Italeri 1/72 Spitfire Mk Vb

ITALERI 1:72 SPITFIRE Vb
'In The Box Review'

Reviewer: Tim Holland (hollandt@san.rr.com)

Kit: Italeri 001 - Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb

Aircraft: The Mk V series of Spitfire was built in the second largest number of Spitfires. The MkVb being the most numerally built with more than 3900 examples of this series.

Parts: 59 parts on 2 gray sprues & 1 clear sprue. Finely recessed panel lines, no flash.

Instructions: 7 step exploded view instructions. Painting instructions using both Testor's Model Master and FS numbers. Very easy to follow.

Versions: 3 versions -- Mk Vb trop w/ vokes filter L.F. Mk Vb trop w/ aboukir filter & short wingtips Standard Mk Vb.

Decals: Made by Cartograf and are in perfect regestry. Some stencilling. Provides decals for 3 aircaft: Mk Vb trop No 249 Sq Malta (1942) Mk Vb trop of Wing Cdr I. R. Greed, 244 Wing, North Africa (1943) Mk Vb 355th FS/ 4th FG, USAAC, Debden UK (1942).

Accuracy: The wing span appears to be dead on. The length is tough to estimate because the fuselage is in 4 major pieces (spinner, engine covers, empenage rudder). The machine gun ports are in the right places. Both types of armored windscreens are included. The exhausts are of the proper "fishtail" type.

Detail: Limited cockpit detail (seat, floor, instrument panel & stick). Wheel wells are boxed in, with very basic detailing. All panel lines appear to be there according to references. Cannon bumps and other small details are all there.

Options: Other than the main variant options, the canopy is 3 piece and can be build open or closed. Also provided is the slipper auxiliary fuel tank.

Impressions: This looks like a GREAT kit! This kit has the details of the more expensive kit makers but at half the price. The cockpit could use a lot of sprucing up for the detailer but otherwise everything is here. Fit is very good for the major parts.

Other Comments: I plan to get two more of this kit and make all 3 variants.

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