This is the second time I've built this kit. I wanted to use a set of Superscale decals I had that showed some Spitfires with the black and white undersides. Plus, after having freehanded the camouflage on my previous build, I wanted to try it again, with Tamiya paints.

Assembly was mostly trouble-free. However, I had to sand the top of the seat to get the rear part of the canopy to fit. If I recall correctly, I have had this issue with every Tamiya Spitfire I've built, and yet I never remember to try to keep the seat low. Perhaps the retooled Mk I doesn't have this issue.

I used Tamiya paints on this one. The bottom is XF-2 Flat White and XF-1 Flat Black. For the dark earth on the top, I used XF-72 Brown / JGSDF, as suggested by Jon Bius at agapemodels.com (now defunct). The dark green was XF-81 Dark Green 2 (RAF). As mentioned above, I freehanded it, and it turned out okay.

I used Testors Metalizer Sealer for the gloss coat and Dullcote for the flat coat. The decals were from Superscale 48-630 Spitfire Mk I May 1939 to "The Phoney War", Nov. 1939. According to the decal set instructions, the subject is a Spitfire Mk I 72 Squadron in May, 1939. There was a lot of silvering on the fuselage, perhaps because I used Solvaset to try to get the decals to settle down. I'm thinking that Solvaset may have been too strong, and I should have stuck with Microset and Microsol.

Page last updated February 14, 2024.