
Just released in Sept 2004 this is a representation of the Supermarine Spitfire / Seafire airframe. It has been developed to capture the fine lines of R J Mitchell’s design using both brass and hardwood.
The airframe is supplied in flat pack kit form for home assembly
and easy postal delivery. Anyone who remembers balsa wood models
(i.e. pre plastic days) will recognise the method of construction
with the exception that the flat parts are already accurately
machined from 1.5mm brass sheet. They are self-jigging and snap
together to ease assembly.
The stand has a fully pre machined locking ball joint mechanism used to adjust attitude and show the skeletal airframe off to it’s best.
The main time input from the builder is in the cleaning up and polishing of the parts. This process can be quite therapeutic and rewarding, transforming dull and lifeless metal into a thing of beauty. It will appeal to anyone who appreciates considered detail. For example the outer brown packaging is secured with string reminiscent of the wartime gas mask boxes. The inner box is very understated using period matt colours and typesets. (Very different from the ‘norm’ i.e. glossy images of planes being shot down in flames.) The comprehensive instruction booklet follows the style of the original Spitfire manual.
The stand has a fully pre machined locking ball joint mechanism
used to adjust attitude and show the skeletal airframe off to
it’s best.
The quality and sculptural elegance of this desktop model is truly
outstanding giving it wide appeal to both sexes. Each model is
individually numbered to make it a unique and nostalgic gift that
will surely become an antique of the future.