1:48 Seat for supermarine spitfire mk.IX with belts and flares holder

The real subject

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IX was the most numerous version of the British Spitfire fighter and served from 1942 to the end of the Second World War. With the canopy slid back the view into its cockpit is good and the eye falls above all on the pilot's shell seat with its side cutouts. The equipment of the cockpit also includes the harness belts and the holder for signal flares.

What the set contains

The set replaces the pilot's seat on a Spitfire Mk.IX model in 1:48 scale. According to the name the belts and the holder for signal flares are part of it. The belts here are listed as part of the seat, not as separately supplied parts, so assembling and settling them falls away. The exact number of parts is given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building and painting tips

The parts are not polystyrene and plastic cement has no effect on them; glue them with super glue and apply it spot by spot only, so that it is not squeezed into the relief. Cut the excess material away with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand off what is left with fine abrasive. Before painting, wash the parts in lukewarm soapy water and let them dry through, and only then spray the base. The interior of British fighters of that period is painted in interior green, but the seat of the Spitfire also appears in period photographs in the brown-red shade of the pressed shell, so go by the references for the particular machine. The belts stand out when, once painted, you run a dark glaze over them and go over the edges with dry-brushing.

Who it is for

For modelers who want a better seat in an open cockpit than the kit offers and do not want to be held up assembling separate belts. The model, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.