1:72 Spitfire Mk.IIa

The real subject

The Spitfire Mk.II is a British single-seat fighter from the early part of the Second World War, powered by the Merlin, that is a V12 engine. The letter at the end of the designation sets out the armament: the Mk.IIa version carried eight 7.7 mm machine guns spread across the wing, whereas later machines also received cannons in the wing. The elliptical wing on which the type built its reputation gives the model a clean silhouette, but it also leaves no inaccuracy of outline unnoticed.

What the set offers

These are parts etched from thin sheet metal. In 1:72 scale the thinness of the sheet is worth even more than on larger models: a part that on the real machine is made of thin sheet or of strip comes out disproportionately thick in plastic, because an injection mold will not make it thinner. Photo-etch gets around that obstacle and the small fittings take on the dimension the scale calls for. Which parts the set holds and where they go on the model are given in the instructions enclosed by the manufacturer.

Building and painting tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, not with small pliers, which will bend the sheet. Make the bend along the marked score line over a straight edge or in a bending tool, always in one movement. You join metal with super glue, and on larger areas with epoxy; polystyrene cement does not hold on it. In this scale the parts really are small, so work over a light-colored mat and with fine-tipped tweezers. Before painting, wash and degrease the sheet and give it a primer coat, otherwise the paint will rub off during handling.

Terms of supply

The aircraft kit, paints and glue are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.