Another update has been posted online tonight.

• New in the Scale Modelling section is a new 1/48 Spitfire Mk. Vb built from the immortal Tamiya kit. This one is modelled by Ken Gowans.
  

Labels: modelling, site updates

Sadly we've experienced some obscure technical problems which caused the front page of the site to disappear for about 48 hours. With the helping hand of the technical support I was finally able to pinpoint the source of the problem yesterday and fix it. I hope that it will not come back.

Here's an update which was just about to be announced before the outage:

• A new addition to the Modelling section is Fabrice Fanton's Spitfire HF Mk. VI Conversion in 1/48 Scale - using Tamiya Spitfire and Pavla resin set.
  

Labels: modelling, site updates

Without further delay, here's the first update for July. Two new additions have been made in the Modelling section.

• Mark Davies' presents an in-depth review of the allegedly ultimate 1/72 Spitfire kit - the Czech Master Resin 1/72 Spitfire LF Mk. IXE.
  
  
• We have also a Trumpeter Spitfire Mk. V in 1/24 scale Model by Darron Edwards.

Enjoy.

Labels: modelling, site updates

Without further delay, here's the first update for this week:

• Among the History Articles, new additons are the two concluding parts of 1941: The Difficult Year - Day Air Operations by Fighter Command, November 1940 - December 1941, an account by Sholto Douglas, C-in-C of Fighter Command in the described period.
  
  
• New pair of models has been added in the Modelling section; both represent the Spitfire Prototype K5054, albeit in two different finishes. By Mark Davies.
  

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

Almost exactly one month ago I have initiated the RAF 90th Anniversary Festival to celebrate this important milestone and try to populate this site with more articles, photographs, art and other material related to the Royal Air Force and its long history.

How did we succeeed? Let's have an overview of all the festival contributions in April and new additions pending this month.

• The Variants and Technology section was enhanced with two important reference features. A two-part Concise Guide To Spitfire Wing Types provides an overview of of the basic wing types of the Spitfire and the differences between them. Inherently related to Spitfire wing design is also The Hispano Cannon, the weapon which gave the aircraft the punch and a characteristic element of its silhouette.
  
  
• Four new colour profiles added during the month in Camouflage & Markings were NH550, in Royal Norwegian Service accompanied by another Norwegian Reconnaissance Spitfire, EP706 - The Malta Defender Spitfire Mk. Vc and "Bogle" Bodie and his Spitfire Mk. I, X4321.
  
  This adds up to six new reference articles, a good record indeed, with no less than three additional features currently waiting to be published.
  
  
• The pace in the History Articles section was rather more leisurely, with two articles added. Independent Air Force - Tracing the Origins of the RAF, an essay by Brett Holman and A Lifetime of Aviation, another essay by Martin Waligorski.
  
  This month I will be adding much more in this section, with five-part coverage of the 1941 Circus offensive as a main theme.
  
  
• Images added to the Historic Photographs section were: a portrait of Sqn/Ldr Jiří Maňák,
  photos of RAB Spitfire of W/Cdr Berg, UZ-Z of No. 306 Squadron, Northolt, Spitfire Mk. VII in the United States, launch of Operation Bowery and K5054 prototype prior to her maiden flight.
  


• The Video Section grew with just about as many videos, including the footage of Mark Hanna leading Spitfire formation display, Spitfire in IL2, Best of Chino's contraprop Spitfire Mk. XIX and Public debut of Seafire Mk. XVII SX336.
  
  
• The new Gallery Section, established at the beginning of the month, grew up rapidly and is already offering several hundred quality images. Collections added this month were: Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser, images from Old Warden 2007, The Joy of Flight Testing the Spitfire Mk. V BL628, Seafire Mk.XVII SX336, 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force, April 2008 celebration flypast over London, BBMF 50th Anniversary, 2007 and finally Ronnie Olsthoorn Photo Gallery with many beautiful Spitfire images.
  
  I'm happy that the technology behind the galleries worked out. Image collections I have been receiving from our visitors since last autumn can now finally be posted online and I will continue to do so during the months to come.
  
  
• Modellers have proven to be eager and knowledgeable supporters of this site. Their interest was demonstrated last month through a collection of 1/72 Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser , Spitfire in Saigon, a tribute to the Memory of A/C Paul Webb, Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V backdated to Mk. Ib, Kenley Wings beer-carrying Spitfire and another Malta Spitfire Mk. V.
  


• Another group which keeps giving this site a "push" are aviation artists; many new great pieces can be enjoyed in the Art & Memorabilia gallery and Pavel Rampír has been spoiling us with an entire series of drawings. Enjoy A portrait of Clive Caldwell, Spitfire Mk. VIII in Italy, "The Last", Chasing the V-1, "The CO's Query", Typhoon trouble, Beware of the low-flying Mosquitos, "Se va la Primera". For collectors, there was also a set of RAF 90th Anniversary poststamps.
  

