The BEST Aircraft Model Kit EVER? Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk. I (1), Full Build

#scalemodelling #kitreview #tamiya #spitfire
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This is my full build video of the Tamiya Spitfire Mk 1 in 1/48 scale, this is the best model Kit I have ever constructed for it’s clever engineering and fantastic fit, could this be the best model aircraft kit available? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Almost in F - Tranquillity by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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Light Awash by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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Ambiment - The Ambient by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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[@hemana3859]

This was the only thing i wanted as a kid. That was 50+ years ago now, and it was just a plane, and stickers. No other bells or whistles. What a true enthusiast you are. Its nice watching people who do things with such precision. Anyways, its 50 years later and i can still smell the glue that came out of the wee ali tube. As for models, i was terrible. Clumsy with my hands, no finesse, lol. Fine with a guitar, or a rugby ball or pretty much anything else. It took me 20 years to become an "adequate" wood carver, so now im just starting out. And that was only coz i refused to give up on carving.

[@megawave79]

Awesome

[@royfernley3153]

Ah yes, that little tube of glue with a pin put down the nozzle when mum wanted the kitchen table back.

[@johnjephcote7636]

Yes. I still remember the 1950s Airfix Spitfire I. Just 2/- (10p) from Woolworths in Watford High Street.

[@richardstewart6900]

Yep, same here. Just stumbled across this ... and stayed to watch. Both the models and techniques/equipment are a bit different from when I was last modelling but great to watch.

[@jazzmusician46]

It’s wonderful to read you’re back in the saddle again. Same here and enjoying the experience. Keep on practicing and you’ll get better. I’m onto my 6th build now and am working on a 1/32 scale model plane. So much more detail to consider, but lots of fun. Take care and enjoy.

[@Oi....]

Most of the model kits I made as a kid, were promptly shot tp bits with My Air Rifle, so I got to enjoy them twice.....

[@michaelhall3818]

Me to 😁

[@David-dl6zg]

Yeah I used to stick fireworks in mine

[@peterbellwood5412]

Noooooooooooo

[@JanddeKock]

Used to set an engine on fire and fly them with the hand usually until some hot molten plastic landed on one's skin and then finish off with the pellet gun.

[@Oi....]

@@JanddeKock Side note - I loved the noise the melting plastic made falling, kinda sci fi sound effects

[@EdBert]

I'm in the final stages of the Tamiya 1/32 Corsair. It is simply the most precise kit I've ever seen, some parts fit so tight it is almost a snap-in. Some parts are so tight that a layer of paint was too much. I've been out of modelling for the last 25-26 years, and I'm a little surprised, but happy, to hear that they are still the best in the industry.

[@weschaffin]

As a yank, to me this has to be the most sexiest fighter of WW2. Plus hearing a Brit narrate brings it altogether.

[@royfernley3153]

Apple TV have a documentary about the Spitfire. Absolutely beautiful film, the hi def images of the Spitfire over the White Cliffs on a sunny day are truly amazing.

[@Ronno4691]

As a Brit, the design sensibilities of the British, German and American WW2 aeroplanes are so distinctive; the USAF were sporty, sleek and streamlined. The German bombers and fighters were stark, functional and Brutalist in design and the RAF had a refined and stylish but understated look to them - not as attractive as the USAF Mustang or the Amazing twin boom Lightning but all of them having their own appealing qualities like...beauty being in the eye of the beholder :-)

[@leglessinoz]

Mitchell designed a beautiful plane.

[@leglessinoz]

​@Fraxinus! Apparently the P-38 Lightning was a bit of a nightmare to fly.

