1:32 Spitfire Mk.XVIe (for Tamiya kit)

The Packard Merlin and the E-type wing

The Mark XVI was at heart a Mark IX with the Merlin 266 engine, which the American firm Packard built under British license. The letter after the mark describes the armament: a pair of 20 mm Hispano cannon and two heavy machine guns instead of the older weapons of rifle caliber. A considerable part of the examples received a cut-down fuselage spine and a bubble canopy, so the pilot finally had a usable view to the rear. In the spring of 1945 they served mainly with the tactical air force and devoted themselves to strikes on ground targets.

What you will find in the box

The print covers the front wall with its instruments, both side walls, the seat and the restraint system. The details are executed at several levels, so the frames of the gauges stand out and the surface gains depth. The shades match the British interior finish, which is noticeably greener than German or American practice of the same period.

Working with the pieces

The cutting matches the plastic components from Tamiya, and the model itself is not part of the delivery. Free the base of dust carefully, because even a tiny grain shows under a thin layer as a pronounced bump that can no longer be put right.

With a bubble canopy the interior is visible from most angles. It therefore pays to check that all the pieces are seated parallel with the edges of the cabin and that no slanting gap arises anywhere.

A number of Mark XVIs served on after the war with reserve squadrons, where they carried striking colored stripes. For such a model too an interior that will stand up to a detailed look through the clear canopy comes in useful.