From: "Submissions for ARC" To: "Dave Johnson" References: Subject: Re: HLJ - Tamiya - 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:24:39 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0056_01CB5D8E.F390BF80" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3664 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0056_01CB5D8E.F390BF80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi, I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today. Thanks = again for sending it in. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Dave Johnson=20 To: submissions@arcair.com=20 Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 4:11 PM Subject: HLJ - Tamiya - 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Tamiya=20 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Product #60320 (http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM60320) from HobbyLink = Japan (http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?rel=3Dnav&GenreCode=3DAir) Product Article by Dave Johnson on September 2010 History -=20 Tests early in 1942 proved that the Merlin 61 powered Spitfire was the = answer to replace the outdated Spitfire Mk.V. This couldn't come sooner = as September 1941, saw the introduction on the Fw190 which out performed = Spitfire Mk.V. Work began on redesigning the Spitfire airframe to take = the a new and heavier and more powerful engine. This work would produce = the pressurized Mk.VII and the unpressurized Mk VIII Spitfires. These = aircraft were expected to be the answer to the Fw 190 threat. The Mk = VIII featured a strengthened fuselage with a retractable tail wheel. = Each wing carried a 14-gallon self sealing fuel tank, and the main = fuselage fuel tank was increased in size to 96 gallons. These changes = gave the Mk VIII the same range as the Mk V, although as this distance = was achieved at a higher speed, the Mk VIII could stay in the air for = less time than the Mk V. Most Mk VIIIs used a new broad-chord, or = pointed-tip rudder. The Mk VIII used the "c" wing armament (four cannon = or two cannon and two machine guns) and could carry up to 1,000lbs of = bombs. 1,657 Mk VIIIs were produced in all. The success of the Mk IX = reduced the importance of the Mk VIII. Although the first production = model was completed in November 1942, it took until June 1943 for the = first squadron to be equipped with the model. One reason for the delay = was that it had been decided to use the Mk VIII in the Mediterranean and = Far East, and so the first squadron to use it was No. 145, based on = Malta. By the summer of 1943 the crisis in the Mediterranean was in the = past, and the Mk VIII saw most of its service during the invasion of = Italy, often in a ground attack role.=20 The Kit -=20 Tamiya follows up their ground breaking Mk. IX Spitfire with the Mk. = VIII. This is the first time that the Mk.VIII has been injection-molded = in 1/32 scale. The box is presented beautifully with artwork of Lt. Bill = Skinner's 308th Fighter Squadron USAAF machine, Lonesome Polecat and the = Supermarine Spitfire title printed in embossed shinny gold text. The box = contains 16 sprue's of medium grey plastic; 1 sprue of clear plastic, = and one of black which contains the in-flight display stand. Another = sprue of black rubber carries the tyres for both options of wheels up = and down. All the larger sprue's are individually packed into their own = plastic bags. All the smaller items, being the 2 sheets of photo etch = frets, rods for the movable surfaces, nuts, screws, magnets and of = course those fantastically moulded engine cowls . But wait! There is = more... Also included is a 16 page reference guide, a glossy colour = guide for the USAAF machine, 2 decal sheets that contains the unit = markings for the 3 aircraft and stencils required for one airframe. Plus = a huge instruction guide with 72 construction stages. I would say most modelers would have seen Tamiya's first Spitfire = Mk.IX release, there aren't too many changes within this kit but there = is a total of 3 new sprue's included for this boxing of the Mk.VIII. = These sprue's include the extended wing tip parts, the re-tractable tail = wheel and the larger 90 gallon slipper drop tank. As mentioned before the kit hasn't changed much but still has all = those cool features that was introduced in the Mk.IX kit. The engine = cowlings are molded in the incredibly thin 0.4mm thickness again for = that scale effect. The removable cowls also keep the magnet feature to = hold them onto the model. The newly tooled retractable tail wheel also = feature this magnet feature on both options of assembly.=20 The Merlin engine that Tamiya has include is small project on its own = that builds up to a fantastic model by itself. Built straight out of the = box offers fantastic detail. Or if the modeler wishes to go a bit crazy = and add wiring and plumbing, whether its supplied by a aftermarket = manufacturer or added from scratch, the results are well worth the work. = There is also no Rolls Royce name plate on the rocker covers, but the = aftermarket guys have this covered already. It may pay to check your = references, as Packard built Merlin's did not have the name plate on the = rocker covers.=20 The cockpit detail is superb out of the box, but lacks the wiring and = control cables to some of the components, which very is visible in this = scale . Some good cockpit reference shots and some building materiel any = level of modeler should be able to add these details to the cockpit = area. Again the aftermarket guys are offering some great items that are = worth checking out if you want to add a bit more. A seated pilot figure = in full flying setup is also offered, but the detail is a tad soft on = some of the areas of the figure. Some people may disagree with me here, = but I found it hard to paint the same figure that is supplied in the = Mk.IX kit, due to some of the detail. A standing figure is also = included, and which has better detail. The detail of the kit, has to be one of the best that is on offer on = the market today. Tamiya surly raised the bar with this Spitfire = tooling. The kit features very crisp panel lines and subtle rivet lines. = There is no sign of flash or sink marks, ejector pins have been placed = in areas that won't be seen. Tamiya have also added all the sprue = attachments on all the major exterior on surfaces that will be will be = cleaned up during the build process. The ailerons, elevators and rudder = are fitted with metal hinges to make them movable. Flaps may be posed = open or closed and alternate parts are also supplied to display the = undercarriage retracted or extended. =20 The decals are well printed and in perfect register. They also appear = to be a lot thinner than the Mk.IX release. Tamiya have supplied 3 decal = options for this kit as they did with the Mk.IX, and they are:=20 Wing Commander 'Bobby' Gibbes, No.80 Wing, RAAF Morotai Island, Dutch = East Indies, 1945=20 No.417 Squadron, RCAF, Marcianaise, Italy, 1944=20 Lt. Bill Skinner, 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air = Force, USAF, Castel Volturno, Italy, February 1944 Overall, this kit is fantastic straight from the box and any level of = modeler should be able to tackle the task of assembling this kit. I am = currently slowly building the Mk.IX release and it been a joy to build, = so far. I am sure the Mk.VII will surely be the same. I would like to thank HobbyLink Japan (www.hlkj.com) for this review = sample.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0056_01CB5D8E.F390BF80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
 
