1/24 Airfix Spitfire Mk Ia: The Unboxing

Let's take a look at what's inside the original 1970 boxing of the Airfix Spitfire Mk Ia. My example has been sitting untouched on an attic shelf for 30 years. Now I'm pulling it down and cracking it open to start a new build.

Note that most (all?) museum specimens of Spitfire Mk Is have been modified fairly extensively and do not precisely represent 1940 ca. standard. For example, metal ailerons, exhaust stacks, undercarriage retraction mechanisms and so on...

[chrishay]

Aw the memories! I used to stand and stare at those massive airfix kits they were supr expensive for the time and I never got to build any of them, I had to settle for the one in the little bags, what a splendid thing to have stashed away

[timorvet]

There's a small company here in Australia who 3D print the undercarriage bays which are missing on this kit.

[timorvet]

Buchon Scale Models (BSM) is another company who produces lovely five spoked wheels for the 1/24 Spitfire Mk I and in my mind the best detailed ones as well.

[greybeardmodels]

Wow! Lucky to have in the stash for 30 years! Good luck with the build, with some work it will be ok. Cheers Bob 👍

[rayfraser]

I have just purchased this kit and bought the Air Scale PE MK 1Control panel as I have an ambitious plan to attempt to build this kit up to a standard of the new Airfix MK IX. So I have found you at just the right time !
If you intend on designing and 3D Printing anything at all for this kit would you be prepared to sell and provide detailed parts for purchase ? I will buy whatever you produce !

[PiperStart]

This was an absolutely brilliant kit at the time, and I saved up my paper-round money and bought it. I even motorized it. Airfix are once again making good kits, and I keep on the watch for the latest tooling.

[AussieGunzel]

I picked up this kit as a vintage classic, fun model to produce.

Great video. Very nice unboxing. I have this set as well. Greetings, Aleš 🙂👍

[stephenrose]

Memory lane, I was ten. I never built this but my friend Tim did(with his Dad) . I built the Hurricane, Mustang and BF 109.
Hard to imagine now what an enormous step change this kit was for 1970.

[lauriepocock]

My grandsons gave me this model a few years ago. It had bits added so you could make an mkV. I had made the Hurricane back in the 1970s and it seemed to me the plastic was very different. My Spit was all very spongey so the detail was not as sharp as on yours. Certainly, the Hurricane engine is better. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable kit to build, and I did try to add some internal detail. Its a pity Airfix don't look at modifying the mould tools, there is a lot of detail that could be added and it's all metal off.