A Pile of Spitfires....

[Stuart]

Painting commences.... I admit, I painted the undersides of all three in a quick coat just so I didn't get mixed up which one was which...

[KSaarni]

That is an interesting project Stuart and looking good!

Is there any bigger difference between the Tamiya kit and those two Airfix when it comes to fit, details and in general "the feeling" ?

- Kari

[Stuart]

Both have their pros & cons Kari - and both are enjoyable. The Tamiya kit has a LOT finer surface detail than the Airfix kits (the Airfix mk.I is one of their earlier kits and has the rather over-done panel lines), yet I'd say that Airfix did a better job of the cockpit and underwing radiators etc.

They both needed filler.

I'd say build what comes to hand.

[speedgraflex]

I was thinking more about the word Kari chose to describe the model kit—feeling—but I didn’t want to respond before you, Stuart. It’s a great word, actually. My interpretation is he meant the soul or the essence of what makes a Spitfire—not accuracy, per se. I do agree with you that to build either kit in 1:48 is correct, but I do feel that Kotare is the kit to build in 1:32. They have captured the feeling of the aircraft. No kit is perfect, Tamiya may fit better, Airfix may have sorted out the details, but Kotare has impressed me with the the feeling more so than the others.

[Stikpusher]

Aren’t the staff at Kotare many of the folks who used to work at Wingnut Wings?

[Stuart]

Yep - some of them at least anyway.

[speedgraflex]

Richard (General Manager) is, the other fella Mark owns Modelair NZ. These are the hobby shop guys PJ invited to join him on his quest to own and build every WWI aircraft type! Too bad the partnership dissolved but I’m grateful Kotare exists. I’m even more grateful CSM exists, but that’s not Spitfire related.

[BlackSheep214]

I often wondered why Wing Nuts dissolved…

[cbaltrin]

Looking good Stuart!

[speedgraflex]

Richard (General Manager) is, the other fella Mark owns Modelair NZ. These are the hobby shop guys PJ invited to join him on his quest to own and build every WWI aircraft type! Too bad the partnership dissolved but I’m grateful Kotare exists. I’m even more grateful CSM exists, but that’s not Spitfire related.

I often wondered why Wing Nuts dissolved…

Larceny, thievery, knavery. Publicly, their reason was COVID hurting sales.