[@GilbertdeClare0704]

😮😮😮DUDE ! !, THANK you for modelling LZ- N she was one of my DAD's charges during BoB with 66Sqdn. When the Revell 1/32 Spitfire first came out, I HAD to paint on the LZ-D codes as I have several photos of him fondly standing next to "HIS Kites".😊Many Thanks, and a great build BTW

[@ianjackson7515]

One of your best builds matey, well modelled. The 'blue' underside was more common than folks think, officially we know that Sky Type S was the Ministry preffered colour but some references say as many as 30% of the Spits, Hurricanes & Gladiators wore a blue underside. I was told by a Blenheim pilot and model builder (his squadron shared an airfield with a couple of Hurricane units in Spring 1940), that all of those Hurri's were blue underneath whilst the Blenheims were still painted aluminium - the squadron boss was impressed enough to send the maintenance team to the local Woolworths and buy-up as much pale blue paint as they could so they could match the Blenheims to the Hurricanes. The punchline is, that the Blenheims were sent to another station before they could paint a single aircraft and the Hurri's 'inherited' all the tins of unopened Woolies blue emulsion !! Best from NZ.

[@jamescarr1467]

I never knew about the depth of these kits. As a young lad I pinched an Airfix Spitfire from Woolworths in the UK. I was caught and ended up crying my eyes out. They let me go and I never shoplifted again--ever.

[@normg2242]

Sweet memories, I've been there...lol

[@markb5985]

I got caught in woolies too 😉 if i remember correctly it was packets of "segs" to sell at school 🙈

[@mickdebergerac1143]

@@markb5985 HA HA ... sooo right

[@mjh5437]

@@markb5985 aka Blakey`s heel tips.

[@leedobson]

I stole an etched set for a Tamiya tiger 1 ( I had the main kit )....but felt so guilty...the next day I went back to the shop and put it back

[@garrygraham7901]

I remember as a 13 year old back in 1971 building one of these. I was as rough as guts, but I will never forget the satisfaction I felt at building several WW2 aircraft, the Mk 1 Spitfire being the best of all.

[@Gahdammitcuz]

I'm gonna get a Messerschmitt Model soon, and can't wait to build it! 😃

[@timeandspace_3.142]

KZbin randomly suggested this to me. Loved your enthusiasm for the kit, kept me watching

[@johnaldred6864]

Had hours of fun making airfix models as a kid back in the 1960s.....loved them...!

[@petewarby7158]

Really nice video. I'm 54 now and hasn't built a model since childhood. My wife bought me an Airfix model of a Lancaster a couple of years ago when i was trying to recover from Covid. Worst kit ever, missing parts, poor alignment. Good to see there is a decent kit maker out there still. Thanks for sharing the build.

[@oscaromeara8193]

Airfix these days (like 2022/23 onwards) have stepped up their game massively, their new toolings and kits are now top notch. I’ve built their lancaster, wasn’t the best but i dont remember anything wrong with it tbh

[@petewarby7158]

@oscaromeara8193 I think the worst bit was missing parts. I believe it cost several £ per part and I was missing 3 w which was going to hold up the build which I was enjoying. I don't mind a little fettling if I'm honest but numerous missing parts made me lose interest. I'll try a different manufacturer... I hear good things about Tamiya?

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

This build just popped up randomly (I usually get all sorts of model railroad vids suggested) but I used to do a lot of plastic until about 15 years ago when I began moving about too much, then concentrating on photography in depth. I miss building and may someday return to it, for it was always very rewarding. I grew up in the 70s with the old generation of injection molding that left so much to be desired and correcting manufacturing defects or poorly executed details was simply part of the process. This model is beautifully finished and shows just how incredible modern day molds have become. I remember when the photo-etched details entered model railroading and they obviously add all the more when coupled with the plastic models, as well. Thanks for sharing this build, even if I'm witnessing the video a couple of years after the fact. Well done!

[@seamusblack5876]

Tamiya - the ONLY model making Company

[@mikeandalicescott]

Thanks for a great, instructional video. Well done. It is so good that you talk and explain things rather than play some stupid music throughout the video like a lot of model video makers do. This rookie thanks you for the assistance!

