Building Classic Model Kits – Revell 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Model Mk V
guest post by Kendall Wratchford
Kit Details:
Revell Supermarine Spitfire Mk V 1:72 Kit No. 04164
The Kit:
40 light grey and two clear parts that are very well molded with no flash or pin marks etc. The panel lines are good and there are no raised rivets etc. The parts are contained on two sprues inside a bag which protected the clear parts from scratching. The kit builds into one of two versions, a clipped wing Vb and the elliptical wing-tipped Supermarine Spitfire Vb, we are no doubt, all familiar with. The instructions are an A3 sheet folded into four sections giving 11 construction steps and two paint schemes.
Construction:
Once again we start in the cockpit. This one is pretty standard Revell with a floor, seat, instrument panel, control stick, and armor plating with the radio transmitter molded in. The instrument panel has its own decal with the instruments on it. It’s a reasonably detailed cockpit for 1/72 with seat belts, pads, etc on the seat, rudder pedals, and gun sight on the instrument panel and moldings on the inside of the fuselage halves for elevator trim, etc. Cockpit assembly takes steps 1 to 3 and the completed (and painted) cockpit is trapped between the halves in step 4.
Step 5 is the wing construction. A single piece lower wingmates with the two upper halves. The undercarriage bays are hollow so the underside of the upper halves should be painted in the wheel well area and under the radiator scoop in the starboard wing. The wingtip choices mate up well once the halves are joined with no gaps. I’ve got the Airfix MkV with elliptical tips so I build the cropped version.
Steps 6a/6b detail the undercarriage assembly, this is a simple matter of joining 3 parts, which whilst not overly detailed are acceptable in 1/72.
Step 7 mates the assembled wing to the fuselage assembly. Once again this fits well but a small amount of filler was required at the front. My example does have the ‘gull wing’ effect referred to in the InBox review.
Addendum: The gull-wing effect for this kit has divided modellers and I have received several emails disputing it has the effect, whilst others argue it definitely has (in reference to the inbox review comments that it doesn’t). Perhaps it is the difference between kit numbers 04109 and 04164, with both having the same boxart, and those disputing the gull-wing effect who have quoted a kit number, rely upon 04109. Since opinion is so much divided, all I can suggest you do is check the kit yourself and make up your own mind! – Ed.
Step 8 is the tailplane, which fits well, and the rudder which is a separate piece. Steps 9, 10 & 11 are affixing the undercarriage, pitot, propeller, and canopy, etc. There are no problems with any of this; however, for my money the canopy is too small.
Painting/Decals:
Two versions are covered by the kit. The first, AE-A is the clipped wing version from No 402 Squadron, flown by Sqn Leader Jeff Northcott at Duxford in 1943. The second is AZ-G of 234 squadrons, flown by Pilot Officer Axel Svendson from Tangmere in 1942. Both aircraft use an almost identical paint scheme and apart from Revell’s usual chemistry lesson in paint mixing there’s no problem there, just substitute Humbrol!
As I said previously I built the clipped wing version, AE-A, serial number EP 120. EP120 was part of the fourth order of Spitfires from the Castle Bromwich factory in August 1941. Delivered to the RAF in 1942 it was taken on charge by 501 squadrons wherein the hands of the Wing Commander it shot down a Do17. It was eventually assigned to 402 Squadron RCAF, where Sqn Leader Jeff Northcott destroyed 6 aircraft whilst flying EP120.
EP120 was one of the few Spitfires which survived the war. It is still flying in the hands of The Fighter Collection at Duxford.
Conclusion:
Sitting alongside my Airfix MkV and my wobbly Mk1A the kit looks good. It was a simple build with adequate detail and would make an ideal kit for a beginner. I wanted a clipped wing Spitfire for my collection and for the price and quality I don’t think you can beat this one in 1/72.