PSST! you like scale models, wanna hot tip?

Airfix are about to release a 1:72nd scale Spitfire IX and a 1:24th scale Mosquito this year. You'd be forgiven for not knowing as these kits have been nearly completely overshadowed by Tamiya's 1:32nd scale Spitfire release.

Poor old Airfix never seems to get it right these days. A far cry from their heyday in the 1960's and early 70's when they seemed to be able to do no wrong releasing a constant stream of new kits to a receptive market. You really couldn't pick a worse time to release a kit.

I'll be one of the tiny number of people who actually buys the massive Mosquito kit. Why oh why they went for the Mosquito is this scale I'll never know. Surely they must realise that a model of this size and cost is going to have limited appeal.

How much will they cost? The little Spitfire around $15, Mosquito $250 and Big scale Spitfire around $180. Expensive? imo for what you get, its pretty good value for money.

Tamiya Spitfire is here

Well, here it is, Tamiya's Spitfire Mk IX in 1:32nd scale. Looks good for sure but it falls short of flawless. Having said that it is still without doubt the finest Spitfire kit in any scale that has ever been produced.

http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/60319spitfire_mkixc/index.htm

Famous Spitfire in the Pacific War

Here we have a 1:48 scale, Special Hobby Spitfire V with AI decals for 'Y' Yvonne from No. 54 Squadron RAF, No.1 Wing RAAF. This is from an historical perspective, one of the most important Spitfires of the war. On 6 February 1943 Flt Lt Foster made history when he shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-46 'Dinah' into the Timor Sea, the first aerial victory for the Spitfire in the Pacific War.

The details of this aircraft had alluded researchers for years until Pacific Spitfires investigated the matter and subsequently provided the C&M and history of this aircraft for the very first time. Of interest is the unusual (for the time frame) proportioned fuselage roundel, lack of 'DL' squadron codes that were applied some months later and 'Yvonne' name on the engine cowling. The name referred to the girlfriend of the aircraft's usual pilot, Flying Officer Lenagan.

The kit is not 'Tamiya quality' where all the parts fit easily together. It's one of those kits that looks good on the sprue but causes problems when it comes to putting it together. That's why 'in box' reviews should never be given much weight.

Thanks for the responses

Thanks for the responses. It seems the vast majority value honesty and don't consider it to be petty or idiotic. Old fashion values never really go out of style do they.