Summarizing, it is apparent that April was one of the most fruitful months on the Spitfire Site so far. It is fantastic, and showed up well through the editorial workload - I had a hard time coping with all the material I've been receiving. I'd like to direct a warm thank you to everyone who contributed their work and material to make it happen. My apologies to those few who are still waiting to get their contributions published - none has been forgotten and they will appear online as soon as I can possibly manage.

The RAF Anniversary Festival will continue for some time to come, so please keep the articles and photos coming.

In the meantime, I'm into some serious programming trying to establish a discussion forum for all of us Spitfire buffs. I'll keep you posted.

Labels: history, modelling, reference, site updates, videos, warbirds, webmaster

According to my declaration in the previous post, I should have been working with technical issues, but this course changed yesterday as I couldn't resist all the new wonderful submissions residing in the editorial pipeline - some of them long overdue! So instead, here's one of the biggest daily updates on this site so far, and a worthy conclusion to the first month of the RAF 90th Anniversary Festival.

Many thanks to all the contributors and please keep them comin'!

• In Historic Photographs, we celebrate two foreign personalities who served with the RAF, Czech Sqn/Ldr Jiří Maňák and Norwegian Rolf Arne Berg.
  
  
• Another great Spitfire pilot is commemorated in the Art & Memorabilia gallery through a portrait of Clive Caldwell, one more great submission by Pavel Rampír.
  


• In Scale Modelling, we have a photo gallery of Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser, now complete with sixty-five(!) 1/72 Spitfire and Seafire models presented in realistic settings and lifelike photography.
  
  
• Other models presented today are Spitfire in Saigon by Brian Ballew and a personal tribute to the memory of A/C Paul Webb by Chris Doherty.
  
  
• In Photo Galleries, there is another set of images from Old Warden 2007 air display season. Photography by Rover75.
  


• Looking into the Event Calendar clearly shows that the airshow season begins now, with many interesting events in the UK and France scheduled for May.

In all, this update includes 75 web pages, which together with the recent update of the IPMS Stockholm Magazine (also posted yesterday) is clearly a personal record. I hope that you will enjoy the results!

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, warbirds

The RAF Anniversary Festival continues today with a modelling update.

• Backdating Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V to Mk. Ib is the subject of this short feature by Tolga Ulgur. Tolga used Ultracast resin accessories for this neat conversion.

Labels: modelling, site updates

The RAF 90th Anniversary Festival continues. It's been a while since we've had new additions in the Historic Photographs section, so I'm particularly glad to present these new photos.

• The launch of Operation Bowery
  
  
• K5054 prototype prior to maiden flight
  

Also, if you enjoy plastic models, here's one surfing tip not to be missed. Spitfire is the current theme on one of Hyperscale's Theme Pics forum. Visitors of that prolific modelling site have been invited to post photos of their Spitfire models, and there is plenty of them to see!

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

The RAF 90th Anniversary Festival continues today with the following additons to the site.

• Two new additions in the Camouflage & Markings section are colour profiles of EP706 - The Malta Defender and Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk. I, X4321.
  
  
• In the Video section, we have a new clip showing the recently restored Seafire Mk. XVII SX336.
  
  
• We have also two new Spitfire models for your viewing pleasure today: Kenley Wings by Hans-Peter Tschanz and Malta Spitfire Mk. V by Charlie Wall.
  

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates, videos

• I'm glad to be able to deliver the second rather sizable addition for this week. Considering the subject of our site, it was inevitable that we would include a story about Reginald J. Mitchell, the engineering genius behind the Spitfire. Personally I'm not very fond of formal "encyclopedia-style" biographies, so I'm particularly glad to present John Dell's essay which takes on a rather personal view of Mitchell's life and achievements. Enjoy his two-part story Mr. Mitchell, Designer of the Spitfire - In Memory of a Brilliant Mind in the Articles section
  
  
• In Modelling, we have a beautiful 1/32 Spitfire Mk.II "Borough of Lambeth" modelled by Hans-Peter Tschanz from Switzerland.

Another new occurrence on the site, introduced yesterday, are commercial ads. Why ads? Well, it is my long-term objective to support - wholly or partially - the cost of the site's operation with ads, and today I'm taking the first step in this direction. I'm not hoping to get a profit - considering the amount of man-hours I'm currently putting into it - but perhaps be able to expand the site with photo galleries, forum and other interactive features, many of which require more sophisticated hosting, more bandwidth or additional software. Time permitting, there's so much more I would like to add.

