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KoTare Spitfire Mk.I (Mid) / Spitfire Mk.I 1:32 – Dave C Build

January 25, 2024 By Francis Porter

KoTare Spitfire Mk.I (Mid) / Spitfire Mk.I 1:32
Full Review with Dave Coward

As you may have seen, this is SMN’s second build of the impressive KoTare Supermarine Spitfire – the first is by Rob R and you can find his full build here.

In the meantime, here’s a quick look at how Dave C’s double-build turned out (more info below)…

Background

KoTare is a new company based in New Zealand but it has it’s roots in Wingnut Wings (WW) which unfortunately went out of business 2020. Whereas WW specialised in WWI subjects KoTare has chosen to venture into WWII for its first model with a series of Spitfires of various variants. The initial release is the Mk.I covering the mid variant and even within this there are various sub-variants which are covered in the initial release. The second release is a one off that covers a specific aircraft, namely that flown by the Battle of Britain ace, Sqn Ldr Brain Lane.

Further releases will be an early Mk.I and a Mk.V in the future with possibly a Mk.II. They have also announced a different aircraft as their next subject but we’ll have to wait on what that will be as it has not been revealed as of Jan 24 (now known to be a late-mark Messerschmitt Bf 109 – GC).

This review bill will be a double build of their two initial releases:

KoTare Spitfire Mk.Ia (mid)

High quality injection moulded plastic scale model kits et requiring assembly and paint – 117 high-quality injection moulded plastic parts – 35cm wingspan – Optional De Havilland and Rotol propellers – Optional TR.9D and TR.1133 wireless controllers and aerials – Optional pilot’s seats with and without Sutton Type K harness detail – Optional open and closed cockpit doors – Optional open and closed canopy & hood – 28 page fully illustrated instruction manual – Hand pump undercarriage retraction and wheel well jack detail – Wheels with weighted tyres featuring correct alignment – High quality Cartograf decals with 3 mid-production Spitfire Mk.Ia colour schemes.

  • Spitfire Mk.Ia N3180 KL-B Kiwi, 54 Squadron, May 1940
  • Spitfire Mk.Ia N3277 AZ-H Dirty Dick, 234 Squadron, August 1940
  • Spitfire Mk.Ia P9495 DW-K, 610 Squadron, June & July 1940.

KoTare Spitfire Mk.Ia ‘Brian Lane’

117 high-quality injection moulded plastic parts – 35cm wingspan – Optional pilot’s seats with and without Sutton Type K harness detail – Optional open and closed cockpit doors – Optional open and closed canopy & hood – 24 page fully illustrated instruction manual – Hand pump undercarriage retraction and wheel well jack detail – Wheels with weighted tyres featuring correct alignment – High quality Cartograf decals for Brian Lane’s 19 Squadron Spitfire Mk.Ia P9386 QV-K from September 1940 – High quality 1/32 (54mm) 4 part resin RAF pilot figure sculpted by Mike Good is included exclusively with this model.

Spitfire Mk.Ia P9386 QV-K, 19 Squadron, September 1940
The plan for this build is to build both the initial release and the Brian Lane release in parallel. This will give me the option to build an early version of the Mid production series and a later version (Brian Lane’s aircraft). The early build will be Al Deere’s aircraft Mk.Ia N3180 K-LB ‘KIWI’ of 54 Sqn in May 1940 and Brian Lane’s aircraft will be Mk.Ia P9386 QV-K of 19 Sqn in September 1940.

I will try and keep the early aircraft build as much from the box as I can with the exception of some seat belts but I will use aftermarket for the Brain Lane build. What I use is listed below.

References used:

My main source books are primarily the Wingleader Reference books 1 and 26 cover the Mk.I and MK.II Spitfires.


I also have used a variety of other reference books and material I own.

On an aside… Brain Lane wrote a book about his experiences during the battle of Britain called ‘Spitfire’ that I highly recommend.

Aftermarket Extras:

Mid Production build:

  • Eduard Seatbelts ED33350
  • 1ManArmy Mask set 32DET021

Brian Lane build:

  • HGW Seatbelts
  • 1ManArmy Mask set 32DET013
  • Eduard Interior 33349
  • Eduard Brassin Wheels 632195
  • Eduard Brassin Exhausts632196
  • Montex Masks 32022.

Construction…

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