KitR Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 (edited) Hi, I've started my first Spitfire and have a questions about the Mk.V's. I working on the Tamiya 1/48th Mk.Vb tropical Spit and the decals that come with the kit seem a little on the thick side. I've been searching for decals available for a desert version of the Mk.Vb and seen some listing for Mk.V's and Mk.Vb's. I'm a little confused about what actually makes a V different from a Vb. Would a decal set for a squadron of Mk.V's be incorrect for a Mk.Vb? I find myself confused just asking the question. I hope some of you can shed a little light on the subject. Thanks, Edited October 2, 2009 by KitR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbates Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Spitfire V is a family. The members of the family are as follows: Spitfire Va (A Wing) This has the eight gun wing (four .303s per side) like the Spitfire Mk. I. No protruding cannons. Spitfire Vb (B Wing) This is the kit option provided in the Tamiya and Hasegawa kits. 2 cannons and 4 .303s (2 guns and 1 cannons per side.) Spitfire Vc (C Wing) Similar to the Spitfire IX this wing had provisions for 4 cannons per wing, though generally they carried 2 cannons and two little stubs. Airfix, Eduard, Classic Airframes, and Special Hobby have Spitfire Vcs. I don't know what decals you are looking at, but generally tropic filter birds will either be Vbs or Vcs. (And I hate to say it, but sometimes even the decal producers have the options confused.) If you have something in mind decal wise list the sheet and I'll see if it is a Vb or not. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitR Posted October 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 I was looking at the Aeromaster "After the Battle" series of Spitfires but haven't seen any of these sheets close enough to see what squadrons they cover. All I can glean from the thumbnail web photo is they include "Post-Battle of Britain Mk.II & Mk.V Spitfires." Thanks, Kit Spitfire V is a family. The members of the family are as follows: Spitfire Va (A Wing) This has the eight gun wing (four .303s per side) like the Spitfire Mk. I. No protruding cannons. Spitfire Vb (B Wing) This is the kit option provided in the Tamiya and Hasegawa kits. 2 cannons and 4 .303s (2 guns and 1 cannons per side.) Spitfire Vc (C Wing) Similar to the Spitfire IX this wing had provisions for 4 cannons per wing, though generally they carried 2 cannons and two little stubs. Airfix, Eduard, Classic Airframes, and Special Hobby have Spitfire Vcs. I don't know what decals you are looking at, but generally tropic filter birds will either be Vbs or Vcs. (And I hate to say it, but sometimes even the decal producers have the options confused.) If you have something in mind decal wise list the sheet and I'll see if it is a Vb or not. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbates Posted October 2, 2009 Report Share Posted October 2, 2009 Kit, On After the Battle 1 all options are Spitfire Vbs but for VZ-E which is a Spitfire II and no good for your kit. On After the Battle 2 KH-P and QJ-S are Spitfire Vbs while DV-V and NN-D are Vcs and no good for your kit. Hope this helps, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KitR Posted October 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 3, 2009 Thanks Jim, All of this indeed helps. And thanks for the lesson on the differences between the a's, b's, and c's Kit Kit, On After the Battle 1 all options are Spitfire Vbs but for VZ-E which is a Spitfire II and no good for your kit. On After the Battle 2 KH-P and QJ-S are Spitfire Vbs while DV-V and NN-D are Vcs and no good for your kit. Hope this helps, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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