In this initial period, I will be trying Google textual ads to see how they will perform. Obviously I would like the ads to be relevant to the interests of our visitors. With the Google system, the ads are supposed to be matched automatically with the subject of each page. I understand that it may take one or two weeks for the Google system to "learn" which ads are the right ones, so I'm eager to see how good the results will be.

I hope you will find the ads a meaningful addition to the Spitfire Site.

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, webmaster

Yesterday's update inaugurates the new Variants & Technology section of this site. The reference article on Spitfire Mk. XI/XVI added today has been written some time ago by my Norwegian IPMS colleague Olav Hungnes. It is used here by his kind permission and I have taken the opportunity of enhancing his in-depth analysis with many new pictures. It should be one of these pieces of reference that many modellers and Spitfire enthusiasts will find handy for long time to come.

• Entitled Spitfire Mk. IX, XI and XVI - Variants Much Varied, Olav's three-part feature analyses all the bumps, blisters and other modifications introduced to the Spitfire Mk. IX/XVI during its long production run.
  


• It's been a while we had a new model on these pages, so I'm pleased to announce the excellent 1/32 Spitfire Mk.II conversion submitted by Swiss modeller Hans-Peter Tschanz.
  

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates

During the last few days I've been busy adding new articles to the site. Rather than announcing each new addition directly, I am summarizing the entire series below. Announcing all articles posted over a period of a few days in a single post has some advantages. It should leave more room on this blog for other interesting subjects which otherwise might get obscured by rather repetitive daily posts. And, might I say, this procedure should be time-saving for the editor and therefore leave him more time for adding content! So far, it is an experiment and I will evaluate its effects before setting for any permanent routine. Opinins on the suggested change are welcome.

This way I have a quite sizeable update to announce today with the following contents:

• In Historic Photographs, we have a pair of photographs showing an interesting aerobatics display Spitfire from Czechoslovakia. Readers will note that we're looking for more specific information about this aircraft and its use.
  


• Nostalgia attack awaits in the Video Section - how about watching Spitfires flying to the music of Vera Lynn's The White Cliffs of Dover? Guaranteed to bring the mood of the past years.
  


• New contributions in the Art & Memorabilia gallery have been kindly provided by aviation artists Troy White and Vladimir Urbanek. There are six works in all:
• Skalski's Circus
• "Tiger's Strike"
• "Eagles"
• "Entrevero Total"
• "One Hawk Breaks Up Many Crows"
• "Moesi Illir"
  
  
• Last but not least, we have two new models on display in Scale Modelling section. Both are Tamiya kits: Spitfire PR Mk. IF conversion by Fabrice Fanton and Yellow Nose QV-K modelled by Charlie Whall.

Enjoy!

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, warbirds

A new article today in the Modelling Section:

• Building Xtrakit Spitfire Mk. XII is a pictorial review of this newest injection-moulded 1/72 Spitfire kit. Presented by Magnus Fridsell.
  

I'd like to add a few words about the background of today's addition. Last week I had a pleasure of meeting my Internet friends - two visitors from Norway, Nils and Mats and my modelling club colleague and IPMS co-editor Magnus. Nils and Mats were on the week's visit to Stockholm for archive research.

I have known Nils as a prolific modeller, aviation writer and the founder of Vingtor Decals. Although we had been occasionally corresponding for many years, we haven't previously had the opportunity to meet in person.

Nils is doing a research on courier connections between Britain and Sweden during the war, while Mats was searching for archive material on Junkers Ju 52 use in Scandinavia for a forthcoming Vingtor book. It is always equally surprising to me to see how aviation enthusiasts find plenty to talk about already during their first meeting. This occasion was no exception. It's been a long and very enjoyable evening with Italian dinner and many discussions. I have learned a lot of practical things for my own book project which I will put to good use.

I'm also sure that the results of this meeting will, in one way or another, affect this site. I have already received some interesting information to add the finishing touches to the Rolf Arne Berg article from few days ago. Other submissions from Norway are on my to-do list. And I'm glad to have Magnus newest creation, the Xtrakit Spitfire Mk. XII presented so throroughly on these pages.

Labels: modelling, site updates

Today we have two new Spitfire models in the modelling section:

• Darwin Spitfire presented by Fabrice Fanton is a conversion of 1/48 Tamiya Mk. V with Airwaves C-wing.
  
  
• Jeff Webb is the author of another 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire today, finished as Mk. IB of No. 602 Squadron.
  

Also, here something of interest for anyone wanting to build an accurate Spitfire Mk. IX in 1/48 scale. It is a fact of life that the curved shapes of the Spitfire have proved notoriously difficult for kit manufacturers to replicate accurately. Consequently, despite the abundance of 1/48 Spitfire kits on the market we still do not have a modern, dimensionally accurate injection-moulded Spitfire Mk.IX in this scale (see this comparison of available kits at Hyperscale).

