Andy Brazier (Betheyn) reviews a classic kit of a classic airplane: Tamiya''s 1/48 scale Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb.

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Thanks!

Thanks Jean-Luc, for the fast turnaround of the review.
Andy

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...

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

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.

Thanks Antoni

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:

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/039/default.htm

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

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=AES48070

I leave it to you to work out if the aftermarket parts are cheaper than a Mk Vb donor kit.

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!

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

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.

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