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Spitfire Mk.IXe/XVIe
Canadian Spitfires, Parts One & Two


Czech Master Resin, 1/72 scale

 

S u m m a r y
Item No. CMR No. 184 RCAF Spitfire Mk.IX E/XVI E and
CMR No. 190 RCAF Spitfire Mk. IX C
Contents and Media: Each kit contains approximately 61 cream coloured resin parts, 62 PE parts on one fret, 2 vac-formed canopies, decals for five aircraft including a full set of stencils, 3 pages of build instructions, 5 pages of full colour paint/decal instructions, and 2 and ½ pages of note which includes a full Biography of Stocky Edwards in kit No. 190
Scale 1/72
Price: USD$79.20 available online from Squadron
from £24.67 available online from Hannants
and specialist hobby outlets worldwide
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: The most accurate 1/72 scale Spitfires on the market; beautifully cast resin, highly detailed and accurate, PE by Eduard, gorgeous decals
Disadvantages: Multi-media not for beginners
Recommendation: Highly Recommended to experienced Spitfire lovers.

 

Reviewed by Glen Porter


CMR's 1/72 scale Canadian Spitfires are available online from Squadron.com

 

Introduction

 

I doubt if anyone who reads this will not know what a Mk. IX Spitfire is. However, some may not be aware that a Mk. XVI was identical except for a Packard built Merlin engine which had metric dimensions and therefore required different tools.

 

 

The Mk.IX was initially built as an emergency stop-gap to combat the Fw 190 but it was so good that production continued until war's end. Combined production of the Mk.IX and Mk.XVI was totalled more thn 7,000, the most numerous variant of all Spitfires.

 

 

FirstLook

 

This is another pair of great 1/72 scale Spitfire kits from CMR, this time, a Canadian Mk.IX C and Canadian Mk.IX/XVI E. The “C” and “E” refers to the wing and armament.  These kits are equal quality to any of those previously reviewed so I won't go into it again - just go read any of the earlier ones.

 

  • Czech Master Resin 1/72 scale Canadian Spitfires Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • Czech Master Resin 1/72 scale Canadian Spitfires Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • Czech Master Resin 1/72 scale Canadian Spitfires Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • Czech Master Resin 1/72 scale Canadian Spitfires Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • Czech Master Resin 1/72 scale Canadian Spitfires Review by Glen Porter: Image
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I am not sure who printed the decals as the title is too small for me to read, although both have separate stencil sheets. No. 190's is by Tally Ho and both have stencil instructions.

No. 184 has markings for 8 aircraft:

 

 

  1. Mk. IX C, Y2-K, MJ520 of 442 Squadron (RCAF) flown by Flight Lieutenant Arnold “Rosy” Roseland, June 1944. This aircraft is in Day Fighter Scheme with full D-Day stripes.

  2. Mk. IX C, Y2-K, MK304, has the same scheme but only half D-Day stripes

  3. a third Y2-K, TE294 is on display at the Comox Museum in Canada.

  4. Mk. IX C, AE-W, BS152 of 402 Squadron (RCAF) early 1943, flown by Lorne Cameron, same colours as above with Sky spinner and band.

  5. AE-B, EN398, from the same Squadron was flow by Ian Keltie, February to March 1943. This aircraft would later become famous as “Johnnie” Johnson's personal mount. Both of these Spitfires have nose-art on the port side cowling and red Maple Leaves under the windscreen.

  6. Mk. IX C, KH-B, MA585 from 403 Squadron (RCAF), flown by George “Buzz” Beurling, September and October 1943 in the Day Fighter Scheme with sky spinner and band and a score of 29 crosses below the windscreen.

  7. 9G-K, NH209 is another Mk. IX C of 441 Squadron (RCAF), flown by F/L Guy Mott in October 1944 in the same scheme as above with D-Day stripes on the underside of the fuselage only and a red Maple Leaf under the windscreen.

  8. FR IX, “S”, MJ351, from 414 Squadron (RCAF) flown by F/L Ken Lawson, March 1945, with the name “Violet-Dorothy” in either yellow or white on the port side nose. This aircraft has a black spinner and no Sky band.

 

 

Kit No. 190 has markings for 5:

  1. W/C “Johnnie” Johnson's Mk.IX E, JE-J (JR underlined in small font after the second J), MK329, 144 and 127 Wings (RCAF), June 1944, with full D-Day stripes and two kegs on the under-wing bomb racks, black spinner and Sky band.

  2. Next is another of his Mk.IX Es, JE-J, Mk392 (no it's not a typo), same units, January 1945, with black spinner and Sky band painted out.

  3. W/C Jack Charles' Mk. IX E, EJC, PT396, Tangmere Wing, Tangmere, March 1945. The spinner is in red as is the code with a white border and all behind the roundel. This aircraft carries a Wing Commander's pennant below the cockpit and a badge on the fin above the fin stripe.

  4. W/C James “Stocky” Edward's Mk. XVI E, JF-E ,TD147, 127 Wing, Schneverdingen, Germany, May 1945. Again, black spinner and Sky band painted out. This aircraft has clipped wings.

  5. Group Captain Stan Turner's Mk. XVI E, PS-T, TB300, 127 Wing, Evere, Belgium, April 1945. This and the above two carry late war upper and lower wing roundels with a narrow yellow surround.

 


 

Conclusion

 

We know the quality of these kits is almost beyond reproach, so it is only the interesting markings that will make the difference. If you are into Braille Scale, Royal Canadian Air Force and late model Spitfires, then wow, these kits have it all.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to CMR for the review sample

CMR Models are available online from Hannants in the UK,
Red Roo Models in Australia and quality specialist model retailers worldwide.

Text Copyright © 2008 by Glen Porter
Images Copyright © 2008 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 15 May2008
Last updated 15 May, 2008

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