Long Term Projects - Spitfire Mk.XVIe 1/32 scale

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVIe 1/32 scale

Fall is here and its time to start thinking of long term winter projects that we can do in our warm hobby area. One of our guys, Al, is a long time model builder and has recommended this kit (over 400 pieces).

This item is an injection-plastic aircraft model kit. 30cm long when completed. 

Tamiya adds to its selection of magnificent 1/32-scale Spitfire kits with this release of the Mk.16e! Features a beautifully rendered Packard Merlin 266 engine, easily seen with the removable magnet-attached cowl panels, plus an accurate bubble canopy and distinctive clipped wings. Includes three marking variations, photo-etched metal detail parts, and self-adhesive canopy masks for painting. The included reference manual (with images) is in Japanese, English, French and German!

Product Number: TAM60321

Product Features

• Plastic parts molded in light gray, black and clear.
• Cowling parts can be detached to reveal the exquisite packar Merlin 266 engine.
• Accuurately reproduced E type wing, teardrop canopy and modifie landing gear legs.
• Canopy may be opened even after assembly.
• 30 gallon drop tank and two 250lb bombs.
• Reference manual with images included.
• 1 seated and 1 standing figure included.
• Display stand included.
• Waterslide decals.
• Pictorial instructions.

Product Specifications

• Scale: 1/32
• Fuselage: 11.88" (302mm)
• Wingspan: 12.24" (311mm)
• Tamiya Product Number: 60321

Required

Assembly CA Glue (try our Speed Glue) Sprue cutters (see below for picture) Modeling Knife (see below for picture) Paint (Bare-Metal Silver, Dark Green, Ocean Gray, Medium Sea Gray, White, Red, Gunmetal, Chrome Silver, Golf Leaf, Semi-Gloss Black, Clear Green, Clear Orange, Clear Red, Titanium Gold, Titanium Silver, Bronze, Metallic Brown, Flat Black, Flat White, Flat Yellow, Flat Red, Flat Flesh, Flat Aluminum, Sky Gray, Sky, Khaki, Field Blue, Neutral Gray, Deck Tan, Metallic Gray, Desert Yellow, Olive Drab, Red Brown, Cockpit Green) Model Master paints are an enamel paint with a great selection of these colours! Product Markings One decal sheets with markings for 3 versions 1) No.349 Squadron, Wunsdorf, Germany, Summer 1945 2) No.485 Squadron, Fassberg, Germany, Summer 1945 2) No.1 (Pilots) Refresher Flying Unit, Finningley, UK, March 1949 partial source

We came across a couple of reviews for this model:

• Perfectly moulded; accurate; superbly detailed with full engine and cockpit; useful options including alternate exhausts, armament, slipper tanks, bombs and more; positionable undercarriage; includes display stand.
• Tamiya’s 1:32 scale Spitfire Mk.XVIe comprises around 360 parts in grey plastic, 18 parts in clear, two nickel-plated photo-etched frets, six parts in flexible black vinyl, eight steel pins, seven miniature magnets, various small screws and metal parts, a self-adhesive masking sheet for the canopy parts, two metallic self-adhesive name plates and two decal sheets with markings for three aircraft.                    Not surprisingly, most of the parts are common with the initial Mk.IXc kit, including the main wing parts, the engine, cowling, undercarriage and cockpit.                                                                              The unique attributes of the Mk.XVIe have been thoroughly covered in this new boxing. The most obvious difference in this version is the low-back fuselage. This is moulded in one piece from the firewall back with no inserts required. This time around, the fixed tail wheel is the only option, so the tail wheel bay insert is omitted from this set of fuselage parts.                                                                     Bombs, alternate cannon styles, slipper tanks and two versions of exhausts are provided as options. Five spoke wheel hubs are included too, but they are not used for this variant. There will be a few other leftover bits for your spares box too.                                                                                          As with Tamiya's other 1/32 scale Spitfire releases, surface detail is some of the best I have ever seen on a plastic model kit. The recessed panel lines are supplemented with beautifully restrained lines of rivets and raised hinges as appropriate. There are no giant divots here - the surface detail really looks the goods.

A bit of history on the real machine:

Although initially conceived as a stop-gap measure, the Spitfire Mk.IX and the essentially similar Mk.XVI (powered by a Packard Merlin engine) eventually became the most numerous of all Spitfire variants with more than 7,000 delivered to the RAF, the VVS and other Allied air forces.

The Packard Merlin Mk.XVI was fitted with revised armament where the 20mm cannon was relocated to the outboard position. This was known as the E wing, and was also fitted to some Mk.IX variants.
During the production run of the Spitfire Mk,XVI, a low-back "bubble" canopy version was introduced.
The camber of the main wheels was changed on the Mk.XVI, necessitating a shallow bulge on the top of the wing to accommodate the tilted wheel in the undercarriage bay.
The Spitfire Mk.XVI continued in front line service until the end of the Second World War.
(partial source)

Check out our great hobby Tools to help complete your winter hobby project:   

Tamiya Paints and Thinners

Model Master Enamel Paints with FS colours

Hobby Knife

Speed Glue, De-bonder & Accelerator

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  Sprue Cutters
  
  

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  Here are some other items for your hobby toolbox to help your project go smoother:
  
  

  

  easy to control mask tape. Easy to cut, 3 different widths

  
  

  

  Atlas Multi Brush Set. Extra Fine to Wide Flat

  
  

  

  White Putty for filling and customizing

  
  

  

  Self Healing Cutting Mat to protect your work area and hobby knives

  
  

  

  Clear parts glue - no clouding canopy!

  
  
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