Spitfire Mk.Vb Mid
Weekend Edition

Eduard, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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 first offered their Spitfire Mk.V kits in their Dual Combo Limited Edition "Eagles Call" boxing, followed by their "Southern Star" boxing in February last 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 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb Mid Production in the Weekend Edition.

The Weekend Edition kits omit photo-etch and masks, but they typically have at least two marking options on their decal sheet. This one has a generous four marking options.

This Weekend Edition Spitfire Mk.Vb comprises 208 parts in grey plastic, 21 parts in clear plastic, decals with four marking options and instructions. More than 70 parts are marked “not for use” while many others are optional, further reducing the actual parts count.

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Thumbnail panels:

In this boxing the fuselage is labeled Sprue C. Sprue C represents the earlier Mk.V with the external armoured windscreen glass..

The recessed area at the front of the opening for the windscreen on this fuselage is deeper than the later versions 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 Mk.Vb 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.

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 four subjects.

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

Instrument dial decals, harness straps and red leading edge machine gun patches are on the decal sheet too.

It is nice to see Eduard's gorgeous mid-production Spitfires in budget Weekend Edition guise.

Eduard has lavished well-deserved attention on this vital workhorse. Eduard’s 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.V kits are 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 the ProfiPACK versions of Eduard Spitfires including the Vc and can confirm that they are a pleasure to put together too.

The detail on the plastic parts is a fair substitute for photo-etched parts and should look great after careful painting.

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.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2023 by Brett Green
Page Created 18 May, 2023
Last updated 18 May, 2023

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