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Spitfire Mk XVI in 1/72...

...a new ProfiPack series kit from Eduard

The second recent 1/72 Spitfire release from Eduard, this time a ProfiPack series kit (ref 70126) featuring a Mk XVI Bubbletop.  The kit uses sprues common to other kits in their range but this time with painting masks, the pre-coloured etch parts for the instrument panel, seatbelts and the like.  As is quite common with these kits, there are a number of unused parts left over for your spares box which can not only come in handy for conversions but also as possible background dressing in a diorama.  Having built one or two of these Eduard Spits before I can happily say they go together very neatly.  The cockpit detail is very nice and enhanced by the inclusion of the pre-coloured instrument panel and seatbelts.  What you need to do first is decide on which of the five optional finishes you want to go for, as there are some optional parts to select during the course of building the kit which relate to a specific option.  I also like that not only do the transfers include the various airframe stencils, but a separate page in the instructions is provided to clearly show where they all go.

So, the heart of the model are the colour and markings options.  These are -

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  • A. SL718 from 612 Squadron RAuxAF which took part in the Cooper Air Rave flying from Elmdon Air Base in July 1949.  THe markings are applied to the standard Ocean Grey/Dark Green upper surface pattern with Medium Sea Grey undersides.  This is a clipped wing variant.

  • B. RW 393 from 601 Squadron RAuxAF, also taking part in the Cooper Air Race in 1949.  A bit different to option A for having an overall bare metal finish, though still a clipped wing variant.

  • C. SL721 was flown by ACM James Robb in September 1951.  This aircraft has the standard Spitfire wingtip and is finished in overall PRU Blue.  As the personal aircraft of an Air Chief Marshall, it carried his initials as the aircraft code and his peronal pennant painted on the side, just forward of the cockpit.

  • D. SL549, with 17 Squadron based at Farnborough in 1950.  Another clipped wing machine, and in an overall bare aluminium finish and a blue spinner.

  • E. TE456 of 501 Squadron RAuxAF based at Filton in 1949.  This one is finished in standard RAF camouflage, with a Sky coloured spinner and fuselage band.

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Thanks to Eduard for this example.

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Robin

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