Item: 1/32 1/32 Spitfire Mk. II Horizontal Tail Surfaces

As modelers we see our fair share of complex aftermarket sets for various kits. Some new kits are a veritable cornucopia of resin and photo-etch detail right out of the box. While sometimes, all that complexity can be rewarding, often, just the simplest enhancement can make a great deal of difference. The latest offering from Master Details embraces that “less is more” philosophy.

Capitalizing on the emergence of 1/32nd as a more and more popular scale, Master Details continues their long line of product offerings in that scale with a set of horizontal stabilizers for the Hasegawa/Revell Spitfire Mk. II. Many would agree that the Spitfire should be a staple in any collection of WWII aircraft, and yet it has been somewhat neglected so far in 1/32. Most of the kits are several decades old. While Pacific Coast has introduced a line of late model Spitfires, the most accurate kit of the Battle of Britain-era Mk. I and IIs remains the Hasegawa kit, also released by Revell. As presented in the box, this kit is really a hybrid matching newly tooled wings with the older fuselage from their Mk. V kit originally released decades ago. The result is an awkward combination of recessed panel lines on the new wings with raised detail on the rest of the airframe. tail pieces

While the fuselage is not that difficult a proposition to re-scribe, the tail surfaces have a number of curved lines which would pose a greater challenge. The Master Details parts take care of this nettlesome chore by incorporating finely scribe lines where appropriate. The best feature is that the elevators are separated allowing the modeler to depict the drooped posture of these items commonly seen in period photographs.

The finish of the parts is up to Master Details’ usual high standard with minimal flash. Even better, there are no casting blocks! All that is required is to remove a few nubs on the leading edges of the parts. A sharp knife and a few swipes with a sanding stick will accomplish this task in minutes.

The fit of the parts to the kit fuselage is flawless. My sample clicked into place in perfect alignment without any glue. As the join appears to be on a natural panel line, no sanding or filling will be required. tail assembled

All in all, this is just the kind of simple, affordable enhancement that is appealing to me more and more these days. Anyone seeking to build this kit should definitely consider this set. Just remember to modify the control stick to match the drooped elevators!

Highly Recommended

Thanks to Master Details for the review sample.
For more information or to order, visit at http://www.masterdetailsfromusa.com.