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CHEMATIC 1:72
SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK I/V
PM 1:72 SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK VC "TROP"
'Dual INBOX Review'
Reviewer: Hrvoje Šafhauzer (rec.models.scale)
Kit Details: Chematic Gomix 1/72 Spitfire Mk I/V & PM Model 1/72 Spitfire Vc tropical
Preamble
I would like not to be considered pessimistic guy, however I do think that these two kits shall be described for future unwary modeler(s). One could ask why reviewing the two kits from geographically far away producers - Polish Chematic Gomix (furtheron: ChG) and Turkish PM Model (furtheron: PM)? Answer is simple - they do look like as they have run from the same mill. I suspect that both are originating from Frog, probably from far far away dawn of model kits…
Any one not knowing anything about Supermarine Spitfire series should go modeling something else. Any internet browser would provide more than plentiful links about this subject.
In 1944, two RAF squadrons were formed in North Africa, comprising the flying and ground personnel from former VVKJ (Royal Yugoslav Army Air Force) and PVKJ (Royal Yugoslav Naval Air Force) who opted for Communist Partisan cause, former Regia Aeronautica personnel of Slavic origin, and some personnel that joined Partisans in Yugoslavia during 1942-1943, respectively. The 251st (Yugoslav) Sqn was equipped with Hurricanes for ground attack duties, and 252nd (Yugoslav) Sqn was equipped with Spitfires. After training in Libya on Spitfires Mk Vb trop, 252nd Sqn was incorporated in Balkan Air Force, issued with Mk Vc trop models, and started flying fighter escort and ground attack duties over Yugoslavia. Based initially at Kane airfield, near Tremoli in Italy, as war progressed 252nd Sqn transferred to Vis island, ending the war at Prkos and Skabrnje airfields, near Zadar at Adriatic coast. Most of the photographs are showing the aircraft with individual exhaust stacks, Rotol propeller blades, and Vokes undernose filters. Both desert and continental camouflage schemes were used, and use of the Yugoslav Partisan markings was authorized from the outset, by modifying the RAF roundels and fin flashes and adding a red five-pointed star. After end of WW II, 251st and 252nd squadrons were transferred to new Yugoslav Air Force together with their equipment.
I purchased the ChG kit in 2003, when on one of my kit-searching trips to Zagreb, Croatia. This kit is comes in a flimsy "boxvelope" slightly larger in size than Revell current boxes for single-engined a/c in same scale. The kit box looks pretty battered, being taken twice on my field trips to Libya, only to be returned unmade. Box top is sporting a 303rd Polish Sqn Mk IIa plane, while the port profiles of a Mk I and Mk Vb are on the box bottom. Parts are molded in very light gray plastic on three sprues, with some flash, all bagged together with decals in a heat-sealed pouch. Canopy is single piece, thick and very little would be seen through it. I have detached some parts from the sprues for test fitting. Instructions are A5 sheet of paper folded in half, comprising some history and data in Polish only, and painting scheme for yet another (different) Mk I at one side, and assembly instructions for an equally poor looking P-40 E (!) at other side. Painting instructions are given in shaded b-w chips, in Humbrol ranges. Starboard side painting scheme is not provided.
The PM kit has been given to me recently by my brother who went to the Netherlands. I have asked him to try to get an Airfix Spitfire Vc, but he found this. Happy and proud that he have found "correct Spitfire". I remember seeing this kit in a now defunct hobby shop Zagreb in 1998 or 1999, and I think the price was some 30+ HRK. At that time I passed it off in favour of some other kits. This kit is also comes in a "boxvelope" similar in size to the Airfix series 1 boxes from a long time ago - just to fit the parts inside. There is a USAAF Spitfire Vc trop in flight at both box top and bottom, with the port-side profile of a RAF machine in Desert Air Force colors. If memory serves me right, there was another box with Turkish AF red-square markings included. Parts are molded in medium gray plastic at three sprues, with some flash. Canopy is single piece, with same quality as with ChG's kit. Parts and decals are together in a heat-sealed pouch also. Instructions are an extended-A5 sheet, folded in three. Six assembly steps, and history and data in Turkish, English and German are provided at one side. The painting and decaling instructions are given at other side, together with shaded paint chips for paints of 8 different manufacturer ranges, where applicable. Again, there are no starboard views for both schemes.
(ChG
1-72 Spitfire I-V parts)
(PM
1-72 Spitfire 5c parts)
Good news are that both kits appear to be adequate in plan and side views. And that the single-piece outer wings are molded with the tabs that are to provide a dihedral. But there are lot of areas for improvement. Firstly, there is no interior at all. No pilot, no seat, no instrument panel, nothing, just empty space. Some panels are there and some are missing. Being raised detail, removing and engraving would be required, which is much easier than filling and sanding. Smaller parts are sometimes vaguely resembling the real things, and although the sprue arrangements do look different most of the parts are exactly the same and interchangeable. One would know what I mean by looking the pictures attached. Representation of the Rotol blades in PM kit is especially poor. Pitot-probes and rear-view mirrors are not supplied, nor their positions indicated by the instructions. There are no main landing gear wells at the underwing surfaces. Just their poor, raised, representation. On top of this, PM wings have the upper side panels, with wider cannon breech bulges, repeated at the undersides. What were they thinking about? – I can only guess. Ailerons and elevators are devoid of any details. Only the rudder is provided with raised details. Another thing is that the cord of the outer wings does not match the one at the fuselage parts, which will result in the nasty step at both respective joints. As for cockpit canopies, only the PM part is sporting some framing, but both transparencies are having rounded windscreens instead of optically flat ones with armored glass. And simply they do not appear to be correct.
The ChG kit offers only one camouflage scheme, a continental dark green/dark earth/sky Mk IIa machine "Krakatao" from 303rd Polish "Kociusko" Sqn with markings carried in 1941. Actually, a paint scheme given in the instructions is for a SD-H coded Mk I with black&white undersurfaces, so one should search references for painting and decal placement.
PM offers the two desert camouflaged Mk Vc trop machines, in standard dark earth/middle stone/azure blue livery, red C coded a/c from 154th Sqn RAF 1942 and HL-AA coded a/c from 308th FS, 31st FG, USAAF in 1943, shown on the box art. As stated above, no starboard profile is provided, so one should check their references for painting and decal placement also.
The decals are the highlights of the both kits, ChG's one being printed by Techmod and providing some stenciling and warning line. Four machine gun port patches are included also – for an 8-gun fighter. I am not expecting troubles with them. PM decals are looking much better that these included in some of their kits I have made in last century, but providing only the national insignia, code numbers, and serials. Backing paper is white here, so the white USAAF's code letters can not be seen in the picture below (and I am not proficient in messing with a photo-enhancement programs…).
(ChG
1-72 Spitfire I_V decals)
(PM
1-72 Spitfire 5c decals)
I know that there are modelers that like turning a saw's ear into a silk purse. Unfortunately both these kits are rather saw's foot than ear. Bringing them into something decent will require a lot of elbow grease, and an abundance of the spare parts. If Kevin Ronayne warned against SMER Spitfires, what could one say about this pair? Another option is making them as they are, painting them in wild schemes, and giving them to kids in the neighborhood to play with. In that case, a life expectancy will not be long. Decals look fine, but with plenty of the RAF and USAAF markings around, these are not anything special. To top this all off, when I purchased a ChG kit a much better Revell Spitfire Mk Vb was retailed for 40 HRK.
As for myself, if not getting an Airfix Mk Vc in my hands soon, I would finally have to sit and convert Revell's kit for which I have already collected most of the parts required.
SMAKR
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