Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb (USAAF)

Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile  336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942 – in 1/48th scale. This is the Airfix Mk Vb kit with resin exhausts and PE seat belts. The markings are Montex masks – and great things they are too!
The kit is no Tamiya, but it’s a massive improvement on the previous MkV. I think Airfix have nailed the shape and form and I love all the extra bits and 2 versions of the windscreen.

This model was a bit of an experiment really. As well as using paint masks for the markings for first time, I was testing Xtracrylix paints from Hannants. I think the colours are spot on (not that you can tell from the images) and better than Tamiya’s Ocean Grey/Dark Green, but the paint seemed a bit ‘plastic’ and my normal chipping process ended up being more a case of ‘peeling’ more paint off then was desired. As you can see, the wing root is rather over done. I think I messed up on the starboard fuselage markings too – I think the MD and T should be the other way around. And there are other mistakes. Anyway, calling it done.

Manufacturer

Airfix

Scale

1/48

Links

Scalemates – Spitfire Mk.Vb Airfix kit No. A05125

Black & White Images

(click on images to enlarge)

Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942

Colour Images

Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942

Unedited Images

Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942
Spitfire Mk.Vb BL255 flown by Don Gentile 336th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, USAAF at Debden August 1942