Spitfire F24

[thedarkmaster]

Hi guys, I'm in need of a Spitfire F24 in 1/72nd for a post wwii idea i have, don't really mind manufacturer or even if it's vacform .

I'm willing to swap for bits etc or use beer vouchers,

thanks for looking,


TIM

[kitnut617]

You're pretty much tied to one of two choices, Czechmaster (resin) or Ventura (IM).  Ventura goes under the name Jay's Models now and can be got through High Planes and what is available is really a F.22 but there's not very much visual difference between them

http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=CMR5097
http://www.hiplanes.com/new/jays_models_pricelist.html

[pyro-manic]

Special Hobby have an F22 due out soon - http://www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=SH72127 Not sure how much it will be, but it's guaranteed to be cheaper than CMK!

[Barry Krell]

That was announced last year and I doubt we'll see it any time before 2012.

Obsolete kits to try tracking down via e-bay:

Pegasus - did three Spitfire F22/24s, the last one was boxed and was the best of the lot.  The prop was fabulous. The first one is best avoided but the second tooling is workable.

Airkit - did an F22.  Superb kit that's equal to the CMK one if not better, certainly for ease of construction.

Deltabits - reboxed Ventura kit

Rareplanes - Seafire FR47 could be reworked but it's an old kit with no gull wing and besides which it's undersized.

Aeroteam - Spitfire F21  Could be converted but the kit has it's own problems, not least of which is the wing which looks to be too deep.  It's a copy of the CMK one.

Legato - resin kit and I've only ever seen one.  It's a 'bitsa' - various bits are pirated from elsewhere.  The fuselage is reworked Fujimi (it's got the blower for the PR19!  Actually, might be worth using as a basis for an HF22...), the wing is CMK and various bits are from other kits.,  Still very nice and with multiple spares.  Can also be done as a Seafire F46.

I did see another resin F22 kit a few years back but can't recall the manufacturer.

[thedarkmaster]

Thanks for that lads, I trawl away through eBay.

[kitbasher]

Pegasus - did three Spitfire F22/24s, the last one was boxed and was the best of the lot.  The prop was fabulous. The first one is best avoided but the second tooling is workable.

Aeroteam - Spitfire F21  Could be converted but the kit has it's own problems, not least of which is the wing which looks to be too deep.  It's a copy of the CMK one.

Legato - resin kit and I've only ever seen one.  It's a 'bitsa' - various bits are pirated from elsewhere.  The fuselage is reworked Fujimi (it's got the blower for the PR19!  Actually, might be worth using as a basis for an HF22...), the wing is CMK and various bits are from other kits.,  Still very nice and with multiple spares.  Can also be done as a Seafire F46.

I thought Pegasus only did 2 versions of their F22/24 (I bought one of the first and two of the second)?  You're right, the first iteration is best avoided, while the second is much better - but by no means without its faults.  The radiators are rather chunky, the fin/rudder was out od sorts, but worst of all the rear fuselage isn't high enough - by about an eigth of an inch orpossibly even more.  Lokks very odd when placed against, say, a Heller LF.16e.
The Aeroteam F21 predates the CMR kit by several years I think, having bought one at the very last Castle Donnington IPMS Nationals, so IMHO it's not a copy of anything.  A nice model - not without the need for some rectification - and reboxed some years ago by Eduard (this issue had resin and etched brass additions).
CMK did do an F22/24 - I bought one - and it was a clone of the 2nd Pegasus F22/24.  OK for bits robbery (wing, Griffon nose, prop and tailplane) at a push, but best avoided.
I have a Legato F22/24 (bought in Prague, too, with the missus in tow!) and it is delightful.  Didn't know Legato did an F21, and on the basis of the F22/24 I'm surprised by the comments you make, Barry. 

[kitnut617]

Airkit - did an F22.  Superb kit that's equal to the CMK one if not better, certainly for ease of construction.

Rareplanes - Seafire FR47 could be reworked but it's an old kit with no gull wing and besides which it's undersized.

Aeroteam - Spitfire F21  Could be converted but the kit has it's own problems, not least of which is the wing which looks to be too deep.  It's a copy of the CMK one.

I forgot about the Airkit F22, I've got one of those.  And I've got a Rareplane FR47 too but the Ventura (Jays Models) one is better (built one of those)

Talking about F21's though, I've got a couple of Eduard 1/72 kits and I've always wondered if it was their's originally or whether they rebox someone elses, would the base kit be the Aeroteam one?

[Barry Krell]

Pegasus definitely did three F22s - I have at least one of each!  The first is very like a Merlin kit, similar moulding and looks to be a reworking of a Hawk/Testors Spitfire F22.  Don't know how old it is exactly, certainly early 80s.  The second* is similar to the third, with u/c legs moulded integral with the very thick doors.  Basic kit is nice just needs some refinement of the smaller bits.  Came with decals, so I'd guess it's from 1986?  Grey plastic.  The third and final one was from 1992, boxed with decals and white metal parts.  Very nice kit.

Legato's F22.  By bitsa, I meant I recognised what they'd used as masters!  Have another look at the kit and compare it to others in your stash, you'll see what I mean!

Aeroteam. I'm positive it was later than the CMK kit.  I got the Aeroteam F21 at Donnie in 1997 from Hannants, the Eduard boxing came a year or so later (a quick check of the instructions says 1998) and I bought it from Howard Hookham at Telford in 1998.  CMK did an F21 in 1996 which was very similar to the later Aeroteam kit - Hannants were flogging them at Donnington that year.

The problem with CMK is that they've a tendency to rework their kits drastically.  I remember seeing their MB5 and Swift in 1996 or 97 on the Hannants stand and they looked similar to the Pegasus kits.  Whichever was a copy of the other, I honestly don't know but resin piracy is rife in the Czech republic and Chris Gannon wasn't above it either, according to one or two in the trade (no names but they're just as guilty themselves!)

*Also did a Seafire F47 at the same time.  Worth a spin as I suspect any Spitfires based on the F24 airframe would have the ram intake for the carb similar to the FR47.

[Barry Krell]

Just found this on evilbay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PEGASUS-SPITFIRE-F22-24_W0QQitemZ190365878801QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN?hash=item2c52b0ca11

That's the third Pegasus tooling.  Trader's good too.  Used him in the past.

[Tojo633]

This listed on Evilbay today I am sure

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jays-Model-Kits-Ventura-Supermarine-Spitfire-Mk-22-new_W0QQitemZ250566504766QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN?hash=item3a56ed713e

Cheers

Sandy