Manufacturer: Revell-Monogram, 8601 Waukegan Road, Morton Grove, IL 60053-2295, 847-966-3500, www.revell-monogram.com
Kit: No. 5516 Scale: 1/32
Price: $28.20
Comments: Injection-molded plastic, 72 parts (used), decals
Pros: Good detail, good fit, nice new “a” wing, and early propeller
Cons: Mix of raised and recessed panel detail may look strange to some modelers, some cockpit details are missing
Trevell’s “new” Spitfire Mk.I/II might look familiar. No, it’s not the classic Revell kit from the late 1960s, but an interesting hybrid instead. This Spit is actually a Hasegawa Mk.V with a new eight-gun “a” wing, plus a new propeller, canopy, and decals.
The old portion of the kit has raised panel detail, characteristic of kits when Hasegawa’s Spitfire was first issued in the late 1970s. The new wing has beautifully recessed detail.
The moldings are of good-quality gray styrene with minimal mold parting lines. The clear parts are well done, and the canopy, along with the cockpit hatch, may be positioned open or closed.
A seated pilot figure is included. You end up with leftover parts, all from the original Mk.V iteration. The exploded drawing instructions are clear and paint colors are indicated.
The cockpit interior fits nicely in position within the fuselage halves. However, no instrument panel decal is supplied and no seat belts are represented. Assembly is straightforward and the fit is good, except for the wing root-fuselage fit, which leaves both a slight gap and a step.
Markings for two versions are supplied: a Mk.I of No. 609 Squadron (PR-Z) and a Mk.II of No. 18 Squadron (NK-K). Decals went on nicely and responded well to Micro Set and Micro Sol solutions.
After finishing, I added the horizontal stabilizers, gun sight, canopy, tail wheel, main landing gear, and other details. No T-shaped rudder antenna mast was supplied, so I made one from wire.
The kit builds up fairly easily into an attractive model. According to my measurements, the length is only 1 scale inch short and the wing span 6 scale inches short. The only noticeable contour problem is with the top of the nose; it should be flatter and broader.
If you need a 1/32 scale Battle of Britain-era Spitfire in your collection, this is the one to have.