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Spitfire Mk.Vb


KitR

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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 by KitR
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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

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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

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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

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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

 

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