Full Review with Rob Ruscoe
A note from Geoff C…
I’m really pleased to say that we have two builds of this impressive new kit from KoTare on the way – this one from Rob R gives a great insight to the kit and what’s on offer. To be followed very soon by another build from Dave C – so keep a close eye out for that in Aircraft-Build Now and of course when it’s complete, Aircraft-Finished Now as usual. Thanks both for a great couple of contributions…
Here’s a quick look at how Rob R’s project turned out…
Over to you Rob…
It is almost three years ago now that Wingnut Wings ceased production – seemingly without warning. This was due to the owner, the film producer Peter Jackson, pulling the plug and leaving the expert team he had gathered, unemployed. I think every modeller who has ever built a WW kit was devastated at this news as the quality of these models set a standard for First World War aircraft subjects that will be difficult to surpass. This is reflected in the second hand prices commanded for these kit sets. Of course, the crowning glory for WW was to be the 32nd scale Lancaster which Border Models now produce for a price tag a lot higher than WW ever envisaged!
The main man behind Wingnut’s success, Richard Alexander, was determined to carry on the WW ethos and with a new proprietor, Mark Robson, formed KoTARE Models. It was at Scale Model World at Telford in 2022 that I saw, with great pleasure, KoTARE unveil their first model – a Spitfire. Oh heck, I thought, not another Spitfire! The market surely couldn’t support another one; particularly as Airfix were displaying their 24th scale Mk.IX at the same time. After fighting my way through the crowd gathered around the stand, I finally got to inspect the mouldings for this latest example of Supermarine’s finest and……………wow! I realised that this model was going to be something special for both expert and inexperienced modellers. Richard had promised that this is what he wanted to achieve and, believe me, he and his team have achieved this without doubt.
This Mk.1 (mid) has also been produced by KoTARE, as a late production aircraft and, more recently, by an early example with the original Watts two bladed prop. There is also a special Mk.Ia dedicated to Battle of Britain pilot Brian Lane, which includes a very nice resin figure.
At the time of writing, KoTARE are working on a Mk.V Spit whilst keeping us on tenterhooks with their ‘not a Spitfire’ project to be announced soon.
The Kit
I bought this kit quite a while ago but, due to other projects, it had remained on the back burner. It was at Scale Model World 2023 that Dave Coward had brought his completed Brian Lane Mk.Ia for display on the SMN stand. This model was up to Dave’s usual impeccable standard and seeing this, inspired me to bring my own build forward.
The substantial box has some lovely artwork by Darryl Legg of Fg Off Alan Deere flying ‘Kiwi’ N3180 over the Dunkirk beaches on the 28th May 1940. It was on this sortie that Deere’s aircraft was damaged, forcing him to crash land on part of the beach without injury. Deere was returned to England aboard a Royal Navy Destroyer to continue the fight. The remains of N3180 however, were much photographed by the Germans and some of these pictures are reproduced in the kit. Luckily Deere had managed to set the cockpit on fire after landing which meant the experimental VHF radio fitted to this aircraft along with the, then secret, IFF equipment, was destroyed. Deere finished the war as a Wing Commander with 22 confirmed victories and then continued to serve in the RAF until retiring as an Air Commodore in 1967. He died, aged 77, in 1995. His autobiography, ‘Nine Lives’ written in 1959, is a modern classic.
Just looking at the box reminded me of a Wingnut product and, on opening, one glance at the instructions confirmed this. It is actually unfair to call them instructions; they are really a meticulously researched set of histories of the aircraft and the three options provided – with a beautifully detailed, colour assembly sequence. There are a total of forty photographs of the aircraft which include close up details to aid modellers at various stages of the build. Inside of the front cover of the booklet there is a comprehensive colour chart for both Tamiya and Humbrol paints and also includes the FS references which are very useful if using other paint brands. There are four large sprues of styrene which does not seem a lot for a model of this size. This is part of the KoTARE ethos which is to keep the parts count to a reasonable level. This means that a great deal of detail, particularly in the cockpit, is actually moulded in rather than consisting of numerous small parts. This does not compromise the quality of the detail at all. This philosophy could mean detail painting is made more difficult but this was found to be not the case. Any details which did need delicate painting, KoTARE have provided as a separate part. It is obvious a lot of thought has gone into the design of this model. There is a separate transparent sprue and a comprehensive decal sheet for the three options. As with Wingnut Wings, KoTARE have relied on Cartograf to produce their decals.
The three options are:
The choice as to which option will need to be decided before the start of the build because of the slight differences in equipment for each one. These differences are made clear throughout the assembly sequence. I chose option A.