Hi,
I just wanted to let you know = your article=20 went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.
 
Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource = Center
http://www.aircraftresourc= ecenter.com
 
Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love = like you've=20 never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like = nobody's=20 watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on=20 Earth.
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Dave = Johnson=20
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, = 2010 4:11=20 PM
Subject: HLJ - Tamiya - 1/32 = Supermarine=20 Spitfire Mk.VIII


Tamiya

1/32 = Supermarine=20 Spitfire Mk.VIII

Product=20 #60320 (http://www.hlj.com/product/TAM60320) = from=20 HobbyLink Japan (http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist.cgi?rel=3Dnav&GenreCode=3DAi= r)

Product Article by Dave=20 Johnson on  September 2010

 

History =96

Tests early in 1942 proved that the Merlin = 61 powered=20 Spitfire was the answer to replace the outdated Spitfire Mk.V. This = couldn=92t=20 come sooner as September 1941, saw the introduction on the Fw190 which = out=20 performed Spitfire Mk.V. Work = began on=20 redesigning the Spitfire airframe to take the a new and heavier and more powerful engine. This = work would=20 produce the pressurized Mk.VII and the unpressurized Mk VIII = Spitfires. These=20 aircraft were expected to be the answer to the Fw 190 threat. The Mk = VIII=20 featured a strengthened fuselage with a retractable tail wheel. Each = wing=20 carried a 14-gallon self sealing fuel tank, and the main fuselage fuel = tank=20 was increased in size to 96 gallons. These changes gave the Mk VIII = the same=20 range as the Mk V, although as this distance was achieved at a higher = speed,=20 the Mk VIII could stay in the air for less time than the Mk V. Most Mk = VIIIs=20 used a new broad-chord, or pointed-tip rudder. The Mk VIII used the = =93c=94 wing=20 armament (four cannon or two cannon and two machine guns) and could = carry up=20 to 1,000lbs of bombs. 1,657 Mk VIIIs were produced in all. The success = of the=20 Mk IX reduced the importance of the Mk VIII. Although the first = production=20 model was completed in November 1942, it took until June 1943 for the = first=20 squadron to be equipped with the model. One reason for the delay was = that it=20 had been decided to use the Mk VIII in the Mediterranean and Far East, = and so=20 the first squadron to use it was No. 145, based on Malta. By the = summer of=20 1943 the crisis in the Mediterranean was in the past, and the Mk VIII = saw most=20 of its service during the invasion of Italy, often in a ground attack = role.=20

