1:72 Spitfire Mk.VIII exhaust - fishtall

Spitfire Mk.VIII fishtail exhausts 1:72 (Quickboost)

This resin set from the Quickboost brand of the Czech manufacturer Aires brings faithfully cast fishtail exhaust stubs for a model of the British Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII fighter in 1:72 scale. It is not an aircraft model but a detail accessory for more experienced modelers, replacing the solid plastic exhausts with a casting with the characteristically flared, flattened outlet and suggested openings.

The real subject

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII was a high-performance fighter version powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin V12 engine, intended above all for the Mediterranean, African and Pacific theaters. The flattened fishtail exhaust stubs were meant to damp the flash and contributed in part to thrust.

Tips for working with resin

First wash the castings in lukewarm soapy water to remove the mold release residue. Cut the casting blocks off with a saw and sand the cut faces with respiratory protection. Glue the parts with cyanoacrylate glue (super glue), not with cement for plastic. Dry-fit before painting, as resin may need a little cleaning up.

Who the set is for

• More experienced modelers who want to raise the fidelity of a model
• Builders for whom the exhausts from the plastic kit are not enough
• Anyone interested in working with resin and fine castings
• Collectors building models for competitions and display cases

The set is supplied as a resin part, unassembled and unpainted. It is not an aircraft model but an accessory for a plastic kit. Glue, paints and the base kit are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.