The UK company Aeroclub has been specialising in Spitfire correction and conversion sets for a long time. The newest product from this company is a corrected fuselage for Hasegawa Mk. IX kit. The set is injection-moulded and includes alternate lower cowlings for early and late air intakes. See the review of this set at Hyperscale.

Labels: modelling, site updates

We have a little Spitfire modelling festival this weekend, with no less than seven new articles and thirteen commendable models on display in the Modelling section. Notably, many unusual Spitfire paint schemes are included.

It took us some deliberation to include also some of the other RAF aircraft of the period in Tim Prosser's article. We decided that they definitely fit into the formula of this site, and... we want more of those in the future. Keep them coming!

• Spitfire PR Mk. ID Trop
  Fabrice Fanton returns with a model of a rather unusual photo-reconnaissance bird.
  
  
• The Duke Spitfires
  A modelling postscript to the story of Canadian twin brothers Douglas and Bruce Warren who flew Spitfires with No. 165 Squadron RAF.
  
  
• Spitfire PR Mk. XI in 1/32nd Scale
  Tony Grand debuts on these pages with an impressive conversion of 1/32 Hasegawa Spitfire Mk. V to PR Mk. XI.
  
  
• W/Cdr Ian Gleed's Spitfire
  Arguably the best known of all African Spitfires. Model in 1/48 scale by Erik Whipple.
  
  
• Tim Prosser's Spitfire Collection - Part 5 (Interlude)
  Some of the Spitfire's contemporaries in the RAF service modelled and photographed by Tim Prosser
  
  
• Spitfire Night Fighter
  Another expertly-finished 1/48 Spitfire from the collection of Ricardo Dacoba
  
  
• Spitfire LF Mk. V in Portuguese Service
  1/72 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. Vb built in the markings of the Portuguese Air Force. By Geoff Abreu.

Labels: modelling, site updates

Tonight I have a pleasure of presenting two very different, but expertly researched and well written features.

• In the Historic Photographs section, No. 127 Squadron historian Mr. Andy Ingham revisits the Grimbergen mud theme, with another interesting story accompanying the image. When I started this section, I wanted every picture to tell a story, but the quality of the research accompanying our recent contributions surpassed my initial expectations by a wide margin. Very warmly recommended. Keep 'em coming.
  


• In Scale Modelling section, there is also something beyond the ordinary. Jim Kiker provides a two-part tutorial to Modelling Supermarine Spitfire PR Mk. XIX - The Complete Conversion Guide for 1/48 Scale. A very well-researched conversion illustrated with many in-progress images.
  


• Today I have also made an adjustment to the previously published guide to RAF Airfields in Mainland Europe, 1944-45. The interactive listings which allow for virtual visits to airfield locations using Google Earth have been enhanced so that each list of airfields can be opened and marked in Google Earth all at once. Rather than having to click on every geolocation link individually, visitors can now open the entire set of data and interact with it as a whole directly in the target application.

If you haven't installed Google Earth, I suggest you give it a try; it is free, detailed and the experience of virtual sightseeing around the globe is rather incredible. Whenever time allows, I intend to use it to illustrate the geography of historical events.

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

Christmas definitely coming and while I'm making a huge effort to avoid the worst of the shopping rush and must-do activities at work, I feel that by next week I'll fail miserably. I hope that I will be able to bring a few more updates before holidays begin, especially that email contributions are pouring in quite regularly. Three new articles have been posted last night.

• The fourth installment of the series Battle of Britain in the Words of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding tells the story about difficulties of defence against the night Blitz.
  
  
• A new contribution from Pat Murphy in the Historic Photographs section is the amazing story of twin brothers flying the Spitfire - read the incredible Spitfire twins. Two pictures are included.
  


• In modelling, Magnus Fridsell presents his neatly finished Fujimi Spitfire LF Mk. XIV in 1/72 Scale.
  

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

[Steve Roe photo]

The name Airfix should be familiar to all Spitifre fans - at least those in their 50's or those interested in modelling! Other readers are kindly advised to read my previous article about how Airfix started a plastic modelling trend with their Spitfire kits back in the 1950s and kept the Spitfire as one at their top-selling items ever since.

Recent news from BBC brings an update about the current state of this venerable brand. Having gone into receivership last year, Airfix is now owned by Hornby, a succesful model train company based in Margate, UK.

• Airfix - Britain's next top model?
• Airfix flies again: video extras from the BBC 2 show
• Open University - Airfix: kit, model or toy?

