1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I/Mk.IIa

The real subject

The Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter that became known above all through the Battle of Britain. You will recognize it by the elliptical wing, the slender fuselage and the narrow-track landing gear. The Mk.I and Mk.II versions are among the earliest production batches: they still have a simple canopy, small differences in the propeller and the glazing, and the armament spread through the wing. The letter a in the designation Mk.IIa tells the machine-gun armed form apart from the cannon-armed one.

What the set contains

Photo-etched metal parts in 1:72 scale and the manufacturer's instructions. In this scale photo-etch is exceptionally valuable: whatever is thin sheet on the real machine always comes out oversized in plastic, whereas an etched part is about as thick as paper. The difference shows above all on flat parts, grilles, straps and anything that should have a sharp edge. Which parts of the model the set covers and which kit it is drawn for is stated in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

• Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface, do not break them off
• Level the remains of the tab with a fine-toothed file
• Make the bend in one movement over a sharp edge or in a bending tool
• It is bonded with super glue carried on the tip of a piece of wire
• Degrease the metal before painting and go over it with a primer made for metal

Who it is for

Rather for more experienced modelers: the parts in 1:72 scale are very small and the work calls for tweezers, a steady hand and good light. The aircraft kit, paints, primer and glue are not included in the delivery, unless stated otherwise.