Kit Review 1 48 Icm Spitfire Mk Xvi
ICM 1/48 Spitfire Mk.XVI Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Appointment of Review | May 2006 | Manufacturer | ICM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discipline | Spitfire Mk.XVI | Scale | ane/48 |
| Kit Number | 48071 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Easily the nicest Spitfire Mk.XVI in this calibration | Cons | Small sink marks however in the wings |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | $23.00 |
First Look
The history of the Supermarine Spitfire and its contribution to the defense of Britain and the air state of war in general is well documented in manufactures and reviews on the subject field. The Spitfire Mk.V was initially intended to exist an interim design while waiting for the parts/resources for the Mark III. The Mark V was substantially a Marker I/II airframe with a Merlin 45 engine replacing the Merlin Twenty. This 'interim' solution wound up beingness the second-most numerous variant of the Spitfire, the nigh numerous version being the Mk.9.
The Spitfire Mk.16 was nevertheless another incremental improvement to an existing airframe in production. The Mk.16 was essentially a late-model Mk.Nine with an American-built Packard-Merlin engine. The early Mk.16 had the same hood and rear fuselage every bit previous Spitfire marks, except that information technology did have the taller rudder and revised horizontal tailplane of the later Mk.Nine.
Ane very distinctive improvement that was introduced into the Mk.Xvi line was a cut-down rear fuselage and bubble awning, giving the pilot first-class all-round visibility. This new feature would be integrated into future Spitfire variants also.
Here is ICM'southward Packard-Merline-powered Marking Xvi in 1/48 scale. The kit features all of the aforementioned parts trees of the earlier mark Spitfires except for the revised fuselage halves, cockpit bulkheads, and new canopy.
The kit is molded in a white styrene (with a hint of royal) and presented on half dozen parts trees, plus a single tree of clear parts. This kit is still my favorite Spitfire, and co-ordinate to comparisons I did several years agone, this kit scaled out spot-on while the Tamiya and Hasegawa fuselages were a bit short.
What yous get in the box is the Swiss Army Knife of Spitfires. Every bit I said, even though this kit represents the Mk.16, yous still receive the mutual parts trees that contain extra parts for the Mk.7, Mk.VIII and Mk.Nine including:
- Early on and tardily rudder
- Early on and belatedly horizontal stabs/elevators
- Detailed Merlin engine visible under a removable hood
- Removable gun access panels to reveal the gun trophy
- Guns and access panels for the C and E wing versions, plus even the large teardrop panels of the Mk.Four/early on Mk.VIII
- Normal, clipped, and extended wingtips
- Parts for open up or closed canopy
- Ventral auxiliary fuel tank
- Bomb or rocket underwing armament
- Removable summit and bottom engine access panels
The kit cockpit is very nicely detailed and one of the best I've seen in this scale which wasn't made from resin. The engine compartment is also quite detailed, but I think that all of that particular won't fit inside the cowling and still have the upper and lower access panels shut. Non a problem if you're posing the aircraft with the cowlings unbuttoned.
One of the molding 'bugs' that have been seen in the kit is still in that location, small sink marks in the wing just ahead of the ailerons. This is due to shrinkage at cooling due to a structural ridge molded inside each upper wing part. This is no biggie as it took me a little cyano years ago and at present a quick treatment with Mr. Putty now to remove these slight blemishes.
This release has markings for 2 examples:
- Spitfire LF.Mk.XVIe, TB673, 4D-V, 74 Sqn, Drope Germany, April 1945
- Spitfire LF.Mk.XVIe, TD317, ZF-P, 308 Sqn, summer 1945
This is all the same the best Spitfire Mk.Sixteen produced in this calibration. No other kit offers as much detail, variant options, and calibration accurateness all in i box. It doesn't build as hands as a Tamiyagawa-blazon kit, but they require aftermarket details to reach some of the same detailing. If you factor the low retail cost of this kit, you have a clear winner.
My sincere thanks to Testors for this review sample!
Source: https://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/icm/kit_icm_48071.shtml
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