[@pirobot668beta]

Well, my brother evaluates model kits professionally.... Seriously, I don't know if he still runs that business, but this looks right up his alley! Well made, well researched... He would build kits and modify them to match some historical 'war-bird'. He has several B-17 models in the Smithsonian; replicas of famed aircraft, every bullet-hole and flack-stain meticulously realized. We experimented with an air-rifle, sand-blasting grit and aluminum foil to make 'scale battle damage'. Air-rifle to propel a small charge of grit at high-speed, foil is perforated randomly to simulate flack damage. We shot dozens of bits of foil; he used ones that closely matched damage seen in photographs. Soot from the blast came from candle flames! He worked out a brittle paint for the foil that would break off, making 'bright rings' around every bullet hole! He did all sorts of diorama scenes: He did the artful stuff, I came up with 'micro-explosives' to damage his creations. We used 'wire-explosions'* to punch raggedy holes in Styrofoam sheets, then painted the surfaces to look like broken concrete and rebar, or bricks and mortar. *Discharging a high-voltage capacitor through a very fine wire often results in a powerful but tiny explosion. It could easily split a 2x4, but the explosion couldn't throw the pieces apart! No burn, but a dark smudge of vaporized copper in the hole that made convincing small-scale weapons damage.

[@rerun3283]

I made this when I was a kid. My dad taught me what MK 1 meant in the car home from the model shop. It's a nice memory.

[@stevewyatt9546]

Just ordered mine! Thanks for sharing great build

[@racheladkins6060]

Why can’t Airfix make a kit that fits this well? Great kit for an unconfident modeller returning to modelling since my youth in the 70s and 80s.

[@shannonmonroe5873]

You do an extremely good job on weathering. A lot of even top modelers tend to over do it IMO. I think I learned a lot from watching your gradual process which looks like it takes a while, and being conservative in the amount of my paint you use. Great video

[@andyw0340]

Best tip ever , get it right 👍

[@alansturgess1324]

NEVER seen a small plastic model as good as that - superb detail. Takes me back to my Airfix days as a lad!

[@MrSimonmcc]

Haven't done any model construction in years. After watching this I've I've just ordered the same kit 🤪

[@taketimeout2share]

Lol. Im tempted too . Last model made was 1972 when I left Prep School. 50 years ago. Bloody hell.

[@MrSimonmcc]

@@taketimeout2share mine just arrived from Japan. Not bad for postage to Canada, plus I saved around $40.

[@mytheoryofmind]

I grabbed it as well about a week or two ago, I’m still stuck on the cockpit. Haven’t had much time to work on it, but it’s been a great build so far. How is yours?

[@Chrisamos412]

Great teaching video for me, I haven’t done a model since a was a young teen, over 40yrs ago. I’m looking to take it up now that I have extra time in my life. I was a little gun shy as to where to start, but you have helped me with that! Thx again…I’ll be watching more of your content 👍🏻

[@tonymargiotta2745]

I started again after 40 years! The array of kits and materials is amazing. I love it probably more now than I did then

[@peterbellwood5412]

@@tonymargiotta2745 Welcome back fellas . Agree 100% on your comments , Tom .

[@jeremydemarco8697]

I just bought this model to have exact references, to start a high fidelity 3D model, I already bought an official Owner's workshop manual. I definitely fall in love with this iconic warbird !!!!

[@woodysmodellingdiary]

Just watched this and have to say that I really enjoyed your presentation style and I did learn some good tips from you. A great model built, painted and weathered with skill and passion! Thank you.

[@samantony7039]

Beautiful work.I’m new to modelling and always wanted to build a Spitfire.I found this video very informative and motivating.Thanks.

[@peterbellwood5412]

Welcome aboard Sam . Remember , it's fun . When you come across a problem , just have a break . ( Preferably , not the model .)

[@eclipsehorse8693]

awessome build! I just got this kit a couple days ago, thx so very much for reviewing it, and letting us know what we're getting ourselves in for! Love your weathering effects!!

[@johnbehneman1546]

WOW!!!! I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH TAMIYA!!!! I HAVE NEVER BUILT A TAMIYA MODEL. I NEED TO BUY ONE!!!!

[@iannicholls7476]

Nice, concise video with just the right amount of detail. Thanks Jason.

