Best 1/48 Spitfire?

[Nick]

Which 1/48 Spitfire would you recommend for a 17 year-old who occasionally builds models?

This is for *deep breath* my sisters boyfriends son who lives in the US but is over here for a break staying with his mother *gasp* 

I am guessing he wants a Battle of Britain machine but to be fair he'll take what he gets and like it!

[NARSES2]

I'm not a 1/48 builder, but Tamiya ? They tend to build well and quite easily and are a reasonable price.

[Old Wombat]

Accuracy may not be to Weaver's (Oops!) "The Wooksta!'s" standards (if he worked in 1/48) but any of the following might do, if you can find them:

BoB:

Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I


Airfix 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I


USAAF:

ICM WWII US Air Force Fighter Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII


Eduard 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXc (early version)


Italeri 1/48 Spitfire Mk.IX - American Aces


RAAF & USAAF:

Eduard 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII [Weekend Edition]


Pick-&-Chose:

Eduard 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII - ProfiPACK Edition




I haven't built any of these but what I have built from these companies is usually pretty good.

[andrewj]

If it's a Battle of Britain Spitfire your after , then the only choice is the current Airfix MkI . Avoid the previous Airfix Spitfire and the Tamiya Kit as they both have faults in accuracy.  If you want to wait , however, there is a new tool Spitfire MkI coming from Tamiya.

Andrew

[The Wooksta!]

What he said, but...

Any two stage Merlin variant - Eduard

There aren't any decent Griffon F14 or F18 kits.  Airfix PR19 for late PR birds is a highly regarded kit.  Airfix F22 also superb - moulding was done by the same people who do Tamiya, so still absolute top notch.

48th isn't my scale, but that's what I'd be going with if I did build 48th.

[Nick]

Thanks for the advice chaps. I will have a look out at the next show I go to.

Looking at the Airfix site they offer the 1/48 Spitfire in two boxes, their standard offering MkVb (A05125) and the Specialist Spitfire (A82015).
Is this a kit to be avoided?

[The Wooksta!]

Avoid the Italeri kits - IIRC they're reboxed Occidental and/or ICM kits with all the accuracy, fit and moulding flaws.

[Nick]

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion. Turns out that the lad wanted the new Airfix Spitfire Mk.1 which was not available at the St Ives show so my sister went to Hobbycraft instead. Goodness knows what she bought him 

BTW, I'm not sure who locked this topic or why, suppose it could have been me on the phone with my fat fingers! 

[NARSES2]

BTW, I'm not sure who locked this topic or why, suppose it could have been me on the phone with my fat fingers! 

Wasn't aware it was locked. If it was and you unlocked it, then yes you have fat fingers 

[NARSES2]

Turns out that the lad wanted the new Airfix Spitfire Mk.1 which was not available at the St Ives show so my sister went to Hobbycraft instead. Goodness knows what she bought him 

Your public need to know what she bought 

[Nick]

Turns out that the lad wanted the new Airfix Spitfire Mk.1 which was not available at the St Ives show so my sister went to Hobbycraft instead. Goodness knows what she bought him 

Your public need to know what she bought 

Just got a text from her saying they bought a "Spitfire Mark 2". The Hobbycraft website has the 1/48 Revell kit for £10 so I assume they got that one.

Hobbycraft also stock the bigger Revell Spitfire.... I wouldn't be surprised if they got the 1/32 kit.... 

[NARSES2]

Ta