ignored. Finally, when the time comes to close up the fuselage, please check and ensure that the top of the internal cockpit housing aligns with the bottom edge of the cockpit door recess, otherwise, unless the glue has not cured yet, you will find you have wasted all your efforts because it will be ruined: you will be left with a step inside the door sill, a gap inside the cockpit between the fuselage half and the internal housing and worst of all, the main wing spar will not fit properly behind the firewall. You have been warned!

On it's own this kit is incomplete. Thisl kit was a gift but you can't actually make it as supplied. In tiny letters on the side of the box it tells you that poly cement (glue) is not included! I can understand that the different paints are not included though they would be useful but the glue! Very disappointing.

Fantastic 1:24 Spitfire kit. Really enjoyable.Not for the feint hearted :) I would say experience helpful.This is a fairly big model.

Good quality and price, all elements fit well, the only problem is the lack of glue in the set.

Good price, good level of detail for scale, no issues putting it together