It’s typical of their more recent efforts in this scale. The parts look great. The panel lines are a bit heavy. Cockpit detail is good, if a bit simplified. When built it certainly looks like a Flying Tiger, though. No doubt about that. The kit goes together with no problems. The decals are very nice, though the CAF roundels are a bit pale. Only one marking option is included in the kit.

I can’t wait to see the P-40B boxing! I’ll definitely build that one too.

Take this kit for instance. The cockpit is not really realistic. The “all important” inverted gull-wing on the underside isn’t there. The wheel wells are not boxed in at all. The exhausts are anemic. Some of the surface detail is just wrong. I get all that. Rivet counting is not hard, really.

But I had fun building this. To be honest, I don’t care about the inaccuracies. Building a model airplane is about having fun. There’s enough garbage in this world to ruin your day- why let your hobby be one of them. And worse yet, why get on an internet forum and spew your disgust all over everyone else.

Just build it, I say. Have fun.

Like I did with this kit.

Decals are by Aeromaster. It’s built as a Mk. IIb. The only addition is a scratch-built Coffman bulge on the lower-right cowl. Paint is Tamiya, the XF-81, 82 and 83 colors, to be exact. I realized after I was done I forgot the yellow leading edges of the wings. Oh well.

I’m pretty happy with it, overall. It was a great little kit with no surprises or problems.

As I looked over my list of completed Spitfires, it was not lost on me that of the 40 Spitfires I’ve built since returning to the hobby in 2006, 17 have been Airfix. The most of any other manufacturer I’ve built has been 4, that being Hasegawa.

In fact, unless I’ve missed on my count, I’ve built at least one of every Spitfire that Airfix makes, from 1/72 up through 1/24th scale. The only one I can think of that I haven’t built is the original BTK Spitfire, Airfix’s original foray into the elliptical winged wonder.

There just seems to be something right about such an iconic airplane being kitted by a company in the very country that holds it in such esteem. Airfix, especially under Hornby, seems to care about the product they put out. And from what I’ve been able to observe, the modeling community in the UK seems to really appreciate it. (I wish Revell-Monogram here in the states would do the same.)

And the growth of their kits have been a great thing to watch. When Hornby took over the brand in 2007, they inherited a reasonably good 1/48 Mk. IX, and and even better Mk. I that had not been released. Since then, they’ve produced the outstanding Mk. XII and Seafire Mk. XVII in 1/48 scale, and a Mk. I, Mk. IX and Mk. XIX in 1/72 scale. All have shown great improvement over their predecessors, and I see no reason why the trend won’t continue.

I find myself becoming excited about what new kits will be announced for 2012. I’m hoping for a new Mk. V in 1/48, or perhaps a Mk. XIX or Mk. XIV in 1/48. Or the Mk. V in 1/72. I’ve even wondered if the C wing from the Mk. XII would fit to the Mk. I fuselage to yield a Mk. V, perhaps?

In any event- if you haven’t tried an Airfix Spitfire, pick one up. I highly recommend any of them, especially the Mk. XII, Seafire XVII, or the Mk. I in 72nd or 48th scale. You’ll enjoy it!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have an Airfix Spitfire on the bench, calling out to me…..

This will be a nice kit to have on the shelf when it’s done. Not your usual Spitfire!

She’s got a coat of Future and is ready for a wash.

I did add a few scratch built details to the cockpit, just to jazz it up a bit, as I plan to build this, as I usually do, with the canopy open.

My only wish was that Italeri wouldn’t charge so much. All of the Spitfire I’ve purchased from them have been on sale, but generally they’re $35-$40 retail. For what’s in the box, they should be in the $20-$25 range. They’re good kits, but Airfix’s newer stuff is much better- and is much cheaper.

Of course, I can’t complain, as I got the XVIe kit on sale at Squadron for $15. While I already have the Airfix XVIe Club Kit in the stash, but I can’t bring myself to build it.

Some models have this already built in, so simply painting it will suffice. other may not have this detail included. As it is so visible, especially if the pilot’s door is down, adding it into the cockpit really adds some life. Thankfully, it’s a very simple build.

First, start with a few simple pieces consisting of some small rectangles, and two sizes of punched discs.

Next, glue the two rectangles together. I like to use Tamiya Extra Thin Cement because it really bonds the pieces together nicely. of course, any glue appropriate for plastic will work. Only a drop is needed, really.

Now, place the part (without glue) on to the sidewall, and cut so that it fits into the appropriate space.

Now, glue it in to place, and stack your two discs on it, positioned towards the top, and glue them in place.

That’s it! A quick simple addition to really improve the look of your cockpit.

For a look at how this looks on the real aircraft, take a look at this image from Spitfiresite.com.