1:32 Spitfire Mk VIII - interior 3D decals for Tamiya kit

The Mk VIII among the Spitfires

The Mk VIII version was a properly carried-through form of the fighter with a two-stage supercharger, whereas the Mk IX built alongside it came about more as a quick substitute. The characteristic marks of the version are a balanced rudder and a revised shape of the wingtips on some of the machines built. The Mk VIIIs served mainly outside Europe, in the Mediterranean and in the Far East, and a number of them carried a strengthened intake filter for dusty conditions. The inside of British fighters has a character of its own: a tubular framework, round instruments in a dark panel and a control column with a ring grip.

What the set offers

Thanks to printed layers in relief, bare plastic turns into a drawn-in workstation. The instruments are finished, including imitation glass, and the surfaces at the sides carry the drawing of the controls and placards. At a large scale it also holds true that the inside is visible even through a closed canopy, so the investment in detail is not lost. The modeler thus skips the most laborious part of the build, the one where mistakes happen most often, and saves hours of work with a size 0 brush.

What to think of in advance

The interior is fitted before the fuselage halves are joined, so get the set ready right at the start and not halfway through the build. British cockpits were painted in a green-gray shade which is not visible under the print but shows around the edges, so do not skimp on it. Once dry, it is enough to darken the corners very lightly with a thin application of dark paint and the relief will stand out further. The matching Spitfire kit in the large scale is made by Tamiya and is obtained separately.