Spitfire Mk.VIII – “Fargo Express”

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Vital Stats

Manufacturer: Tamiya
Scale: 1:32
Aircraft: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII (Kit #60320)
Markings: “Fargo Express” | Lt. Leland Molland – CO | 308th Fighter Squadron | 31st Fighter Group | 15th Air Force | Castel Volturno, Italy | February 1944
Aftermarket: Eduard PE | Barracudacast Seat | Barracudacast Merlin Rocker Covers | Barracudacast Wheels | Barracudacast Cockpit Door | Scale Aircraft Conversions Landing Gear | Master Hispano 20mm cannons

Mini-Review

The Spitfire Mk.VIII was originally conceived to replace the Spitfire Mk.V and counter the Luftwaffe’s fearsome new Focke Wulf Fw 190. When development took longer than expected, the British decided to field a stop-gap model by grafting the new Merlin 60-series engine onto a Mk.V airframe. The result was the Mk.IX, which confusingly entered service well before the Mk.VIII, performed very well, and quickly usurped the Mk.VIII as the RAF’s mainstay fighter. When the Mk.VIII finally reached production, it found itself dispatched to further flung theaters, including Southeast Asia and the Mediterranean, where it served with the RAAF, RNZAF, and USAAF, among others.

Yes, the USAAF flew Spitfires. It’s often overlooked today, but when the United States entered the war, its principal aircraft – the P-40 Warhawk, F4F Wildcat, etc – weren’t much of a match for the fast, agile fighters doing battle over Europe. And so, in a bit of reverse Lend-Lease, the USAAF flew Spitfires in North Africa and Italy until the P-51 became widely available in mid-1944.

But honestly, I didn’t build this kit because I have a thing for Spitfires. I built this kit to build this kit. It is very much a “journey” kit. And is it ever a journey. This has to be, far and away, the most ambitious, well engineered and precise model I have ever had the pleasure to work with. Things that shouldn’t fit do, and so well that you can’t even see a seam. Various pieces are held in place by magnets and screws. The detail on every single part is staggering. The screws have slots in them, for crying out loud.

If you want to build a big, late-Merlin Spitfire, buy this kit (or its siblings, the IXc and XVIe). If you want to experience the stunning craftsmanship of a premier model maker at the top of their game, buy this kit. Honestly, outside of Tamiya’s new P-51, I can’t think of a single kit that could top what this one brings to the table.

Most highly recommended

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17 Comments Add yours

Pingback: Tamiya Spitfire Mk.VIII – COMPLETED « Doogs' Models
keith rudzik says:

August 22, 2011 at 2:44 pm

While I’m not as much of a fan of A/C,I am a nut for finite detailing.The cockpit [ as well as the entire plane ] came out excellant. Bravo, Doogs !!

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John Worrall says:

September 8, 2012 at 6:55 am

Awesome work Doogs. Having returned to this craft recently I quickly recognised I needed this kit so I already have one in my stash. Once I have improved my skills sufficiently and being an Aussie I plan to build it as Clive Caldwell’s 58-484 while based here in Darwin where I live … while I have much to learn I have learned much from visiting your site. Many thanks!

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Mitch says:

November 15, 2012 at 4:43 pm

Hi Doog, beautiful job on this kit… In short order, I will be following in your footsteps with a VIII of my own and I have some quick questions:

Are the Hispano guns for the C wing?
Since your build, has microtextile developed belts for the VIII? I can’t seem to find them for that particular craft… is there a microtextile that will sub, or should I go with the Eduard PE…

Sorry if this is a bother… Mitch

Reply
1. Doogs says:
  
  November 15, 2012 at 4:49 pm
  
  Not a bother at all Mitch! The Hispano guns are indeed for the C wing, which so far as I know is the only wing the VIII used. Master makes units for the B and E-wings, so just be careful ordering.
  
  As for the HGW belts…they do indeed make a Spitfire-specific set. It’s for the IX, but that’s basically the same thing… http://www.ebay.com/itm/132004-HGW-Seatbelts-Spitfire-Mk-IX-LATE-1-32-/110968938099?pt=UK_ToysGames_ModelKits_ModelKits_JN&hash=item19d6439e73
  
  Reply
  1. Mitch says:
    
    November 15, 2012 at 5:12 pm
    
    thanks Doog… you rock…
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Jackson Hastie says:

August 20, 2013 at 2:42 am

Hey Doogs nice job!!!!! I have a HobbyBoss 1/32 mk V spitfire but i’m not sure how to weather it properly (as mine job kinda sucks) any ideas

Reply
1. Doogs says:
  
  August 20, 2013 at 4:05 pm
  
  Well, you have to take into account the operating environment, so where was your Spit V serving? Spit Vs were quite literally everywhere.
  
  For the basics, I would suggest starting with a black base coat and building up the camoflage colors in thin layers…the black base makes shading and modulation really easy since you aren’t fighting to cover up gray primer. Consider very thin filters (either brushed or airbrushed) to tie colors together. Depending on the amount of weathering, play with salt fading and oil dot washing.
  
  The HB kit has gobs of panel and rivet detail, too. A wash (I love Flory Models washes) will make those pop.
  
  Reply
  1. Jackson Hastie says:
    
    August 21, 2013 at 12:45 am
    
    Hey thanks Doogs this is appreciated, The spitfire is the one of the Polish ace Jan Zumbach (RF D) so i think it would be in England and/or France.