Spitfire Mk.Vb Late

Eduard ProfiPACK, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard first offered their Spitfire Mk.V kits in their Dual Combo Limited Edition "Eagles Call" boxing, followed by their "Southern Star" boxing in February this year.

The Mk.Vb is now making a return appearance in the next instalment of Eduard's Spitfire releases in the guise of a singe ProfiPACK 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb late

This Spitfire Mk.Vb comprises 208 parts in grey plastic, 21 parts in clear plastic, a colour photo-etched fret and a die-cut, self-adhesive masking sheet. 70 parts are marked “not for use” while many others are optional, further reducing the actual parts count.

In this boxing the fuselage is labeled Sprue D. Sprue D represents the later Mk.V with the internal armoured windscreen glass.

There is a raised fillet moulded to the fuselage just below and on either side of the windscreen.

The recessed area at the front of the opening for the windscreen is shallower on this fuselage too.

Next we have the wings. The wing sprue for the Mk.Vb is labelled differently for the upper and lower wings – Sprue L for the upper wings and Sprue M for the lower.

Sprue M captures the specific attributes of the late Mk.Vc cannon bulges and the arrangement of several panel lines and hatches.

This is really nice attention to detail.

We’ve seen the remaining sprues - P, R and S - in earlier Eduard Spitfire Mk.I, Mk.II and Mk.V releases.

Detail

Eduard combines plastic and colour photo-etched parts in this Limited Edition kit, delivering a high level of detail straight from the box. The cockpit benefits most from the photo-etch with a nice multi-layered instrument panel, coloured harness straps and scale-thickness pilot's armour.

Two varieties of colour photo-etched instrument panels are offered. A plastic panel with raised bezels and a decal instrument dial layover is also included.

Engineering and Options

The kit is broken down conventionally. The fuselage is full-length with the only insert being the forward wing root.

The lower cowl is separate too.

Ailerons, elevators and the rudder are all separate, while the flaps are moulded closed. This is another sensible decision, as the flaps were rarely seen dropped at any time other than on final approach to landing. All flying control surfaces depict fabric covering.

The elevators are moulded as a matched pair, joined in the middle with a plastic connector. This will ensure that the droop (or otherwise) is consistent when the elevators are glued in place.

The canopy side door is a separate part, with the option of posing the door open or closed.

The clear parts are free from distortion and quite thin.

The closed canopy options comprises a combined sliding section and rear section, while the open canopy supplies a separate sliding section to sit over the rear clear part.

Markings

Markings are supplied for a six subjects.

The unique and national markings are supplied on one decal sheet.

A smaller sheet provides the stencil markings.

Like its nemesis the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G, the Spitfire Mk.V was a pastiche of proven formula and makeshift improvisation until later, more powerful and standardised versions became available.

Despite its stop-gap heritage, the Spitfire Mk.V served with more than 140 RAF Squadrons and took the air war to the skies beyond Europe. The Mk.V was the first Spitfire to see combat over the Western Desert, the Mediterranean, the Soviet Union, the Indian sub-continent, the Pacific and more.

4,489 Spitfire Mk.Vs rolled off the production lines.

Eduard has lavished well-deserved attention on this vital workhorse.

Eduard’s 1:48 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb late kit is beautifully detailed, accurate, boast lovely fine surface textures and offer most of the options that you will ever need for this sometimes complicated subject.

I have built a number of these Eduard Spitfires including the Vc and can confirm that they are a pleasure to put together too.

Eduard’s 1:48 scale Spitfire family has been an instant classic since their initial Mk.IX release and these Mk.Vs maintain the high standard.

Purchased by the reviewer.

Review Text Copyright © 2022 by Brett Green
Page Created 25 May, 2022
Last updated 26 May, 2022

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