Tamiya Spitfire Mk VIII

It's Friday and what better way to end the working week than to find a large box had been delivered to me direct from Japan. Inside the box was another box! Tamiya's Spitfire Mk VIII kit in 1:32nd scale. All that has been said about the Spitfire Mk IX kit released late last year also applies to this kit. It is simply superb and like the IX kit has plenty of extra bits and pieces to build any number of sub-variants. I'll post a few pics later and prepare an article on building the kit along the same lines as I did for the Mk IX kit. As you would expect, there are plenty of RAAF c&m options available for the kit, the problem comes is choosing which one to use!

Update 21 July : Havn't started the kit yet due to local modellers calling in like bees to a honey pot, wanting to see the kit! All were unanimous in their praise, like the Mk IX this kit is simply superb. It's available NOW! from your favourite mail order hobby shop but you better be quick.

D DAY at Aero Imageworks for RAMROD #2

Aero Imageworks has released part 2 of the RAMROD series of marking masks and decals.

Tamiya Spitfire Mk IX build

Aero Imageworks has an interesting article on building Tamiya's superb Spitfire Mk IX kit. Go here to see it.

funny clip from classic war movie, 'The Dam Busters'

JEJ Mini decal to be released soon

Following on from my previous post, Aero Imageworks will be releasing a simple correction decal for the 1:32nd scale Tamiya Spitfire Mk IX kit. It comprises replacement maple leaf marking and Wing Commander rank pennant for JEJ flown by 'Johnnie' Johnson. Coupled with the kit decals you can now build a pretty good representation of this famous MkIX. RRP is only AUD $9.95. Keep an eye on Aero Imageworks website for details.

Spitfire MK VIII from Tamiya

I'll be getting this kit asap via my contact in Japan who late last year got me one of the first Spitfire Mk IX's. Unfortunately I'm restricted to only one kit from this source so I have also pre-ordered one from a Japan based model shop.

The kit includes a fully detailed Hispano cannon and wing machine guns, something that was originally intended for the Mk IX. When the Mk IX was released I was told that it missed out on these 'goodies' because they weren't ready in time. I've since learned that this is untrue! Tamiya could have included these armaments in the kit but didn't for marketing reasons. We all bought the Mk IX, now we are all going to buy the Mk VIII if for no other reason than to get those extra bits for use in the IX! Clever marketing it certainly is but its all wasted on me. I was always going to buy both kits!

Spitfire Mk VIII model in 1/32nd scale and the big Mossie

I have it on good authority that Tamiya will be releasing a 1/32nd scale Spitfire Mk VIII this year. Yes that's THIS year, 2010. If you already have the Mk IX version you would have noticed that Tamiya has made provision for further marks including the beautiful Mk VIII. This is good news for RAAF scale modellers who are looking to build an RAAF Spitfire Mk VIII. Expect to see it around xmas time.

I'm still working on Airfix's BIG Mossie in 1/24th scale. As I mentioned before, the kit is a bit of a disappointment and isn't in the same league in terms of quality as Tamiya's 1/32nd Spitfire IX. The large scale has in some ways worked against the kit making it look somewhat 'toy like'. In this scale any kit needs to be highly detailed or else it will simply look like a big toy. Unfortunately Airfix treated it in terms of detail as it would say a 1/48 kit but in 1/24 scale this just isn't sufficient. It may end up hanging in the apricot tree this summer to scare away the birds!