SPA Modeler

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 2:56 pm Wow! Tamiya did not skimp on the details in those!

The detail is lovely - but what I don't get with this kit is why they included the PE at all. Asides from the seat-belts every PE part could have, just as easily, been moulded in plastic with the same level of detail and less hassle in construction. It's a very odd design choice. Mind you, it's not the worst bit, the absolute worst bit is the total bastard of an armoured windscreen as a separate part - Just why? It's next to impossible to fit without glue running up between the two parts, or you don't use enough and it fall off. I've already had polish both bits with Micromesh to remove glue fogging once , and I've tried three different glues so far.

Personally, I'd have like to have seen separate windshield with the armoured glass moulded in. They could have covered the cost by removing the pointless PE Fret.

Well, perhaps Tamiya will incorporate 3D decals instead of PE. But I hear you about the frustration with some of the bells & whistles gizmos on this kit. That kind of leans towards Trumpeter or Eduard engineering and not traditional Tamiya.

Don't get me wrong - all the PE folds beautifully and is easy to fit, it just doesn't add anything to the build. It feels like a marketing thing to be honest.

Anyway, some progress on the build. The construction if finished and I've moved onto the paint.



The undersides have had a couple of coats of Sky.



Cheers!

Nice!

Stuart, yOu is a master!

Medicman71 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 7:55 amNice!

Thanks Mike!

LyleW wrote: ↑Wed Feb 11, 2026 9:25 am Stuart, yOu is a master!

Thanks Lyle - really enjoying this build despite the kit's little niggles. It fun to be building something in 1/48th again AND a Spitfire.

First coat of Dark Earth is on the upper surfaces.



Cheers!

Looking good Stuart! Do the landing gear struts have to be installed early in construction such as during the wing assembly, or can they be installed at a later point?

Um... you can leave them off but you'd have to leave off some of the belly panels and the chin intake as well - Tamiya engineered the two legs as one piece in order to get the stance right - see below - sections 22 and 23. The chin intake goes over B13 and B14.

Do what I do… tack’em down with blue putty, paint and then take them off. Resume with attaching the main struts.