[@Kojak0]

'It looks like the picture, it just doesn't look right on a model.' Truer words have never been spoken... This is unfortunately a major problem for many modellers who are striving for a more 'artistic' finish - but 'artistic' does not necessarily mean realistic, and that goes for figures, tanks - and of course aircraft. In fact, I once saw an image of the underside of an A-10 Warthog which was absolutely smeared with gun soot, to the point it was hard to see the original color. This was a realistic as it could be, it being the actual aircraft, but on a model? No model judge would ever give a model with that a high score since it would be called overdone, and quite possibly 'not realistic'. I'd say that this model is a perfect example that actually look realistic, period.

[@zooniethelazoon]

See the 2 seat version flying over the Isle of Wight nearly every day. Yesterday 2 in formation. The sound makes your hair stand on end!!

[@johnbroomer3285]

You are a very lucky man! I would be quite happy having Spits fly past my house instead of the commercial jets we get.

[@jimherbert007]

I got a photo of those 2 in formation off of Gurnard - agree that they sounded epic

[@zooniethelazoon]

@@jimherbert007 that's where I was, walking my dog on the beach at Egypt point!

[@davedore6021]

Hopefully will be up in one of them for my 65th 😎

[@zooniethelazoon]

@@davedore6021 @ nearly 3 grand I envy you!!

[@jazzmusician46]

Thanks mate for showing us your techniques. I’m relatively new to this hobby after many years away from it all and am learning so much from your videos and others who produce videos as well. Thanks again and keep up the great work.

[@glennbarton3938]

Thanks for that build , loads of little tips & hints. I've recently got back into modelling after many years away & some of the washes & pigments you use give results that I couldn't have hoped to achieve previously.

[@davidharrington1133]

Ak Camouflage putty is fantastic and really simplifies the camo painting. Looks great, just bought one.

[@thecrow3380]

A fine job, and well presented, with a voice that doesn't ruin the whole thing. Excellent!

[@Babayaga-pf5dt]

Beautiful build. This has to be the most gorgeous plane ever

[@johnford6967]

Yep! Going to the model shop in the 70s was the thing to do

[@jpspaintingstudios1032]

Just started on mine and it’s a superb piece of kit!!

[@stenalbertsen2440]

Excellent work 👍

[@bogrot69]

I just started this kit myself . Beautiful job you did here.

[@NikeaTiber]

Very enjoyable build video. The detail and quality of Tamiya kits is sooooooooo satisfying. Peerless!

[@iainstirling1475]

You've got to love a Spitfire! Iconic.

[@ninianyule2113]

Great video! Well done for producing a succinct, no messing, no waffling review!

[@apenza4304]

Thank you for the clear and informative explanations during the building process, Bookmarked this video as a guide as I’d like to build one someday.

[@grahampalmer9337]

Tamiya Riko were always the 'dogs bollocks' of assembly kit manufacturers. And their larger scale models the best of all. My favourites were the Zundapp motorcycle & the Kübelwagon. Oh! And the Walther P38.

[@scarybaldguy]

I did this kit a few months ago and completely agree, it's fantastic.

[@williamr3840]

It looks like a real Spitfire! :0)

[@andrewbellavie795]

That looks like a great model kit, so satisfying when it all fits together

[@Getting-Older]

Nice kit, like the attention to detail.

[@MontyBird45]

Good grief! I never realized this kind of realism could be achieved with a model kit. Nicely done!

[@1972jaye]

As a Father and fulltime worker. Tamiya allow me to stay in the hobby. I dont wanna waste time making something align or fit. Awesome stuff

[@adamweaver6351]

At the very LEAST, tamiya has some of if not the best fitting molds on the market.

[@foreverplastickits138]

*Wonderful Spit', you did the best with this fabulous kit!*

[@-Markus-]

Sir, its not the kit that makes a model great, its the builder!

[@BAGHEAD1995]

Superb as always jason. What a kit!.

[@oceanvibesphotography8395]

Every nice quiet. Unique with the red prop

[@robertjohnkemp]

One tiny detail that I think adds something is to flatspot or press onto a hot surface the tyres where they are going to stand. Seeing a perfectly circular wheel on a standing plane always looks a bit weird. Beautiful work!

[@peterbellwood5412]

Not too much , though . Even just a few swipes with a sanding stick may be enough .

