Tamiya's 1-32 Spitfire Mk.IXc Mk.VIII Mk.XVIe.pdf

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HOW TO
BUILD...
REVISED EDITION INCLUDES THE NEW SPITFIRE Mk.XVIe
SPITFIRE
Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII and Mk.XVIe
Brett Green
TAMIYA’S 1:32
INCLUDING
THREE COMPLETE BUILDS PLUS:
■
Late Merlin Spitfires close-up
■
Step by Step – Tips and techniques
for building the ultimate Spitfires
■
Historical summary
■
Aftermarket decal and accessory summary
FEATURING THE WORK OF
From the publishers of Tamiya Model Magazine International,
Model Military International, Model Airplane International
and Military Illustrated Modeller
Brett Green, Chris Wauchop
and Dave Johnson
FOREWORD AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I
How to build...
Tamiya’s 1:32 Spitfire Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII & Mk.XVIe
n today’s hyped-up world it is
common to see adjectives such as
“superb”, “excellent” and “superior”
when describing a new product.
The hobby of scale modelling is no
exception. We are fortunate to live in
an era that is seeing an unprecedented
number of brand new kits released across
a wide range of scales. Many of these
releases are very good indeed.
Late in 2009, however, Tamiya lifted the
bar with their 1:32 scale Spitfire Mk.IXc.
This was followed in mid-2010 by their
Spitfire Mk.VIII and Mk.XVIe in 2011.
Tamiya’s 1:32 scale Supermarine
Spitfires are truly superb kits in terms of
level of detail, engineering innovation, fit
and presentation. In the warm afterglow of
its release, many modellers have declared
Tamiya’s Spitfire kits to be the best scale
models released to date.
Naturally, such a subjective assertion is
very much a matter of opinion, but the four
modellers in this book would not argue
with this view!
Even so, there are some areas of the
kit that might be improved, and there is
massive potential for conversions and
alternative colours and markings.
The purpose of this book is to suggest
how Tamiya’s kit may be improved, deliver
a step-by-step illustrated guide to building
the model, and finally to offer some
inspiration with four complete builds,
including one conversion and one with
additional detail.
Any modelling book is an ensemble
effort and this title is no exception. I would
like to extend my sincere appreciation
to Chris Wauchop, Roy Sutherland
and Dave Johnson, whose wonderful
Spitfires appear in these pages. Roy
went especially far out on a limb with
his extraordinary super detailing and
conversion. Thanks to all of you for your
efforts and your sense of urgency.
We are very grateful to Tamiya Japan for
providing the kits built in this book.
I would also like to thank Barracuda
Studios and Eduard for the aftermarket
samples used on the Spitfire Mk.VIII.
The photos of the Spitfire Mk.XVI Merlin
engine in the Close-Up section were
kindly provided by James Levingston, and
Spitfire expert Bob Swaddling provided a
helpful list of improvements.
Finally, thanks to Dr Charles Metz for the
list of Spitfire Mk.IX reference publications
that appear at the end of this book.
Brett Green, February 2015
2
How to Build...
Tamiya’s 1:32 Spitfire Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII & Mk.XVIe
■
Chris Wauchop
Chris Wauchop was born in Deniliquin in regional Australia in
1954. Chris’s career began in the photo studio of a major Sydney
advertising agency. From here, Chris moved on to professional
model making at Lego. After nearly five years, he decided to
go solo, opening a hobby shop called “Absolute Hobbies” in
suburban Sydney. This became a Mecca for local modellers. The
end of the property lease after seven years prompted another
career change, this time painting props and vehicles for the
science fiction movie, Red Planet. Chris has built many models
for commercial advertising, displays at trade shows, articles
for magazines and websites including Tamiya Model Magazine,
AIR Modeller, HyperScale and Missing-Lynx, and has been a
contributor to many modelling books. Chris now lives in semi-
retirement on Sydney’s northern beaches with his wife Deirdhre.
■
Roy Sutherland
Roy been a modeller since the age of 6, and a professional model
maker for the last 21 years. He has worked in a number of model
shops in the SF bay area, including Industrial Light and Magic
(credits include Star Wars Episode II), and M5 Studios (where they
film Mythbusters). Roy has worked for Toy Companies such as
Worlds of Wonder, Galoob, and 21st Century Toys, where he was
in charge of the development of the entire product line. These days
he runs Barracuda Studios, which produces the BarracudaCals,
BarracudaCast and BarracudaGraphs product lines. For more info
go to www.barracudacals.com. He lives in Fremont, CA and has
a son, Cooper.
■
Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson is 33 years of age and lives in Wellington, New
Zealand. He works for Wingnut Wings. He built his first kit model
kit around the age of 8, but got back into the hobby in 2005 after a
long break. Dave’s favourite modelling era is World War II aircraft,
especially RNZAF aircraft during this period. He is an enthusiast of
WWI aircraft too. Working for Wingnut Wings, his interest in these
early but fast developing aircraft grows each day.
