Introduction

Revells 1/32nd Mk.IIa Spitfire has been out nearly a year now, as reviewed here, and A.M parts are still being produced for it. Eduard have released several sets for it, reviewed here, and now Pavla Models have jumped in with three resin sets.

Spitfire Mk.II sidewalls

Item No -U 32-01
Price -£15.99 (Hannants)
Packed in a blister box with a foam backing, the resin sidewalls and three smaller resin parts are well protected. This set comes with a small set of instructions for adding the small resin throttle lever, the Revell kits oxygen bottles, and four other smaller resin parts.
Each part is well cast with no imperfections present and are connected to a small casting block.
The cockpit sidewalls (or cocpit as its printed on the header card and instructions lol) are in one word "beautiful". The detail is exqusite with the sidewall framework, various control boxes and wiring all cast as one part. The control throttle is one piece and a lot finer and detailed then the kits part. The sidewalls compared to the kits offerings are in a different class.
The instructions are fairly small and are printed in the normal black/grey on white. The instructions state where the resin parts or the Revell parts are to be fixed. A generic paint name guide is also suppied for the parts.
When I first saw these parts my jaw dropped due to the detail cast, and even when I saw the price my mind has'nt changed. So IMHO I think these are a must have if you want to display the cockpit open to the world to see.
Percentage Rating - 90%

Spitfire Mk.II metal type seat

Item No -S 32003
Price -£4.20 (Hannants)
The resin seat is cast as one part, and is packed in a resealable bag with a stapled header card.
No imperfections are present in the resin, and a small casting block is attached to the base of the seat. The seat is larger and a bit more detailed then the kits offering. I do believe the kits seat is a plastic type seat where Pavla have offered the metal type. Castle Bromwich used the plastic seats, but the kits parts are a little strange with a depression in the seat back and wrong padding for the back rest, and no armour plating.
As for which seat to use I do believe the plastic seat was used from Mid 1940, with the metal type used before then in early Spitfires, but I will leave it to the experts (Mal and Edgar) to decide if the metal seat was used in the Mk.II.
Percentage Rating - 80%

Spitfire Mk.II cockpit door

Item No -U 32-02
Price -£4.25 (Hannants)
The Mk.II cockpit door is nicely cast in a clear resealable bag, with a small casting block on the bottom of the door.
The detail is well done if a little overdone, with the door spars quite deep. The kits door has a moulded on crowbar which should.t be there and Pavla have corrected this by leaving it off.
Better looking then the kits part and missing the crowbar. I will use this door as it does look more detailed then the kits offering. If you are modeling the door closed then there is not much point getting this set.
Percentage Rating - 80%

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