Italeri 1/72 scale Supermarine Spitfire MK9
Ignore the title on the box and here, at last, is a modern kit of the Spitfire Mk. IX for at a budget price (£3.50). As with their
Bf109 range the parts are split to allow other marks in the future - what appears to be the 'standard' sprue has fuselage /
fin halves (without engine cowling), cockpit interior, undercarriage, rounded rudder and normal and clipped wingtips.
The other sprue has upper and lower wing halves, the radiators moulded integrally with the latter, cowlings, air intakes
(2 styles), tailplanes, exhausts and four separate propeller blades with a two part spinner. Finally the clear parts have
both the externally and internally armoured styles of windscreen and both round and square mirrors.
The mouldings have engraved panel lines (not quite as fine as Hasegawa) and plenty of detail (again slightly coarser
than Hasegawa) although the cockpit sidewalls are bare, as in most kits, which is a disappointment but understandable
at the price. The seat / armour assembly is made from 5 parts to which are added floor, control column and instrument
panel (raised detail, no decal). I hesitate to say they are completely accurate but they are close. There are some minor
inaccuracies in that the cannon bulges on the upper wings are just too long and the inner machine guns are too far inboard
(it was the cartridge ejector slot appearing in the wrong panel under the wing that gave that away !). Also the fairings
where the second pair of cannon would be are too long and the radiators do not appear to be square enough in section,
nor curved sufficiently inwards at the rear in plan. Lastly, the wheel bulges in the top of the wings are only marked by
panel lines, the exhausts are rather ghastly and the fabric patches over the machine gun muzzles are curiously raised.
The overall outline seems to match plans well so the overall effect is of a good basic model let down by a slight lack
of finesse and attention to detail, comments which also apply to the usual multi-lingual instructions which give only
FS595 numbers and names for paints - leading to Sky being indicated as a mix of two colours when at least four paint
ranges from three countries have it as a standard colour.
Three options are given on the decal sheet which looks as if it will give good adhesion, being by Cartograf and not having
the thick matt look of previous Italeri decals. The selection includes LO.D of 602 Sqdn. (Pierre Clostermann) with 5A.K
of 329 Sqdn ('Cicognes') giving a second Gallic connection while 5J.G offers me a local choice of 126 Sqdn. based at
Harrowbeer (Yelverton).
I'm really not sure about this kit - it needs a bit more care and work than the Hasegawa one but at not much more than
1/3rd the price it must be good value.
Review by Ross Marven (from SIG newsletter 3/98)
© 2003 IPMS(UK) RAF WWII SIG