Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IIa

Revell, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Revell's 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.IIa is available online from Squadron.com

The Supermarine Spitfire was the only Allied fighter aircraft of the Second World War to see front line service from the beginning of the conflict, in September 1939, through to the end in August 1945.

The Spitfire's post-war service career continued into the 1950s.

The basic airframe proved to be extremely adaptable, capable of taking far more powerful engines and far greater loads than its original role as a short-range interceptor had anticipated. This would lead to 19 marks of Spitfire and 52 sub-variants being produced throughout the Second World War and beyond.

The many changes were made in order to fulfil Royal Air Force requirements and to successfully combat ever-improving enemy aircraft. With the death of Reginald J. Mitchell in June 1937, all variants of the Spitfire were designed by his replacement, Joseph Smith, and a team of engineers and draftsmen.*

Revell released a 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.I in the 1960s, but this model has nothing in common with the earlier kit.

This is an all-new release, labelled a Mk.IIa, but with a few anomalies. The oil cooler housing is the style of the Mk.V, and the metal ailerons are more typical of a later version as well.

Revell’s 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.IIa is quite a simple kit with just 122 parts in light grey plastic and 13 in clear. Moulding quality is excellent. The plastic is a bit on the soft side and pleasant to work with.

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Thumbnail panels:

The overall shapes and dimensions are pretty good, but there are a few problems. In addition to the late-version ailerons and oil cooler, the radiator is simplified (flat against the bottom of the wing with no intake or exit ramp), the pilot’s seat armour and spare gunsight bulbs are missing, and the spinner is very poorly shaped. I don’t like the main wheels very much either.

Many modellers won’t be worried about these issues but if you are, most can be addressed by after-market corrections and upgrades.

Cockpit detail is nice, and will provide the basis for super detailing if you wish. The instrument panel is moulded with really good looking raised bezel and switch detail, with decals supplied as an alternative or a supplement.

The pilot’s access door is a separate part, and may be posed either open or closed. The canopy is the early style with flattish sides, while the windscreen is supplied with the separate armoured glass panel.

The fuselage is moulded with openings for clear fuel tank inspection ports. These were not fitted to all Spitfires, so check your references. Filling and sanding these will be a fast and easy job if required.

All control surfaces are separate parts, as are the flaps. Remember, the flaps were either full up or full down; and were normally only down when on landing approach. The radiator exit flap is a separate part too.

Parts breakdown is very conventional, with full-length fuselage halves, no inserts, full span lower wing and separate port and starboard upper wing halves.

The kit features busy surface detail, with recessed panel lines and rivets throughout. The surface texture is especially heavy on the fuselage, and most noticeably on the rear fuselage. This will be too heavy for some modellers’ tastes (mine included).

There are some interesting clues about things to come. For example, the elevators are supplied as the later kinked version, first seen on late batches of the Spitfire Mk.IX. For the Mk.I/II/V, we have to cut along a diagonal line recessed on the inside surfaces of the elevators.

Markings

Markings are supplied for two aircraft Both are finished in Dark Earth and Dark Green upper surfaces with Sky below:

• Spitfire Mk.IIa, No.19 Squadron, Fowlmere, June 1941

• Spitfire Mk.IIa, No.65 Squadron, Kirton-in-Lindey, July 1941

Decals are in register with good colour saturation and fairly flat in finish, typical of Revell.

Colour callouts are only offered for Revell paints.

Revel has delivered a 1:32 scale Spitfire Mk.IIa at a bargain price.

Detail is quite good and shapes are generally accurate. The simple parts breakdown also ensures that the kit will be suitable even to less experienced modellers.

The smattering of errors and omissions are baffling, as there is no shortage of research and museum specimens, but at least the after market has these problems covered for those who want a totally accurate early Spitfire.

* Background adapted from Wikipedia.

Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For details visit www.revell.de/en, @RevellGermany or facebook.com/Revell

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2015 by Brett Green
Page Created 19 January, 2015
Last updated 20 January, 2015

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