Hasegawa

1/48 Spitfire MkIXc model kit

Scans by Andy Cline of Aviation World 

Product Article by Paul Osborne

 

 

 

I received my Hasegawa Spit and I thought everyone on ARC might be interested in a preview of the contents.  I purchased the kit from Aviation World  here in Toronto, Canada (they also have another store in Vancouver, B.C., Canada).

 

The cockpit sidewall details look very convincing and there are over twenty
pieces that go into making up the cockpit.  The two Spitfire styles of exhaust are included.


SPRUE 'B'    Contains the wings...........Both the clipped and standard wing tips are included to provide a full choice of Spitfire options.  Radiator flaps are positional.

 

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-SPRUE 'C'    Contains the two different rudders
-SPRUE 'E'    Contains the two horizontal stabilizers
-SPRUE 'M'     Contains the three piece canopy, wing tip lights and rear view
mirror

SPRUE 'A'    Contains the fuselage sections

SPRUE 'G'     Contains the undercarriage legs and three different styles of wheel hubs

 

This kit contains 3 different types of wheels.  The wheels are actually plastic hubs that you glue to the wheel/tire part.  Hasegawa has correctly depicted the curved/bulged gear door of the 4 and 3 spoked wheels.....a very subtle detail.  

The decal sheet provides markings for two aircraft.  The box art depicts a
Mk.IXc from 316 Sqd ' CITY of WARSAW' and the second aircraft is a Mk.XVI clipped wing from 443 Squadron named ' Ladykiller '.


The outline shape looks very good and according to the plans I looked at, Hasegawa has done a very good job of getting the cowling shape correct.  Surface detail consists of very fine recessed panel lines and is to the usual excellent standards from Hasegawa.

I'm not really into Spitfires, so I showed the kit to a friend who regards the Spit as his favorite aircraft.  Apparently, the bumps on the top wings directly above the gear shouldn't be there and need to be removed, because those bumps are only for the post WWII three spoked wheels.  The 3 spoked wheels should only be used for the later post war Griffon engined Spitfires.  The kit gives you the option to build a normal winged aircraft or a clipped version, there are two styles of rudders provided, various choices of cannon configuration and three different styles of wheel covers.  You get three spoke, four spoke and covered wheel hub options.  When viewing the instruction sheet, it shows several items 'shaded out' which means these parts are for future releases.  The enclosed retractable tail wheel and doors means that a Mk.VIII should be a released at some point.  

The kit is selling for $29.95CDN ( $19.00US ) in the Toronto area and this will be the standard price at Aviation World in Toronto and at their new store in Vancouver.

A big special THANK-YOU to Andy Cline at Aviation World for taking the time to scan the components for the 'ARC' viewers.

Aviation World has two stores, the main location is situated in Toronto, Canada right next to Lester B. Pearson International Airport.  The new store which was opened just recently is located in Vancouver, Canada at

105, 6080 Russ Baker Way,
Richmond, BC  V7B 1B4

Toll free order line number is 1-800-668-1987 and there email address is
info@aviationworld.net

Note from Editor:  Aviation World sells a variety of aviation related items from model kits to supplies for pilots to diecast planes and aviation books and videos and so much more.  They are quite fun stores to visit.  Steve Bamford

 

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Photos and text © by Paul Osborne