■
Brett Green
Brett Green was born in Sydney, Australia in 1960. Brett displayed
a passion for aviation and aircraft modelling from an early age.
This developed into a particular interest in camouflage and
markings. Brett established the popular scale modelling website
HyperScale (www.hyperscale.com) in 1998. He is also Editor
of the ADH Publishing’s Model Military International and the
Aircraft Edition of Military Illustrated Modeller magazines, the
armour modelling website Missing-Lynx, and author of more than
20 books. Brett concluded his 25-year career in the Australian
telecommunications industry in 2003, when he decided to
pursue his interests in online publishing and writing as a full-time
occupation. He still lives in Sydney today with his wife and two
children, Charlotte and Sebastian.
CONTENTS
2
Page
4
Page
6
Page
Page
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1
L
Late Merlin Spitfire Close-Up
12
13
16
32
40
41
42
52
66
68
80
82
Chapter 2
S
Spitfire Mk.IXc in Profile
Page
Chapter 3
T
Tamiya’s 1:32 scale Spitfire
Mk.IXc in the box
Page
Chapter 4
B
Building Tamiya’s 1:32 scale
Spitfire Mk.IXc Step by Step
Page
Chapter 5
R
RAAF Spitfire Over the
Continent – Brett Green
Page
Chapter 6
S
Supermarine Shangri-La -
Chris Wauchop
Page
Chapter 7
Spitfire VIII in the Box
Page
Chapter 8
Shark Attack! Chris
Wauchop and Brett Green
Page
Copyright © 2015 ADH Publishing Ltd.
All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or
whole of any text or photographs without
written permission from the publisher is strictly
prohibited. While due care has been taken to
ensure the contents of this book are accurate,
the publisher cannot accept liability for errors.
Chapter 9
High Atitude Fighter – Roy
Sutherland
Page
Chapter 10
Spitfire Mk.XVIe in the Box
Page
Chapter 11
Sweet Kiwi Sixteen – Dave
Johnson
First Published in the United Kingdom by:
ADH Publishing Ltd., Doolittle Mill, Doolittle Lane,
Totternhoe, Bedfordshire, LU6 1QX
Telephone:
44 (0) 1525 222573
Fax:
44 (0) 1525 222574
Email:
enquiries@adhpublishing.com
Website:
www.adhpublishing.com
Designed by Alex Hall
Page
Appendix
After-Market Accessories
and Decals
Page
References
How to Build...
Tamiya’s 1:32 Spitfire Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII & Mk.XVIe
3
INtroductIoN
BACKGROUND
T
he Focke-Wulf Fw 190 asserted its
authority as soon as it appeared
over the Channel Front in
September 1941. It was so clearly
superior to the Spitfire Mk.V that RAF
Fighter Command curtailed operations
twice - from November 1941 to March
1942, and again from 13 June 1942 - due
to unacceptably high losses against the
Luftwaffe’s “Butcher Bird”.
The Rolls-Royce Merlin 60 series
engines would offer the Spitfire the
essential edge it needed to balance
the scales against this new foe, but
the high altitude Spitfire Mk.VII and the
unpressurised Mk.VIII were still many
months away from production.
An interim proposal was therefore
made to provide a suitable solution in
a more timely fashion. The Merlin 61
engine would be fitted to the existing
Spitfire Mk.V airframe, matching the Fw
190s performance at medium and high
altitudes. This aircraft was known as the
Spitfire F.Mk.IX, Type No.361.
The resulting Spitfire retained the clean
lines of the earlier Mks. I, II and V, but
featured a longer and modified fuselage
to accommodate the bigger engine,
revised intakes, radiators and oil coolers,
and a four-bladed propeller to handle the
greater power.
Although initially conceived as a stop-
gap measure, the Spitfire Mk.IX and the
essentially similar Mk.XVI (powered by a
Packard Merlin engine) eventually became
the most numerous of all Spitfire variants
with more than 7,000 delivered to the RAF,
the VVS and other Allied air forces.
The Spitfire Mk.IX continued in front
line service until the end of the Second
World War.
The new and improved Mk.VIII featured
a strengthened fuselage and retractable
tail wheel. It was fitted with the new Volkes
Aero Vee air filter, which was also adapted
to the later production Spitfire Mk.IX. Each
wing was also fitted with self-sealing 14
gallon fuel tanks and the capacity of the
main tank was increased to 96 gallons.
All Mk.VIII Spitfires were fitted with the C
wing, with either four 20mm cannon; or
two cannon and two machine guns
In the end, the Spitfire Mk.VIII never
replaced the “stop-gap” Spitfire Mk.IX
in northern Europe. The Spitfire Mk.VIII
entered service around the middle of
1943 in Italy and the Far East and in 1944
with the Royal Australian Air Force in the
Pacific, largely in a ground attack role.
M
YOU TAKE THE HIGH ROAD
AND I’LL TAKE THE LOW ROAD...
odellers have been waiting a
very long time for a 1:32 scale
Spitfire Mk.IX and Mk.VIII.
