Spitfire Upgrades
for Tamiya's 1/32 Spitfire VIII / IX kits

BarracudaCast

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

BarracudaCast is the resin accessory arm of Roy Sutherland's growing Barracuda Studios enterprise.

BarracudaCast has burst onto the scene with seven debut releases, all designed for Tamiya's new 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.IXc and Mk.VIII kits. They are:

• 32001 Spitfire Seat with leather backpad

• 32002 Spitfire cockpit door with separate crowbar.

• 32003 Spitfire cockpit upgrade with stencil and placard decals

• 32004 Spitfire VIII/IX rocker covers w logo (Rolls Royce)

• 32005 Spitfire 5 slot mainwheels in resin

• 32006 Spitfire 4 slot mainwheels in resin

• 32007 Spitfire IX early cannon bay covers (w corrected wide blister)

Set 32001 is a straightforward replacement for Tamiya's standard seat. The BarracudaCast version is moulded with the cushioned leather backrest often seen fitted to the Spitfire seat, so this will be a relevant and useful way to customise your model.

One of the very few disappointing aspects of the Tamiya kits is the pilot's entry door, which suffers from tricky ejector pin marks and a flat, moulded-on crow bar. BarracudaCast 32002 offers a replacement with a clean inside surface and a separate crow bar. This is a real improvement, and a worthwhile investment for anyone building either of Tamiya's Spitfires with the pilot's door open.

Item 32003 is an upgrade for the kit cockpit. This includes throttle and retraction quadrants, a new compass, control column and oxygen hose.

The replacement parts are beautifully detailed, and will benefit from careful painting. The oxygen hose is especially welcome as Tamiya does not include this part with the kit.

Also included is a very useful set of cockpit placard decals. These may be small, but they have a big impact on the Spitfire's front office.

The instructions are noteworthy for their clarity and the beautiful workmanship found on the photographed example.

Part 32004 is a set of rocker covers for the engine with the Rolls-Royce emblem cast in place. This will be anice enhancement for models with the engine on display.

If you don't like vinyl tyres, BarracudaCast has you covered with the choice of four and five slot main wheels. Each wheel is supplied as one piece in resin, with the bottom of the tyres subtly bulged and flattened. These are item numbers 32005 and 32006.

The final product in this array of releases is item number 32007, replacement wide gun bulges for the early C wing. The shape of this bulge on the Tamiya kit triggered much controversy, as it appeared to be too squared off at the front. BarracudaCast has now released a replacement for the kit part with the more conventional rounded appearance at the front of the bulge.

All seven accessory sets are beautifully cast and easy to clean up.

If you are building either Tamiya's 1/32 scale Spitfire MkVIII or Mk.IX, BarracudaCast's accessories will be very useful enhancements. I have used the seat, the entry door, the wheels and elements of the cockpit set in my recent Spitfire VIII build and I was delighted with the results.

Highly Recommended.

Thanks to BarracudaCast for the images and information

Barracuda Studio products are available online from their website

Text Copyright © 2010 by Brett Green
Images Copyright © 2010 by Brett Green and Barrcudacals
This Page Created on 22 September, 2010
Last updated 24 September, 2010

Back to HyperScale Main Page