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In-Box Review
148
Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb

by: Andy Brazier [ BETHEYN ]

HISTORY
The Supermarine Spitfire was a single-seat fighter used by the RAF and many other Air Forces around the world. The aircraft was dubbed Spitfire by Sir Robert MacLean, director of Vickers (the parent company of Supermarine) at the time, and on hearing this, Mitchell is reported to have said, "...sort of bloody silly name they would give it. " The word dates from Elizabethan times and refers to a particularly fiery, ferocious type of person, usually a woman.
The MK V was the most produced variant of all the Mks. The main improvements over the earlier versions was the use of the more powerful Merlin type 45 engine and the "fishtail" flame damping exhaust stubs. The most numerous MK V was the Mk Vb with had a mixed armament of two 7.7mm machine guns and one 20mm cannon in each wing. Although the famous elliptical wing was kept on most Spitfires, some Mk Vbs had clipped wings for better low altitude maneuverability.

THE KIT
The kit comes in the usual sturdy Tamiya lidded box. Upon opening you will find two sprues separately bagged with the clear parts sealed inside their own bag. Instructions, painting guide and the decal sheet make up the rest of the kit. There are 57 grey plastic parts and 9 clear plastic parts, all which seem to be free of flash. Ejector pin marks are kept to a minimum and seem to be in places they won't be seen.
The detail in the cockpit is well done, with the only negative point being the exclusion of any harnesses. The reason for this is that Tamiya supply a pilot and they are moulded onto him. So scratch built or an aftermarket set is required if you don't use the pilot. The instrument panel has some nice raised detail and with some careful painting and dry brushing should look quite stunning when done. The cockpit door can be removed from the fuselage to model it open, as Tamiya thoughtfully added another another door to replace it.
The fuselage and wings both have some fine recessed panel lines and rivet detail. The wings strangely have the cannons moulded onto the wings so some careful handling will be required so as to not break them off. The wing tips also have to be inserted as the kit can be modeled in either a clipped wing or the elliptical version. The clear parts are free from imperfections but seem to show a slight distortion on the curved parts. There are two sets of canopies for the three versions you can model, and both can be modelled in the open or closed position.

INSTUCTIONS
The instructions comes on one sheet and folds up into itself. The first page covers the history of the Spitfire, with the second page giving you the Tamiya paint colour numbers you need. The build sequence is done over eleven stages and gives you the interior colours as you go along. The build sequence is pretty easy to follow with alternative parts being shown along the way. The last part deals with the paint schemes and decal placements. You also get an A4 size sheet with a 1/48th black and white profile With views of the port, starboard, top and bottom. This should help with masking of the camo scheme.

DECALS
The decals are in register with very little carrier film around the edges. They are possibly on the thin side as Tamiya supply a set of white disks for the roundels to sit on. This should stop any "see through" effect you may get, especially on the white portions of the roundels. Three alternative markings are provided for either of the two versions you build:
- No. 243 Squadron, serial No. EN821. Fighter Command, Wing Commander, A G Malan.
- No. 316 Squadron, Serial No. BL479 (clipped wing version).

CONCLUSION
With so many 1/48th Spitfire kits around, you are spoilt for choice on what version to model. But the Tamiya kits are renowned for their superb engineering and ease of construction. If you want to depict the Mk Vb you can't get a lot better then the Tamiya offering. Whether you build it OOB or add any aftermarket parts it will still build into a great representation of one of the most famous and beautiful aircraft to have flown.
SUMMARY
Tamiya's line of 1/48th model aircraft, are for the most part widely considered to be state-of-the-art. Only there older kits are now showing their age, compared to the newer releases. Tamiya kits are usually found to be excellent fitting and fairly well detailed. The 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire MK Vb falls into this category and looks like a typical Tamiya shake and bake kit. Even though this kit is over 10 years old it will still produce a well detailed representation of one of the most modelled aircraft.
  MOULDING:90%
  DETAIL:90%
  VALUE:85%
Percentage Rating
88%
  Scale: 1:48
  Mfg. ID: 61033
  Suggested Retail: £15.99
  PUBLISHED: Sep 11, 2006
  NATIONALITY: United Kingdom
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 84.81%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 83.24%

Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • SpitVb08
  • SpitVb09
  • SpitVb10
About Andy Brazier (betheyn)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH EAST, UNITED KINGDOM

I started modelling in the 70's with my Dad building Airfix aircraft kits. The memory of my Dad and I building and painting a Avro Lancaster on the kitchen table will always be with me. I then found a friend who enjoyed building models, and between us I think we built the entire range of 1/72 Airfi...

