Here are some images of Tamiya's 1/32 scale Supermarine Spitfire MK IX C. This is the aircraft that was flown by wing commander J.E."Johnnie" Johnson for Kenley Wing "The Canadians" at RAF Kenley 1943. Johnnie Johnson became the western Allies top fighter ace of World War Two in the European theater with 34 victories to his credit as well as seven shared victories, three shared probables, ten shared damaged as well as one destroyed on the ground. In 1943 Johnnie Johnson took over Kenley Wing and despite initial objections from those obnoxious and stubborn Canadians were quickly won over by his sheer force of personality. Johnnie Johnson continued to serve with the RAF after the war eventually retiring in 1966 with the rank of Air Vice Marshal. He passed away on January 30th 2001. This kit has got to be the best 1/32 scale Spitfire ever produced, every bit as comparable to Tamiya's 1/32 scale Zero. The detail is amazing right down to the back of the shoulder straps attachment. My only real complaint is the decals lacked elasticity, easily fixed with plenty of Microsol though one should keep an eye out for cracking. Plus at around $150 Cdn can be quite the tidy sum. Oh and one other complaint. Why doesn't the figure look like Johnnie Johnson?
Wow! I enlarged the photos and was amazed. You must have a steady hand to do such precise detail work. Expecially in the painting.
ReplyDeletegreat job...
Thanks Pat
ReplyDeleteTwo errors… the Canadian maple leaf was red of Johnson’s aircraft - not green. Although his recollection is that it “might have been green”, ground crew confirm that all maple leafs on the Spitfires were painted red. And the gun covers are incorrect in the Tamiya kit for Johnson’s aircraft.
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