It could be argued that the long-term problem with lead to the company's downfall in 2006 was not the modelling hobby but the models it produced; most of them are very dated in terms of plastic-moulding technology and don't compare with the latest to come from their competitors. Even for the kids, Airfix kits (some of which date 40 years back) do not compare in quality with contemporary toys in general. Although Airfix is still a very well-recognized brand, particularly in the UK, years of building entirely on historical reputation has given the competition almost unlimited room to catch up.

I have a personal story that illustrates this point. Last year, I happened to hear an interesting conversation at the Airfix booth at one of the major UK hobby shows. The company representative was rather eager to criticise Trumpeter, the emerging Chinese model manufacturer, for choosing some of the more unusual British aircraft types as subjects for their kits. He meant that the strategy of the Chinese was obviously unsound as models such as Westland Wyvern or Fairey Gannet could never generate enough revenue to pay back for the investment in moulds and research. Well, a year later, another Airfix competitor, the giant Revell of Germany has just released their brand-new kit of the... Fairey Gannet, apparently having made a rather different assessment of its market potential and undisturbed by Trumpeter's earlier release. In the meantime, the Chinese company managed to add a Hawker Sea Fury, Sea Hawk and Vickers Wellington to their line, among the wealth of other new kits. Enough said.

In view of this it sounds reassuring that Hornby acknowledges the need to revitalise the Airfix' largely antiquated product line. That's good, but I have no doubt that Hornby will have a tough job doing that. The market leaders such as Revell, Tamiya, Hasegawa and Trumpeter are miles ahead in terms of product quality. None of these four has recently produced a single aircraft kit with poor fitting pieces, lack of detail or bad scaling. Airfix has do do the same to appeal to the critical adult modelling audience and their older 1/48 Spitfire F.22/24 should be taking as a reference point for judging the expectations. If, on the other hand, the company selects to remain in the 'toy' market, there is also strong competition on the move, such as Revell, Hobby Boss, 21st Century Toys, or Dragon. Currently, Revell of Germany is perhaps the only major plastic kit company in the world to have found a successful balance between the "adult" and "toy" markets, effectively trying to sell the benefits of the hobby to the parents as well as children.

I'd love to see Airfix again as the producer of the best and most-wanted Spitfire kits around. Please Hornby, make it happen.

Labels: modelling

It's been a while since we had a modelling update on these pages.

• Fabrice Fanton from France debuts today on the Spitfire Site with an excellent Spitfire F Mk. 21 in 1/48 Scale. This model is a conversion involving the use of three separate kits.
  


• We have also one new image in the Historic Photographs section. This one is our 50th addition to the gallery since its start on 24 September.
  

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

After a few days' break during last week, I return today with a new set of updates.

• A new pair of images have been added in Historic Photographs section
  


• In modelling, there are three new additions:
  
• Another Malta Spitfire Kitbash by Erik Whipple,
  
• Pin-up Spitfire Mk. IX modelled by Geoffrey Abreu,
  
• A new set of models from Tim Prosser's Spitfire Collection.
  


• A previously posted video of the newly-flown Spitfire Mk. I AR213 has now also been archived in the Video Section.
  


• We have also an additions in the Art & Memorabilia gallery, this time another impressive painting by Tim Prosser
  

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, videos

In an attempt to clear the editorial pipeline, many new pages have been posted online last night.

• The Historic Photographs section has been enriched with four new images, including an autographed portrait of the top Australian fighter ace, Clive "Killer" Caldwell, from the collection of Tim Prosser (thanks!)
  


• We have also a new video in the Video Section. Provided by Colin Griffin via Mark Davies, this one shows the previously described first flight of Spitfire Mk. V BL628 YD-D. To my knowledge, no other videos of BL628 have been released previously on the web, so this is something of a premiere!
  


• We have also four new additions in the Art & Memorabilia gallery. All those Spitfire keepsakes out there are extremely interesting, so keep them coming!
  


• The second part of the history feature Battle of Britain in the Words of Air Chief Marshal Hugh Dowding has been posted in the Articles section. This part covers the organisation of British defences, from the radar chain to aircraft repair depots and air raid warnings. I'm sure you will find it an interesting reading.
  


• In the area of scale modelling, there are two new contributions: Ventura Spitfire PR Mk. XI modelled by Magnus Fridsell, and American Spitfire Mk. VIII in Italy built by Ricardo Dacoba.
  

That's all for now, I hope that this update contains something for everyone!

Labels: history, modelling, site updates, videos, warbirds

Despite the abundance of plastic model kits of the Spitfire in "classic" 1/48 and 1/72 scales, this aircraft has yet not been equally well covered in 1/32 scale. American distributor and manufacturer of short-run kits in this scale, Pacific Coast Models from California intends to fill this gap. According to their web site,

Our kit maker showed me the masters of our next kit, the Spitfire MK.IXc (PCM 32005). They look excellent as they know that it has to be right for all the Spitfire fans out there. It is a plastic injection kit with resin details, decals, color PE and color painting instructions.