Copyright ©2021 text by Andy Brazier [ BETHEYN ]. Images also by copyright holder unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AeroScale. All rights reserved.



Comments

Hi Andy! No problem. I must thank you! Actually, I don't have this kit in my Spitfire collection, so it was a nice opportunity to take a look into the box. I only have a Fujimi Mk. Vb/c and think Tamiya's one is the way to go! Jean-Luc P.S. I'm working on the "Portfolio" too...
SEP 12, 2006 - 10:35 AM
Thanks for the great review, Andy. IIRC Sir (?) Douglas Bader flew a Vb? What, apart from the aircraft's numbering would need to be changed to model Bader's aircraft? Also nice to see the decals are for "Sailor" Malan, the most famous of SA born pilots Rudi
SEP 12, 2006 - 12:28 PM
Although often depicted as a Mk Vb, DB's Mk V was in fact a Va. (He did not like cannons.) It's possible to build it from the Tamiya Mk I kit but you need to add some parts from the Mk Vb. I cannot remember them all off the top of my head so I will look it up in Model Aircraft Monthly tomorrow. Update. You need an oil cooler with a circular intake, Tamyia Vb kit parts D7 and D9. The ailerons were metal not fabric and need to be replaced with those from the Mk Vb. de Havilland prop, circular section exhaust manifold, external bullet-proof windscreen and flat-sided canopy hood all come from the Mk I kit.
SEP 13, 2006 - 03:30 AM
Thanks Antoni
SEP 15, 2006 - 12:56 AM
Thinking about it, it should be possible to make DB's Va without using a Tamiya Mk V as a donor. You can get Vb control surfaces from Ultracast: LINK Airwaves had a Mk Vb oil cooler. According to the Modellers Datafile the part number is SC48068. Airwaves are only available from Hannants but I cannot find 48068. I did find a Mk Va oil cooler to convert the Tamiya Mk I LINK I leave it to you to work out if the aftermarket parts are cheaper than a Mk Vb donor kit.
SEP 15, 2006 - 03:13 AM
Hi Andy, Good review! What an enticing model, even to one who has little interest in RAF! (But just wait, I'll build my BAC Lightning, Hunter, Halifax I and Gladiator soon ) I'll buy this bird just for the box art--gorgeous!
SEP 15, 2006 - 04:11 AM
Antoni, Thanks again. I think in my case it would probably be easier to purchase the 2 kits, as both are readily available in LHSs around my neck of the woods. Unfortunately with the current exch. rates (+- 13-14 ZAR to 1 GBP ) it would work out wa-a-a-ay too expensive Thanks again for your help Rudi
SEP 15, 2006 - 10:47 AM
Suggestion for what to do with the Mk Vb donor kit. You can use the fabric ailerons and D-shaped oil cooler form the Mk I to make a Mk IIb. The Mk V exhausts are OK, parts D15 and D17, but remove the gun heating intensifier tubes from the rear. Use the external bullet-proof windscreen C2 and flat-sided canopy C1. Then you need to add a coffman starter bulge and find a blunt Rotol spinner with metal blades.
SEP 15, 2006 - 04:06 PM
Cut the front end off and fit a Daimler Benz 605 engine to it :-) . I have just got the resin conversion set for it. Andy
SEP 16, 2006 - 12:24 AM
   
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Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • SpitVb01
  • SpitVb02
  • SpitVb03
  • SpitVb04
  • SpitVb05
  • SpitVb06
  • SpitVb07
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