[@granthubick8684]

The appropriate tire patch and sidewall bulge add scale mass to the model.

[@roadweary5252]

I stopped modeling for a bit (armor) because I can’t weather for the life of me. I ruined several models trying many techniques so I became frustrated. Now I just build them and leave them as is and ill revisit them later on if my technique ever improves lol. You’re inspiring me to build by first aircraft.

[@mikemclennan8917]

Paint them, as normal, then leave them outside for a few years to weather naturally.

[@swaldron5558]

Simply after complete paints, playing war with German Bf 109, the weather & war scars will show.

[@AtheAetheling]

Some people just dont bother weathering. I only do a little bit myself. Dont let it discourage you!

[@peterdiepenthal4090]

Watching you lve learnt a great deal on how to do things thank you

[@kolditz9983]

Amazing!, absolutely realistic. Great job!

[@mschwage]

Are you British? And not a fan of the Spitfire? Shocking 😂. I'm American and i think it's one of the prettiest war planes ever. And this is a beautiful build.

[@xjrthirteen]

Top build mate and well explained techniques, thanks for sharing 👍

[@jefftuttle7890]

Awesome build and narrative as always. The finished model is spectacular. Always really enjoy your content and precise build instructions . I have just now gotten around to viewing this. Thanks for sharing and God Bless.

[@michaelnaven213]

That is one beautiful Spitfire.

[@royfernley3153]

Excellent work. Very enjoyable to watch with all the memories of struggling at the kitchen table with the latest Airfix model taking me down memory lane. So thank you for that, and congratulations on such a great build. Good job done well. .

[@andrewstamford1988]

Hi all. Not having made a kit in many, many, many years I want to get back into modelling. You chaps are so tempting with your cool videos. So many new things though to re-educate myself with when it was only a knife, glue, a brush and some tins of Humbrol paint. Being a kid and knowing the result, the joy was simply in making it than appreciating the final effort! So, could someone answer this please? Back then it was carefully dab the Britfix or Testors onto an edge and press together, with hopefully no excess. But with something like Tamiya extra thin where you can dab anywhere close to the edges and capillary action draws it into the gap, does that bit on the surface cause any sort of blemish... a raised spot or affect the surface in any other way? It looks simple enough but I really sweat this small stuff! Yep, you guessed it, I haven't tried it on a real kit yet. Every time I plan to buy a few cheaper, simple kits to practice on, my city goes into lockdown and everything closes down, rather regularly. Thanks guys.

[@josecesar5952]

Excellent work

[@chriskeller8262]

Tamiya has the best 1/48 aircraft kits you can an buy. They’re the only ones that I’ve been able to put together and not have to wrestle with fit issues or giant gaps in obvious places. Just top notch kits.

[@jeffleake1960]

I used to love making these models a few years back and got quite good at making and painting them .no where near your level tho . But there a great way of killing time on cold winters nights .watching you do this is making me want to buy some kits

[@WW2Wayfinder]

Great breakdown of the kit! Will be looking to add one of these to the stash now 😄

[@doublenickelbob]

Great build, nicely done, great commentary easy to follow along.

[@leedobson]

Lovely neat build mate

[@stevenpuderbaugh821]

I appreciate your (almost) OOB build of the kit, and the simplicity of painting the camouflage. Your video focuses on the basic build. People getting into the hobby should not be intimidated by your methods. Thank you for a great build and a superb paint job. I don't build for competition, and fine shading techniques are still beyond my ability. I'll settle for a plane with some weathering to appear a little used. I enjoyed your video and would like to know your name and location.

[@mschwage]

Gorgeous. Great video

[@vincentnoriega3353]

Nice job! Your videos are entertaining and informative. It's nice to see other modelers think very similar

[@lieschenmultikill5038]

This video is a awesome piece of work. I really appreciate your video and the time you have taken to share your skills with us. Looking forward to see more of you!

[@keithpaquet9181]

great narrative style, enjoy your video series.

[@johnbehneman1546]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. A TOTALLY AWSOME BUILD. AND A TOTALY AWSOME VIDEO. THANKS FOR SHARING!!!

