Which Specific Version- Spitfire did James May recreate?
Discussion
This one, I believe. But stand to be corrected.
http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/aircraft/mil...
http://www.airfix.com/airfix-products/aircraft/mil...
Airfix's very first 1/72 Spitfire kit was moulded in bright blue plastic and was supposed to represent a Mk I
Here is the original packaging from 1953
The codes BT-K included in the kit decals (or transfers as they were always called back then) were ficticious and never appeared on a real Spitfire Mk I during WW2.
Airfix re-did their Spitfire as a Mk IX at the end of the 1950s and this is the kit I remember from my childhood - coded as Johnny Johnson's "JE-J".
The plastic was still blue but now a much lighter tone.
In the 1970s, Airfix introduced a new mould Mk V and later a new mould Mk I - which were vastly superior to their earlier offerings. Although over 30 years old now, many think that these two 1/72 Spitfires are the most accurate in outline in this scale (despite being somewhat spartan inside).
Airfix released a special 50th year anniversary version of the new-mould Mk I in 2003. They replicated accurately the 1953 packaging and even used the same colour bright blue plastic. However, the content in the package was the 1978/79 Mk I (not the 1953 moulding).
Only last month did Airfix FINALLY replace their 1959 MkIX with a brand new Mk IX kit - and it still contains the markings "JE-J".
The May 1:1 Spitfire was inspired by the original 1953 effort (hence the bright blue plastic and BT-K codes ) but the accuracy would have been based on the later moulding.
Here is the original packaging from 1953
The codes BT-K included in the kit decals (or transfers as they were always called back then) were ficticious and never appeared on a real Spitfire Mk I during WW2.
Airfix re-did their Spitfire as a Mk IX at the end of the 1950s and this is the kit I remember from my childhood - coded as Johnny Johnson's "JE-J".
The plastic was still blue but now a much lighter tone.
In the 1970s, Airfix introduced a new mould Mk V and later a new mould Mk I - which were vastly superior to their earlier offerings. Although over 30 years old now, many think that these two 1/72 Spitfires are the most accurate in outline in this scale (despite being somewhat spartan inside).
Airfix released a special 50th year anniversary version of the new-mould Mk I in 2003. They replicated accurately the 1953 packaging and even used the same colour bright blue plastic. However, the content in the package was the 1978/79 Mk I (not the 1953 moulding).
Only last month did Airfix FINALLY replace their 1959 MkIX with a brand new Mk IX kit - and it still contains the markings "JE-J".
The May 1:1 Spitfire was inspired by the original 1953 effort (hence the bright blue plastic and BT-K codes ) but the accuracy would have been based on the later moulding.
BT-K was the very first Aircraft model I ever built
The very first "any" kit was Airfix's Golden Hind, which I tried childishly (I was a child!) to paint with my water colours.
happy days
I remember putting the bombs under the wings and dad tut tutting, he'd been an armourer at Hawkinge.
Gosh that was a hell of a long time ago wasnt it
The very first "any" kit was Airfix's Golden Hind, which I tried childishly (I was a child!) to paint with my water colours.
happy days
I remember putting the bombs under the wings and dad tut tutting, he'd been an armourer at Hawkinge.
Gosh that was a hell of a long time ago wasnt it
As I explained, the Mays' full sized model was inspired by the original 1953 kit but based much more on the 1979/80 kit.
Airfix used polythene bags for their Series 1 kits right up until 1972/73 period. The packaging of the kits improved massively when Airfix commissioned artist Roy Cross to paint new pictures for the polythene bag "tags" and box lids.
They then brought out a Card/Plastic blister pack which replaced the polythene bags. The blister packs went at the end of the 70s to be replaced by simple end-opening boxes.
Polythene bagged kit with Roy Cross artwork on paper header.
Blister Pack example
End opening box example
Airfix used polythene bags for their Series 1 kits right up until 1972/73 period. The packaging of the kits improved massively when Airfix commissioned artist Roy Cross to paint new pictures for the polythene bag "tags" and box lids.
