Hi Guys.
Yes, once again its been quite a long silence here on the blog. I am trying to rectify this and am planning at least a once a week update. There is just SO much other stuff to do!
We have been very busy, as you can see by the pretty active release schedule we have maintained for the last 6 months. This will continue into the foreseeable future, and the backlog of almost-ready-to-go products is getting bigger all the time. There are about 40 products approaching release, and the only holdup is the time necessary to get them into production. It takes a lot of work to get a single product from concept to in stock status! And despite my lamentations, there is still only 24 hours in a day!
Now, on to the subject at hand.
For as long as I can remember, the Spitfire VIII and IX series has not been properly served in 1/48th scale. Back about ten years ago, Hasegawa gave us a newly tooled Spit IX which set new standards in quality and detail, but unfortunately suffered from an underscale (not short) fuselage. ICM was next with a very nice kit of the Mk IX. It was much better shape-wise and very detailed (with a complete engine compartment), but over engineered and suffering from some nasty shrink marks, poor decals, and crappy open ended, crush insistent boxes that actually concentrate and focus gravity waves (the science is very complex, so you'll have to take my word for it...) to ensure that the boxes end up smooshed.
Now, Eduard have released what is looking to be the closest thing to a perfect 1/48th scale kit Spit IX right out of the box. A full review will follow once the kit has arrived and I've had time to slobber all over it, but from what I've seen and read, its designed using excellent drawings and the molding looks beautiful.
The one comment I've heard, and seems to be backed up by photos, is that the roundels on the kit sheet are a bit brightly colored. Fortunately, there are plenty of aftermarket decals available for this kit.
And, what's this?? Why, Barracuda Studios just happens to have 2 very nice decal sheets just perfect for this new kit! While both sheets are now sold out in 1/32nd and 1/72nd scale, both are still available in 1/48th scale, but with the release of this new kit, will probably not remain in stock for too much longer. If you are looking for some interesting alternate schemes to the kit decals, you might find these interesting.
More 1/48th Spitfire flavored products are in development and will be available soon!
Happy modelling! Roy
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