1:48 Spitfire Mk. V cockpit set

The real subject

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British fighter you recognize at first glance by its elliptical wing. The Mk.V form was among the most numerous in the middle of the Second World War and flew on most of the fronts the British reached. It was further distinguished by the armament of the wing, so machines with a different make-up of barrels hide under the same designation. The pilot got into the cockpit through a side door on the left-hand side.

What the set solves

The cockpit of the Spitfire is fairly narrow and the frame and the runs of lines are visible in it, which is rewarding for a model and difficult for an injection mold. A kit in 1:48 scale therefore usually only suggests the interior: the instrument panel has soft detail, the side walls are smooth and the seat lacks the belts. A replacement set takes the place of these areas with parts with sharper relief, so there is something to show under a slid-back canopy. The scope of the particular set is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene, so plastic cement does not hold on them; use super glue. Cut the excess material off a little way from the part with a sharp blade and sand the remainder flat. Before painting, wash the parts in lukewarm water with dish soap and degrease them. Finish the cockpit before you glue the fuselage halves together, otherwise you will no longer get inside. Check dry that the fuselage closes with the new tub in place and remove as much of the plastic the parts replace as needed. Bring out the detail of the panel with a dry brush and leave the shadows in the recesses.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Spitfire Mk.V in 1:48 scale and want the cockpit finished properly with the canopy slid back or the door open as well. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.