[PappyB]

Got home last night after a long day at the office and had this one on the doorstep (not out yet, came direct from a source a HM), which was a nice suprise

Tore it open for a quick look-see before another long day at the office today, and thought I'd share some initial thoughts.

It's a fine-looking model, overall -- the paint job is very nice and looks more realistic to me overall than what I've seen on FM Spits (I don't own any for direct comparision now). The stenciling is very well done, everything is pad-printed, crisp and legible -- and the graphics are superb (roundel, etc.). I like the stenciled rivets on the engine covers, they look pretty good from standard viewing distance. Though I would think there should be more on other parts of the fuselage -- such as gun bay access covers and such?? -- but there are not. Again, this could be correct as-is.

I'm not enough of a Spit nut to know the nuts and bolts of this variant so I won't speak to accuracy or lack thereof... but it looks cool to me!

The retractable gear works well, though it looks a bit short -- but it might be 100% correct, and probably is. The gear isn't as detailed as I'd like to see, the wheel well itself is smooth and devoid of detail and the wheels don't roll. However, this is not a big deal to me at all.

The black wash is in effect and borders on overdone to me, some lines are really subtle others are pretty dark, so it's not as evenly applied on this sample as I've seen on past HM models, which may be intentional. (final retail version not a pre-pro).

It comes in the same HM packaging -- just in 1:48 scale. It's a LE model, but no cert is provided -- wish HM would do this! Hopefully they will in the future. [[Just got an update from HM about my model -- while it is a final retail sample it was fresh off the assembly line and the LE cards weren't printed yet when they sent it. So the retail versions that hit shelves will have LE certs in them, which I think is a great thing for HM to start doing. ]]

The cockpit interior looks too big to me -- the seat is large and there's a lot of space between the instrument panel and the seat, and there's no control stick. I think this is so that you don't have to worry about breakage when you insert the pilot figure???? Harness straps are painted on the seat, and look a bit amatuerish to me.

The pilot... hm....... unless JJ himself was a very, very small man this figure is way too small. When you put it in the cockpit the little fella can barely, if at all, see over the instrument panel and looks pretty silly. This figure is about 2/3 the size of a figure from C1, for example. He looks about 1:56th scale or so to me.

The rudder and elevators move -- but be carefully. My rudder snapped off the instant I applied any pressure to it. And when I tried to snap it back in place the bottom pin (which is very delicately attached) snapped off -- with very little force, mind you. I super-glued this back on and got the rudder back on but I suspect this will be an issue for many people with this model -- just be gentile and don't mess with the rudder position much is my advice.

The canopy slides open/closed smoothly and easily -- and the cockpit door opens, too. This part is plastic and sits pretty loosely -- and when you have it open you sort of expose the clear plastic tabs that hold the canopy in place. Not a big deal, won't see it from normal viewing distance, but might be something someone cares about.

There are no exposed screw heads (Elmer) -- everything is plugged up.

The 5-bladed metal prop is simply wicked looking -- this bird looks fast when it's parked!

I wish there was some info provided about JJ's exploits in this bird in the packaging... I know the combat time this variant had was limited and I thought it was mostly relegated to chasing V-1s??

That's about all I can think of at the moment, I'll try to post some quick and dirty pics later today or tomorrow. For $50 I think this model more than holds its own against FM 1:48 fighters, which go for $60 -- about all FM has over it is a higher heft factor and more substantial packaging, perhaps---and maybe better cockpit detail. (But with FM you get exposed screws and no moving parts). When it comes to fit/finish the HM Spit looks more like a miniature airplane to me and the FM models look more like painted pieces of metal, if that makes sense...

Sorry, this is kind of rambling stream-of-consciousness stuff but I thought some of you might be curious about this one.

Again, I'll try to get some pics up ASAP to illustrate some of these points.

Added:

(Note: the inflight display stand's main support arm is metal, which should eliminate that classic HM "wobble" effect, too, forgot to mention that. And the unfortunate side effect of the way the sliding canopy is modelled is that you get a somewhat ugly slot in the rear of the cockpit behind the armor plating and a clear plastic tab extending from the canopy roof into the slot, which allows it to slide. Tabs on the bottom of the front sides of the sliding canopy then hold it in place. I would have thought the same effect could have been accomplished with just the tabs, a la Dragon.)

[flyXwire]

Thanks for your thoughts on the JJ Spit, PappyB. Please hurry and get the pictures taken and posted here. Thanks very much, ace!

[ZS-VAN]

Great review PappyB. Looking forward to your pics and the model!

[hworth18]

Thanks for the review Pappy and I also look forward to your pics as I suspect some things that were to be corrected didn't get done, but may be fixed on later issues..

[wmosner]

Great review, waiting for the pics like everyone else. This, however, should be moved to the aircrfaft section.

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by wmosner

Great review, waiting for the pics like everyone else. This, however, should be moved to the aircrfaft section.

Done.....

[Martin Baker]

[quote=PappyB;106914]Got home last night after a long day at the office and had this one on the doorstep (not out yet, came direct from a source a HM), which was a nice suprise



I wish there was some info provided about JJ's exploits in this bird in the packaging... I know the combat time this variant had was limited and I thought it was mostly relegated to chasing V-1s??

The model did not see combat with the V1 as it a late Mk 14 Spitfire , but they did well against Me 262 ,& Fw190D late in the war in Europe

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by wmosner

Great review, waiting for the pics like everyone else. This, however, should be moved to the aircrfaft section.

D'oh... where did I put it, the vehicle section again ?

[djjeffhall]

PappyB,
Thanks for taking the time to give us your first thoughts. Please, ramble away. Your "rambling" posts give us a good idea of what does and doesn't catch the eye and imagination.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

PappyB,
Thanks for taking the time to give us your first thoughts. Please, ramble away. Your "rambling" posts give us a good idea of what does and doesn't catch the eye and imagination.

I agree. I wanted to read more rambling (especially about the concealment of the screw heads). Seriously, thanks Pappy, I love long reviews, I have written a few myself; I find detailed written reviews most helpful--and yours always are.

Is the prop metal??? Wait... I think Hawk answered this one. Didn't he? I can't remember.