The kit will include 2 different rudders, 2 different oil coolers, 4 different gun covers and the ends of the wings will be separate to allow building the clipped wing version. Box art is Johnny Johnson's aircraft. There will be decals for his aircraft, another RAF, Polish RAF, USAF, Italian and Russian service.

We hope to receive them in November, but we shall see. It will be followed shortly by another new kit, the Spitfire MK.IXe (PCM 32006). More details to follow.

If Pacific Coast's other recent kits are anything to go by, like their Macchi C. 202 Folgore or C.200 Saetta, we can expect a good kit, although one that may require "some modeling skills" to complete.

Labels: modelling

Site updates continue today with the following additons:

• Another set of images has been posted in Historic Photographs section. One of them comes with request for more information, so please check it out.
  

• In Scale Modelling Section, Erik Whipple presents his 1/48 Malta Spitfire Mk. Vc finished in the markings of Canadian Malta ace George "Buzz" Beurling.
  
  
• Another model today is an old Hasegawa Spitfire Mk. I (1/72 scale) built by Rick Reinbott.
  

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

Tonight we have three new articles in Scale Modelling Section:

• Tim Prosser's Spitfire Collection continues tonight with Part 2. In this installment, Tim presents an entire range of 1/72 Spitfire models with in-flight photographs.
  
  
• Ricardo Dacoba from Argentina is back with 1/48 ICM Spitfire LF Mk. IXE built as Czechoslovak S-89 Spitfire
  
  
• Dave Pratt details the 1/32 Hasegawa Spitfire with an all-new cockpit interior in a short Cockpit Detailing Pictorial
  

Enjoy.

Labels: modelling, site updates

Admittedly, these are good times for Spitfire modellers: new plastic kits of the various marks of the Spitfire arrive every year. Every release carries new hopes of getting that ultimate rendition of the Spitfire's shape which proved so difficult for many kit manufacturers to master.

Hannants, UK's largest hobby kit retailer and the maker of Xtracolor/Xtracrylics paints and Xtradecal decals, has just issued its first complete 1/72 Spitfire kit under the label of Xtrakit. It's the Spitfire Mk. XII, the first Griffon variant of this fighter, to my knowledge not previously kitted in injection-moulded plastic.

Kit no. XK72006, the Spitfire is only the second kit available in the Xtrakit range, but similarly to the previously released Meteor, it has in fact been produced in Czech republic by MPM. This time, however, the kit is not being issued simultaneously under the MPM label.

No in-box reviews of this kit seems to have surfaced yet. Xtrakit Spitfire Mk. XII retails for around £8.50.

Labels: modelling

Another update tonight. A new set of contributions from modellers arrived today (which is great, thanks to everyone) and I realized that I'd better put aside my work with historic articles for a while in order to post the pending contributions to the Modelling Section without much further delay.

• John Korellis presents a detailed construction feature about Spitfire VC of the Royal Hellenic Air Force - Converting Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V With a "C" Wing
  
  
• Tim Prosser's Spitfire Collection is remarkable in that it features no less than 65 completed models! All are attractively presented with atmospheric photographs, starting with 6 models in this installment.
  
  
• Erik Whipple presents his 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V, No. 92 Squadron, the machine of Sqn/Ldr James Rankin from Biggin Hill Wing.
  
  
• Last but not least, new images have been added among Historic Photographs

Labels: history, modelling, site updates

Some modellers, although far from all of them, appear to have that special talent for producing models in entire series. I have previously posted a picture of twenty-two 1/48 Spitfires built by professional modeler Ricardo Dacoba from Argentina, asking informally if anyone could beat the number. I’m glad to tell you that the challenge has been responded to - and the record raised. I hereby officially announce that current all-time-high is 53 built Spitfire and Seafire models, all of which will be duly presented on this site – in stages!

If you can beat that, or just happen to have a nice series of Spitfire models in your possession, please let me know!

Today I have been working with the IPMS Stockholm Magazine and I’d like to point you to another fantastic modeling project related to British Aviation - and, by all means, also the Spitfire. Raul Hrubisko’s lifetime passion is nothing less than modelling every kind of aircraft used by RAF, FAA and Commonwealth air forces during the timeframe of 1934-1947. Just to give an impression about the size of Raul’s undertaking, the collection is planned to comprise of about 1000 models when ready! Impossible? Not at all: to my knowledge Raul has already finished almost 500 of them in the course of several years, including all the Spitfires, Mosquitoes, Typhoon/Tempest family, Miles trainers, and more. His latest area of focus has been American aircraft in Fleet Air Arm service – 63 models in all. Have a look at his article, I’m sure you will be as stunned as I was.

