Tamiya + Watermark 1/48 scale
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb

by Bob Aikens

Tamiya's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb is available online from Squadron.com

This was one of those 'I'm tired of looking at that kit,...and I've got to do something with those decals' projects.The kit had been sitting in the stash for a good 5 years-and I had already used some of the decals to build up 2 Spitfires from the old Airfix Vb.

The WaterMark 'Canadian Spitfire' decals came out in 1996. IPMS Canada has been producing fine quality decals on Canadian subjects for years; but something dedicated to Canadian Spitfires and their pilots seemed intriguing. Despite the good research and graphics the decals themselves seemed a bit of a disappointment, the film being a bit on the thick side - sort of like old Airfix decals. But modelers, being modelers, work through such stuff.

There is nothing exceptional about this build other than the subject matter.

It is however, almost 'totally Tamiya' - the painting was done with Tamiya blends, and the kit national insignia went down quite well (without the white backing provided). I also used Tamiya masking tape to effect the camouflage pattern. (yes, I know-but). Leading edge yellow also a Tamiya mixture.

I cut around the Y-OQ with a fresh blade, hoping to get rid of most of the decal film-this was only partially successful as once the film is cut away, the 'crispiness' of the film became more evident. After treatment with Future and an extra sealing coat of Glosscote, they became just adequate. "Better days ahead", I said to myself..

The only additions are Eduard seat belts and a small piece of flexible rubber for the oxygen hose.

The Tamiya Spitfire Vb first came out in 1994 and is probably still the standard in 1/48 scale for fit and simplicity-just what I needed at the time!

Apropos to the two 'scenic shots' - I have deliberately reduced the color saturation on the 'wooded area' pic - a little experiment in how color affects the mood of a picture. Also, it wasn't until I enlarged the small pic of Y-OQ, that I noticed that Ibbotson's Spitfire had no padded headrest on the backplate...
 

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2007 by Bob Aikens
Page Created 23 March, 2007
Last Updated 24 December, 2007

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