They then brought out a Card/Plastic blister pack which replaced the polythene bags. The blister packs went at the end of the 70s to be replaced by simple end-opening boxes.
Polythene bagged kit with Roy Cross artwork on paper header.
Blister Pack example
End opening box example
Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 1st December 22:10
Eric Mc said:
Airfix's very first 1/72 Spitfire kit was moulded in bright blue plastic and was supposed to represent a Mk I
Here is the original packaging from 1953
The codes BT-K included in the kit decals (or transfers as they were always called back then) were ficticious and never appeared on a real Spitfire Mk I during WW2.
Airfix re-did their Spitfire as a Mk IX at the end of the 1950s and this is the kit I remember from my childhood - coded as Johnny Johnson's "JE-J".
The plastic was still blue but now a much lighter tone.
In the 1970s, Airfix introduced a new mould Mk V and later a new mould Mk I - which were vastly superior to their earlier offerings. Although over 30 years old now, many think that these two 1/72 Spitfires are the most accurate in outline in this scale (despite being somewhat spartan inside).
Airfix released a special 50th year anniversary version of the new-mould Mk I in 2003. They replicated accurately the 1953 packaging and even used the same colour bright blue plastic. However, the content in the package was the 1978/79 Mk I (not the 1953 moulding).
Only last month did Airfix FINALLY replace their 1959 MkIX with a brand new Mk IX kit - and it still contains the markings "JE-J".
The May 1:1 Spitfire was inspired by the original 1953 effort (hence the bright blue plastic and BT-K codes ) but the accuracy would have been based on the later moulding.
That was the first kit I ever built. Eric refers to the 1970's kits as being "somewhat spartan inside": if you look at the original you can see that the pilot is moulded into the fuselage half, and there is NO cockpit detail whatsoever. In addition the wheels were moulded into the closed position in the wings, but you also had separate wheels to glue into the open position, leaving the pre-moulded closed ones still in place! Eat your heart out, Tamiya!Here is the original packaging from 1953
The codes BT-K included in the kit decals (or transfers as they were always called back then) were ficticious and never appeared on a real Spitfire Mk I during WW2.
Airfix re-did their Spitfire as a Mk IX at the end of the 1950s and this is the kit I remember from my childhood - coded as Johnny Johnson's "JE-J".
The plastic was still blue but now a much lighter tone.
In the 1970s, Airfix introduced a new mould Mk V and later a new mould Mk I - which were vastly superior to their earlier offerings. Although over 30 years old now, many think that these two 1/72 Spitfires are the most accurate in outline in this scale (despite being somewhat spartan inside).
Airfix released a special 50th year anniversary version of the new-mould Mk I in 2003. They replicated accurately the 1953 packaging and even used the same colour bright blue plastic. However, the content in the package was the 1978/79 Mk I (not the 1953 moulding).
Only last month did Airfix FINALLY replace their 1959 MkIX with a brand new Mk IX kit - and it still contains the markings "JE-J".
The May 1:1 Spitfire was inspired by the original 1953 effort (hence the bright blue plastic and BT-K codes ) but the accuracy would have been based on the later moulding.
Eric Mc said:
Still got a finished one of those sitting in my model cabinet.
Not a bad kit - if rather simplistic as Matchbox often were.
I made a shocking job of it, but there was something very exciting about my weekly cycle ride to the village post office to buy a model kit for £1, a shelf full of Matchbox kits with the little tiangular window on the rear revealling the multi coloured sprue ...ah heaven Not a bad kit - if rather simplistic as Matchbox often were.
Skii said:
Eric Mc said:
Still got a finished one of those sitting in my model cabinet.
Not a bad kit - if rather simplistic as Matchbox often were.
I made a shocking job of it, but there was something very exciting about my weekly cycle ride to the village post office to buy a model kit for £1, a shelf full of Matchbox kits with the little tiangular window on the rear revealling the multi coloured sprue ...ah heaven Not a bad kit - if rather simplistic as Matchbox often were.
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