• Lend-Lease Aircraft in the Fleet Air Arm

Labels: modelling

Work on the site continues and the response I keep receiving from the readers only two weeks after the site's official launch is nothing short of fantastic. I received a number of emails, contributions (especially from modellers, thanks to all!), questions, comments. It's all overwhelming and I will try to do my best to put everything online along with my own material which is in preparation.

A teaser for the forthcoming updates comes today in the form of this photo. Tim Prosser's model photography is nothing short of excellent and should teach us all one or two things about realism in modelling. The photo below shows one of his Spitfires, Mk. IX in the markings of Dutch Indies. I turned the image to black-and-white to add to the illusion, but everything else is as it came directly from Tim's camera. And, mind you, the model on this picture is in 1/72 scale - about 13 cm in length!

Labels: modelling

Two new models are presented today in the Modelling Section.

• 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V, No. 611 Squadron. This model by Erik Whipple represents an aircraft of the Hornchurch Wing.
  
  
• 1/48 Airfix Spitfire Mk. V: Marty Perry builds this venerable kit in the markings of 4FG, USAAF

Besides these new articles, I have been working on improving the functionality of this blog. You may have noticed the new Browse by label sidebar in the upper right corner of this page. This should provide for easy filtering of messages in this blog by subject. Enjoy.

Labels: modelling, site updates

It's kind of modelling week on this site... today we have another update in Scale Modelling Section.

• 1/48 Airfix Spitfire F. 22 in realistic post-war silver finish captured at a modelling show in Sweden.
  
  
• Erik Whipple presents another Battle of Britain Spitfire, a Mk. I, No. 603 Squadron. Three images are included.
  

Labels: modelling, site updates

An update in the Scale Modelling Section today.

• Erik Whipple presents his 1/48 Tamiya Spitfire Mk. I, No. 19 Squadron. Three images are included.
  

Labels: modelling, site updates

One significant gap in the otherwise excessive range of scale plastic Spitfire models available today is the lack of really good kits representing the Spitfire Mk. VC, featuring the "C" wing, four-cannon armament and integral windscreen armour. Spitfire Mk. VC should be of particular importance to modellers because it was this version that was exclusively deployed in overseas theatres such as Malta, Italy and Australia.

It should therefore come as good news that Special Hobby of Czech Republic is developing an injection-moulded kit of the VC. The kit is scheduled for release during spring of 2008, and expect also a Seafire Mk. II and Mk. III to be released later.

Here is a preview of the kit parts at the Czech site Modelweb.
http://matusek.cz/web/view.php?cisloclanku=2007090003

Labels: modelling

Today I have announced this site at the Hyperscale discussion forum (see my post here) and the IPMS Stockholm site (post here), both lively and extremely friendly modelling communities. The response I received has been very positive, and indeed many of the responders seem to think that a site such as this one is needed, or even is "long overdue". That's not all: I have also received an entire series of modelling articles with models built by Erik Whipple, including the one shown, representing a Malta Spitfire Mk. VC, one of the aircraft flown by George "Buzz" Beurling. I will duly post Erik's models starting tomorrow, and I hope that his contribution will start a trend!

Labels: modelling

New addition today in Scale Modelling Section of this site.

• Mark Davies uses no less than four different kits for one accurate Kit-bashed 1/72 Spitfire Mk. VI. Five images accompany the description of the model.

Labels: modelling, site updates

In the UK, the term plastic models is still synonymous with Airfix. Most people, especially of the mid-age generation, have heard of Airfix or have an instant mental image even if they haven't made one themselves. Also, it is Airfix that helped to maintain the popularity of the Spitfire until today due to the tremendous impact its models had among younger generation of the 1960s and 1970s.

Airfix was founded in 1939 by Nicholas Kove, a Hungarian-born businessman, and initially made inflatable toys (hence the name of the company). In 1947, Airfix introduced injection moulding, initially producing pocket combs. In 1949, it was commissioned to create a promotional model of a Ferguson tractor. The model was initially moulded in cellulose acetate plastic and hand-assembled for distribution to Ferguson sales representatives. Then Kove came up with an idea of selling the injection-moulded version of the model as an assembly kit. It appeared on the shelves of Woolworths in 1949.

Its popularity surprised everyone but Airfix was somewhat slow to recognize the market opportunity. Once they did, their second kit produced in 1953 was - you guessed it - the Spitfire Mk. I. This subject was chosen by managing director Ralph Ehrmann and general manager John Gray, who had both experienced air combat during the war. Rumors have it that Nicholas Kove had severe doubts about commercial viability of an aircraft model, and warned Ehrmann and Gray that any loss would be deducted from their salaries.