[@simonbaker6962]

Ii had this one. The cockpit was pure art, the paint job was going very well. All I had to do was paint the green parts of the livery. Cat jumps onto my table and knocks this and another model onto the floor breaking both. I was more than miffed.

[@cygnus618]

And the cat is still alive?

[@mikes5637]

That would be a one way ticket to the nearest animal sanctuary for me.

[@brucewoods9377]

The reason I don’t have a cat as apet

[@yoshy4072]

I built these as a child, maybe 7-8 yrs old had many hanging from my bedroom ceiling. Don't know why I was attracted to WW2 planes. Then at 9 yrs old my dad passed away and later learned that dad was in the Canadian Navy aboard the HMCS Bonaventure as an aircraft mechanic. I wish I knew my dad....60 yrs of pain.

[@jackscotcher3099]

I'm 11 and starting building these alone without my dads help for a year now. Sorry for your loss.

[@rafaelj.benero4880]

The new Tamiya 1/48 P-38 Lightning kit is another excellent kit! I've done both, the Spitfire and the Lightning and they a just superb!...

[@georgiosrigas8094]

Great work!

[@dkproductions3130]

Amazing work, keep up the great work

[@colmanian]

Fantastic! Just the inspiration I needed to crack on with this model :)

[@montinaladine3264]

Awesome video - thanks for that. Really enjoyed it from start to finish, video quality and filmography and the narration was spot as well

[@stumpusMaximus]

When I built my first AIRFIX models in the 60s as a child, I used a hot needle and (lighter supervised of course) and burned holes in the cockpit/wings to simulate bullet holes! Then I had them hung from a painted ceiling to simulate BoB. I even had AIRFIX waterline models of the Hood and Bismarck on my bedroom windowsill. Painted to simulate the rough sea. It’s funny that I’m now 60 on Sun and I’m a creative,DIY person all my life. Inc fixing the car(s) we had and making playgrounds for our budgies.

[@ASFMitchelProductions]

I constructed 2 Spitfire balsa wood models when I was young.

[@johnevans59]

Bewdy mate...nice job....enjoyable to watch and hear your commentary.....👍👍

[@bibblebob]

It’s an amazing kit in terms of engineering - I’m yet to find anything else with a wing root fit so perfect. However, I think the Eduard Spitfire MK I blows it out if the water in terms of surface detail. Throw in better photo etch, better masks, and better decals while you’re at it and you’ve got an overall better kit… just one you have to work harder for

[@hynol]

Yep - Eduard details are as good as it is possible. But it also requires quite precise airbrushing to keep them visible. So it may not be the best kit for beginner or intermediate level modeler. Also sometimes Eduard engineering is really bad - like exhausts on Spitfire. But generally - yes - if I have to chose, Eduard is my primary company.

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Well done. Great tips and techniques.

[@rogerpritchard]

Happy landings, thanks for sharing this with us.

[@neilhaas6024]

I enjoyed this video of the spitfire mk.1 nice kit aircraft.

[@gregperra2007]

Always enjoy your builds very nice work

[@nielsferwerda7561]

Fantastic build

[@rebelscumspeedshop8677]

I have been building since I was 5. I have lost count of the kits that I have built but both the old and new tooled 1\48 Tamiya spitfires are brilliant .

[@THROTTLEPOWER]

Great build!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍

[@vmoney9106]

Coming from building mostly 1/48 Hasegawa kits, the the Tamiya Ki-61 Tony and A6M3 Zero were excellent kits as well. These latest batch of Tamiya kits truly are the bees knees, and I wish other manufacturers would attempt to meet their standards.

[@wonderbreadmodelsandhistor1566]

Wow!!! Looks great!!! Not weathering too much is NOT an issue IMHO. Most builders today over weather...i think it goes in trends. This one is perfect...one of the nicest Spit builds ive seen imho.

[@supercededman]

Spot on. Some of the weathering I've seen has bordered on comical.

[@jackjufer9776]

Very nice build. Next on my list for kits. Cheers

[@Deceter]

I really enjoy your style of presentation.