Until now, our only options
have been expensive resin or vacform
conversions requiring considerable skill
and effort, or the limited-run Pacific Coast
Models kit released in 2008.
Now Tamiya has released the first
long-run injection moulded kits of late
Merlin Spitfires in 1:32 scale. These
are remarkable kits in terms of detail,
accuracy, engineering and presentation. It
has been well worth the wait.
Before we examine the Tamiya kits in
detail though, let’s take a look at some of
the options open to us until now.
Spitfire Mk.iX ConverSionS
in 1:32 SCale
A number of vac form or resin 1:32 scale
Spitfire Mk.IX conversions have been
released over the last few decades. These
have all been designed for the venerable
Hasegawa Spitfire Mk.Vb. The base kit is
reasonably accurate in outline but suffers
from a very poor cockpit and non-existent
wheel well detail. The raised panel lines
of this 1970s vintage kit won’t be to many
modellers tastes either.
4
Introduction
Paragon’s resin conversion was the best way to build a Spitfire Mk.IXc in 1:32 scale before 2008.
Warbird Productions
offered a full Spitfire C
wing in 1:32 scale.
The best of these conversions were
offered by Paragon Designs and Warbird
Productions of the UK.
Paragon produced a number of
conversions designed for Hasegawa’s
1:32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb, including one for
a Spitfire Mk.IX.
Paragon’s Spitfire Mk.IX conversion
33 parts in. The parts will need to be
removed from casting blocks, but this
should not be difficult or time consuming.
Even so, this is a comprehensive
conversion requiring significant surgery
to the base kit, so significant modelling
experience will be helpful.
Paragon supplies all the parts necessary
for a Spitfire IXc including an entirely new
three-piece engine cowling, supercharger
intake, exhausts, spinner and propeller
blades, pointed rudder, double-kinked
elevators (you’ll need to modify the kit
tail planes to fit these), second under
wing radiator and housing, five-spoke
weighted main wheels, upper and under
wing bulges for cannon and undercarriage
(broad and narrow cannon bulges are
included), plus new cannon barrels and
stubs. The high altitude extended wing
tips are supplied too, making it possible to
build a Spitfire HF Mk.IXc.
The most difficult aspect of this
conversion will be transforming Hasegawa’s
“B” wing to a “C” wing. Although Paragon
provides all of the fittings, the real hurdle will
be cutting, filling, fitting the new radiator and
scribing the many new panel lines.
For those who do not feel up to the
task, Warbird Productions released a
full resin “C” wing. This presented its
own challenges though, as the wing was
supplied in left and right halves. Joining
these heavy one-piece resin wings to the
fuselage would require reinforcement and
careful alignment.
In addition to the C wing, Warbird
Productions also offered a wide range of
late Merlin and Griffin Spitfires.
PACIFIC COAST MODELS’ 1:32 SCALE
SPITFIRE MK.IXC, MK.IXE AND MK.XVIE
Pacific Coast Models released their 1:32
scale limited-run Supermarine Spitfire
Mk.IXc in 2008. This was the first complete
injection moulded kit of a Spitfire Mk.IX in
this scale.
Pacific Coast Models’ Spitfire Mk.IXc
comprises 70 parts in grey plastic, 9 parts
in clear, 21 resin parts, a colour photo-
etched fret and markings for six aircraft.
The plastic parts are moulded by Sword
of the Czech Republic. The plastic is
shiny, and surface detail is well done with
recessed panel lines.
The 21 grey resin parts are mainly used
in the cockpit, but also include wheels,
undercarriage bays and two different
styles of exhaust - flared and tubular. The
two styles of wheels included are five
spoke and covered hub.
The resin parts are excellent.
The colour photo-etch fret offers
attractive eye-candy for the
front office including a detailed
instrument panel and a Q harness with
printed stitching.
The clear parts are very nice - thinly
moulded and good looking in shape.
The overall outline looks good but there
are some shape issues with the propeller
blades. The undercarriage doors also lack
the characteristic bulge of the Mk.IX.
Due to its limited-run nature, you should
ideally have had some experience with
short run kits or resin accessories before
tackling PCM’s Spitfire Mk.IXc. However,
If you spend sufficient time preparing
the parts and test-fitting (in other words,
showing this kit the respect that any limited
run offering demands), then you will be
rewarded with a nicely detailed model of
this most numerous Spitfire variant.
I built this kit shortly after its release in
2008 and was pleased with the result.
Pacific Coast Models followed up with
a 1:32 scale Spitfire Mk.IXe and a resin
low-back XVIe conversion.
The cockpit is well detailed with resin
and colour photo-etched parts.
A good result can be
obtained if care is taken
with parts preparation and
alignment.
Pacific Coast Models’ 1:32 scale
Spitfire Mk.IXc was released in 2008.
How to Build...
Tamiya’s 1:32 Spitfire Mk.IXc, Mk.VIII and Mk.XVIe
5

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