The rest, as they say, is history. The Spitfire kit was an instant hit. There were only 21 components to it, and it included the display stand. The scale was 1/72, another pivotal choice; The "constant scale" of 1/72 was used on subsequent Airfix aircraft kits and within a couple of years was as the standard scale for aircraft models worldwide.

The Spitfire was to remain the best-selling Airfix model product ever. In the mid to late 1960s, Airfix sold 350,000 Spitfires every year. For comparison, their next-best model, the Hurricane, was sold in around 80,000 copies. Even during the 1970 when the Airfix range expanded to include vintage and modern cars, motorcycles, figures, trains, trackside accessories, military vehicles, large classic ships, warships, liners, engines, rockets and spaceships, no other model exceeded the popularity of the Airfix Spitfire.

In view of this statistics it is understandable that the company invested in new and improved Spitfire kits. In 1960 the original kit was replaced by the Spitfire Mk.IX, followed by a huge and complex 1/24 scale Spitfire Mk. I in 1970, the first 1/24 aircraft model produced by anyone in the world.

Another 1/72 Spitfire kit from Arifix was Mk. Vb issued in 1974. This kit was of great quality for its day, featuring highly accurate outline and fine surface detail. It was followed by new-tool Spitfire Mk. I in 1979, just as accurate as its predecessor but featuring o choice of traditional or snap-together assembly. Bothe these kits are still readily available today.

The same year saw the introduction of Airfix Spitfire Mk. V in larger scale of 1/48. This kit, together with its 1/72 siblings, remained the most accurate Spitfire kits modellers could buy throughout the 1980s.

In the 1980s, new generation of children have instead turned their attention to computer games and the popularity of plastic kits dwindled for about a decade.

Since mid-1990s, the demand for plastic models has increased again, albeit fueled by adult rather than youngster hobbyists. Airfix was back on track again, and their most important kit release in modern times came in 1996 in the form of... Supermarine Spitfire F22/24 and Seafire FR46/7 in 1/48 scale. These were excellent kits comparing well with the best plastic kits in the world, and are still much sought after by the modelers worldwide.

These kits were followed by 1/48 Spitfire Mk. IX/XVI in 2005, a good offering but not quite up to the standard of the preceding F.22/FR.46.

Lastly, in 2007 we have a complately new 1/48 Spitfire Mk. I from Airfix. This, for sure, won't be the last Spitfire kit we see from this company.

Related links

http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/models/btk/index.html
http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/spitfire/features/airfix

Labels: modelling

Labels: modelling

• Another model-related addition today. Academy 1/48 Spitfire Mk . XIV built by Andreas Agensjö from Sweden, on display in Scale Modelling Section. Ten images are included.

I have also plugged in all the pages on the site to Google Analytics, a traffic statistics package from Google which seems pretty competent. Advocated by Google mainly as supporting tool for online advertising, the Analytics provides some thorough reporting on traffic sources, performance of particular pages, visitors' geography and so on. By giving it a try, I'm curious to see where my visitors come from and will share my findings as this site's traffic develops.

Labels: modelling, site updates

What I like about producing an entirely new web site is that one needs to know something about everything to succeed - web hosting, system administration, writing, layout, image processing, web advertising, publishing, to name just a few. Developing the basics for this site took quite some time, but now that they are almost ready I can finally test all the ideas by adding something that this site has been designed for - articles about the Supermarine Spitfire.

Tonight is the premiere day with the first three articles to be published online. True to my previous IPMS experience and interest in modelling, these first updates are modelling articles in the (also new) Modelling Section.

• First, an excellent 1/48 model by Ricardo Dacoba, Argentina representing one of the most unique Spitfires ever used - a captured machine re-engined with Daimler-Benz DB 605.
  


• Mark Davies from New Zealand introduces one of the latest additions to Czech Master Resin's complement of 1/72 Spitfire kits, the Seafire F. 46.
  


• Last but not least, a diorama which you might have previously seen on the web, but one which fits well on this site due to it's subject and quality. Anders Isaksson's Battle of Britain diorama entitled "Made It Home"
  

I hope that you'll like these new additions. Expect more in the near future!

Labels: modelling, site updates

Work continues today with establishing the structure of the site's principal navigation - the menu in the left column as well as the "location bar" at the top of each page. To facilitate smooth integration between the different pages of this site I'd rather have these features generated in JavaScript than physically copied between pages. On the other hand, caution should be applied so that spidering robots and non-script-enabled browsers can still be supported.

Casual readers who are more interested in aircraft than this Internet mumbo-jumbo are kindly asked to bear with me. With a bit of luck "normal" a