Background

This kit depicts the “C” wing or the "universal wing" version of the Spitfire LF Mk.IXc. The wing was introduced to reduce labour and manufacturing time and it was designed to allow mixed armament options. The LF Mk.IXc was fitted with the Merlin 66 and a Bendix-Stromberg injection carburettor replaced the earlier S.U float carburettor. This version first became operational in March 1943 with the Biggin Hill Wing, which comprised at the time of 611 and 341 (Free French) Squadrons. This type was by far the most produced of the Spitfire IX variants, with over 4,000 built. Not bad for a mark that was supposed to be a stop gap to counter the Fw 190.

The Kit

Eduards Spitfire LFMk.IXc Weekend Edition contains:
●4 x grey plastic sprues
●1 x clear plastic sprue
●2 x decal sheets
●1 x A4 format twelve page instruction manual

The grey plastic sprues are bagged together; the clear sprues and decals are bagged separately. The LF Mk.IXc depicted in this release has just the two 20mm cannons. It was common practice to reduce the cannon armament from four to two cannons just to save weight as the punch of two cannons was still considerable.
Being a Weekend Edition don't expect to find photo etched and resin parts or masks. What you get is just plastic parts and decals. Don’t think for one moment that the Weekend Editions are the poorer cousins of the Eduard range, there not. The detail of the modern Eduard kits is generally superb. If like some you have aversion to all thing photo etched and resin, then the Weekend kits are worth looking at.
Checking over the highly detailed parts I was looking closely for any flaws, signs that the moulds might be showing signs of wear and tear. Not a bit of it, surface detail is still exemplary. The recessed rivet detail is so light, but consistent and the panel lines are just right.
There are thirty parts that makes up the detail for the cockpit, there’s even a set of harnesses on the decal sheet. Also on the decal sheet there is a very good representation of the instrument panel [IP]. You could cut out the instrument faces individually or in groups and locate them over the relevant instrument on the plastic IP. The IP has slightly raised detail so the decals should conform nicely with some setting solution.
There have been plenty of builds posted of Eduards Spitfire Mk.IX on the internet testimony to how good this release is. Eduard has also released numerous after-market products linked with the releases.

This Weekend release from Eduard comes with two marking options:
●A. MH763,built at Castle Bromwich, flown by Prince Emanuel Galitzine, No. 72 Squadron RAF, Ramatuelle Airfield, France, autumn 1944. Struck of charge in 1945.
●B. ML135, built at Castle Bromwich, ‘Dorothy’ flown by Jerry Billing, No. 401 Squadron, France, July 1st, 1944. Crash landed after being hit by flak near Carentan, France.

ML135, ‘Dorothy’ has been featured before in Eduard’s first release [8281] of the LF Mk.IXc and MH753 appeared in the Royal Class release [R0008], but as far as I can tell this is the first time they have featured in a Weekend Edition.

Conclusion

It’s hard to believe this kit first arrived on the scene six years ago; it just seems to have been around forever. If you want the best quarter scale Spitfire Mk.IX then Eduard’s releases should be on top of your list of kits to acquire. The moulds have been well used since its first release, but this has not altered the quality of the detail.