It's about nine years now since Eduard first released their 1:48 Spitfire Mk.IX. It instantly made previous kits pretty much redundant in terms of detail and accuracy and remains, as far as I'm aware, the best mid-series Spitfire kit available in this scale. Originally produced as a Profi-PACK kit, complete with photo-etched details, simpler Weekend Editions soon followed and one of these for the Mk. IXc is available again as part of Eduard's spring 2022 range.

Early Weekend Edition kits sported a rather cutdown utilitarian style, but the Spitfire's stylish top-opening box features some stunning artwork. Inside, the main runners are bagged together, with the clear parts protected separately. Everything in the sample kit arrived in perfect condition and it comprises:

135 x dark grey styrene parts (plus 66 not needed)

8 x clear styrene parts (plus 9 spare)

Decals for 4 x colour schemes

After nearly a decade in production, the Spitfire Mk.IX still really impresses. The moulding is really sharp, with just a whisper of flash here and there. I spotted just a couple of shallow sink marks on thick parts, but they'll be quick to sort out. Where the kits still really scores is its exceptional surface detail - the Spitfire was released at the point when Eduard really began to redefine what counted as the "state of the art" finish for mainstream kits in 1:48, with beautifully subtle rivets and multiple levels of engraved detail. Seeing it afresh after all these years is a reminder of just how good it looks.

I haven't done a test fit of the new release for two reasons: firstly, nothing's changed since previous releases, and secondly (perhaps more importantly) the sample kit's destined to be a surprise for a special needs lad who's new to our hobby and I don't want to deprive him of the excitement of getting a new kit.

Looking at the parts on the runners, though, reminds me of the one point in previous builds that's always proved troublesome - the 2-part top cowl. While the fit is precise, the resulting seam can be a real pig to hide. Talking to other modellers who've built the kit, this is the one thing they've all picked up on - every time you think you've got the seam licked, it shows again under the next coat of primer!

A Few Details

Assembly begins with the cockpit, and this is very neatly detailed even without the etched details of the ProfiPACK boxing. 37 parts combine to create a nicely busy "office", and Eduard provide decals for the instrument faces and seat harness. Obviously, a decal harness is unlikely to satisfy experienced detailers, but I still think it's good to see it included - and it may look fine if you build the kit with the canopy closed. Either way, the low price of this Weekend Edition kit means you can easily afford to treat yourself to an aftermarket alternative if you wish.

The wings feature a useful "spar" which forms the front of the wheel wells and will also ensure the correct dihedral. The wells themselves are boxed in with 7 parts per side and look very effective when completed. 

The undercarriage is crisply moulded, with separate hubs for the unweighted wheels. The tailwheel is offered with a separate wheel or moulded integrally. Both look good, so don't worry if you find the separate wheel a bit fiddly.

Up front, Eduard show fitting the excellent hollowed-out exhausts early. This is fine from an assembly point of view, but hardly ideal for painting. It's a good many years since I built the kit but, if I remember rightly, I left the cowling top loose so that I could install the exhausts after I'd painted the camouflage.

The 20mm cannons are also hollowed out, which will save a lot of fiddling about with a fine drill.

The radiators consist of 7 parts each and will look fine without the need for etched faces.

The 4-pladed propeller is moulded nice and thin, and the shape of the spinner looks good.

The canopy parts are excellent - crystal clear, with crisply defined frames - and can be posed open or closed.

If you go for the open option, the pilot's door features a neatly moulded integral crowbar. 

It's a shame that a door without the crowbar isn't also included, because you'll often see it missing in wartime photos. The debate over whether the crowbar was painted red during WW2 is unlikely to ever be resolved to everyone's satisfaction, but there's a useful view at 1min 58sec in this original colour footage shot in Italy: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7w1pFQ3Oqw&ab_channel=Avialogs

My feeling is that bare metal was the standard finish, but some crowbars may have been painted at unit level (Geoffrey Wellum clearly remembered red crowbars when asked by our own Mal Mayfield).

Instructions & Decals

The assembly guide is printed in colour as a stylish 15-page A4 booklet. The diagrams are clear and straightforward to follow, with colour matches for Gunze Sangyo and Mission Models paints provided.

The kit includes decals for four colour schemes with a nice variety of nationalities and markings:

A. Spitfire Mk. IXc 1/48 - MJ291, F/O Otto Smik, No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF Appledram, June 1944

B. Spitfire Mk. IXc 1/48 - MH883, F/Lt George F. Beurling, No. 412 Squadron RCAF, RAF Biggin Hill, December 1943 - April 1944

C. Spitfire Mk. IXc 1/48 - MJ628, W/Cdr Daniel A. R. G. le Roy du Vivier, No. 324 Wing, Italy, May 1944

D. Spitfire Mk. IXc 1/48 - Maj. Garth B. Jared, 309th FS, 31st FG, 12th AF, Pomigliano/Castel Volturno, Italy, 1943/1944

The decals look to be very good, being thin and glossy with precise registration. As with all the recent Eduard decals I've seen, there is noticeable excess carrier film, but I've found this snuggles down and disappears fine in use. The one thing I've learned to watch out for is that the decals can fold over on themselves if you're not careful.

A comprehensive set of servicing stencils is included, along with a full-page placement guide.

Conclusion

Eduard's Spitfire Mk.IX is a very fine kit that definitely holds up against the latest mainstream releases. It's great to it available as a Weekend Edition for modellers wanting a simpler build than the ProfiPACK boxings. It's exceptional value for money too - less than £15 for a kit of this quality seems almost crazily cheap in this day and age!

Kit #48183 is available now from Eduard - Price: £13.93

Many thanks to Eduard for the review sample.

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