The Kit =96

Tamiya follows up their ground breaking Mk. = IX=20 Spitfire with the Mk. VIII. This is the first time that the Mk.VIII = has been=20 injection-molded in 1/32 scale. The box is presented beautifully with = artwork=20 of Lt. Bill Skinner=92s 308th Fighter Squadron USAAF = machine,=20 Lonesome Polecat and the Supermarine Spitfire title printed in = embossed shinny=20 gold text. The box contains 16 sprue=92s of medium grey plastic; 1 = sprue of=20 clear plastic, and one of black which contains the in-flight display = stand.=20 Another sprue of black rubber carries the tyres for both options of = wheels up=20 and down. All the larger sprue=92s are individually packed into their = own=20 plastic bags. All the smaller items, being the 2 sheets of photo etch = frets,=20 rods for the movable surfaces, nuts, screws, magnets and of course = those=20 fantastically moulded engine cowls = . But wait! There is more... Also = included is a 16=20 page reference guide, a glossy colour guide for the USAAF machine, 2 = decal=20 sheets that contains the unit markings for the 3 aircraft and stencils required for one = airframe. Plus=20 a huge instruction guide with 72 construction stages.

I would say most modelers would have seen = Tamiya=92s=20 first  Spitfire Mk.IX release, there aren=92t too many changes = within this=20 kit but there is a total of 3 new sprue=92s included for this boxing = of the=20 Mk.VIII. These sprue=92s include the extended wing tip parts, the = re-tractable=20 tail wheel and the larger 90 gallon slipper drop tank.

As mentioned before the = kit hasn=92t=20 changed much but still has all those cool features that was introduced = in the=20 Mk.IX kit. The engine cowlings are molded in the incredibly thin 0.4mm thickness = again for=20 that scale effect. The removable cowls also keep the magnet feature to = hold=20 them onto the model. The newly tooled retractable tail wheel also = feature this=20 magnet feature on both options of assembly.

The Merlin engine that = Tamiya has=20 include is small project on = its own that=20 builds up to a fantastic model by itself. Built straight out of the = box offers=20 fantastic detail. Or if the modeler wishes to go a bit crazy and add = wiring=20 and plumbing, whether its supplied by a aftermarket manufacturer or = added from=20 scratch, the results are well worth the work. There is also no Rolls Royce name = plate on=20 the rocker covers, but the aftermarket guys have this covered already. = It may=20 pay to check your references, as Packard=20 built Merlin=92s did not have the name plate on the rocker covers.=20

The cockpit detail is = superb out of=20 the box, but lacks the wiring = and=20 control cables to some of the components, which very is visible in this scale . Some good = cockpit=20 reference shots and some building materiel any level of modeler should = be able=20 to add these details to the cockpit area. Again the aftermarket guys are = offering some=20 great items that are worth checking out if you want to add a bit more. = A=20 seated pilot figure in full flying setup is also offered, but the = detail is a=20 tad soft on some of the areas of the figure. Some people may disagree = with me=20 here, but I found it hard to paint the same figure that is supplied in = the=20 Mk.IX kit, due to some of the=20 detail. A standing figure = is also=20 included, and which has better detail.

The detail of the kit, has to be one of the = best that=20 is on offer on the market today. Tamiya surly raised the bar with this = Spitfire tooling. The kit features very crisp panel lines and subtle = rivet=20 lines. There is no sign of flash or sink marks, ejector pins have been = placed=20 in areas that won't be seen. Tamiya have also added all the sprue = attachments=20 on all the major exterior on surfaces that will be will be cleaned up during the build = process.=20 The ailerons, = elevators and=20 rudder are fitted with metal hinges to make them movable. Flaps may be = posed=20 open or closed and alternate parts are also supplied to display the=20 undercarriage retracted or=20 extended. 

The decals are well = printed and in=20 perfect register. They also appear to be a lot thinner than the Mk.IX = release.=20 Tamiya have supplied 3 decal options for this kit as they did with the = Mk.IX,=20 and they are:

Wing Commander = =91Bobby=92 Gibbes, No.80=20 Wing, RAAF Morotai Island, Dutch East Indies, 1945
No.417 = Squadron, RCAF,=20 Marcianaise, Italy, 1944
Lt. Bill Skinner,=20 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group,=20 15th Air Force, USAF, Castel Volturno, Italy, February=20 1944

Overall, this kit is fantastic straight from the = box and any=20 level of modeler should be able to tackle the task of assembling this = kit. I=20 am currently slowly building the Mk.IX release and it been a joy to = build, so=20 far. I am sure the Mk.VII will = surely be=20 the same.

I would like to thank HobbyLink Japan (www.hlkj.com) for=20 this review sample.=20


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