Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I Build Review: Recreating N3200
TL;DR: The Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I is an exceptionally well-engineered aircraft model kit with excellent fit, clever undercarriage alignment, cockpit detail, photo-etched parts and canopy masks. I built mine as N3200 of No. 19 Squadron RAF during Operation Dynamo, using SMS paints and the kit-supplied decals.
The Spitfire was designed by Reginald Mitchell, Chief Designer of Supermarine Aviation Works in Southampton, England, to meet a 1934 Air Ministry requirement for a new fighter.
The prototype first flew in March 1936. Mitchell lived long enough to see his design take flight before he died of cancer in 1937.
Alongside the Hawker Hurricane, the Spitfire fought during the Battle of Britain and went on to serve in every major theatre of the Second World War. Its elliptical wings, Rolls-Royce Merlin engine and elegant lines helped make it one of the most recognisable aircraft ever built.
Ready to build your own Spitfire? Shop the Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I at Hobbyco.
Choosing Spitfire N3200
I chose Scheme C from the Tamiya Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I kit, item 61119.
This scheme represents aircraft N3200 of No. 19 Squadron RAF, based at Duxford and flown by Squadron Leader Geoffrey Stephenson during Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk.
N3200 was shot down on 26 May 1940 and ditched on Sangatte Beach near Calais. It was recovered from the sand in 1986 and meticulously restored to flying condition, returning to the air in 2014. Today, it remains the only airworthy aircraft owned by the Imperial War Museum.
You can read more about the remarkable recovery and restoration of Spitfire N3200 through the Imperial War Museum.
Painting the Spitfire Cockpit
I started the build by airbrushing the fuselage interior between the instrument panel and seat-support frame in British Interior Green. The remaining internal fuselage surfaces were painted aluminium.
Smaller details were picked out by brush according to the instructions. The pilot’s breathing oxygen bottle behind the seat on the right-hand side was painted black, while the two nitrogen bottles for the machine guns’ pneumatic firing system on the left were painted grey.
The Tamiya kit provides plenty of cockpit detail, including photo-etched parts for the seatbelts, sight and other components. Much of this remains visible through the open canopy, so the time spent painting the interior is worthwhile.
Painting the Pilot Figure
I chose to include the supplied seated pilot figure.
His service tunic was painted RAF blue, his life jacket mustard yellow and his seatbelts buff. The face and hands were painted with Citadel Colour paints using thin coats of:
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Bugman’s Glow
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Cadian Fleshtone
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Reikland Fleshshade
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Kislev Flesh
Working through several thin layers helped create more natural variation across the face and hands.
Once the pilot was positioned in his seat, the fuselage halves could be glued together and the build moved on to the external airframe.
Assembling the Wings and Airframe
The wheel wells are made from relatively few parts and fit together cleanly.
The kit’s wings are very cleverly designed. The main undercarriage struts are joined by a single internal piece, ensuring that their angles and alignment are both strong and correct.
Likewise, the horizontal stabilisers, elevators and rudder fit wonderfully well. Tamiya’s engineering removes much of the guesswork from aligning these important parts.
This is one of the kit’s greatest strengths. The airframe comes together accurately without requiring complicated adjustments or extensive filling.
Masking the Canopy
Tamiya supplies a pre-marked masking sheet for the canopy and windscreen. The shapes are printed onto the masking material and need to be carefully cut out with a fresh blade.
Once cut, the masks fit very well.
I chose to display the canopy open. However, I found that the closed-canopy part could be temporarily fitted during painting, effectively acting as a mask for the cockpit opening.
This made painting the surrounding fuselage much easier while protecting the completed cockpit and pilot.
Need masking tape, blades, glue or other modelling essentials? Browse hobby supplies at Hobbyco.
Painting the RAF Dark Earth and Dark Green Camouflage
The kit instructions recommend mixing five parts Tamiya XF-52 Flat Earth with one part XF-49 Khaki to represent RAF Dark Earth BS381C:350.
For RAF Dark Green BS381C:241, the instructions recommend five parts XF-62 Olive Drab mixed with one part XF-61 Dark Green.
I chose to paint my model with SMS Dark Earth and Forest Green because I already had them on hand.
After painting the entire aircraft Dark Earth, I applied a Top Notch Spitfire Mk.I “B” scheme camouflage mask. This allowed me to airbrush the Forest Green areas while keeping the camouflage pattern sharp and consistent.
Once the brown and green camouflage was complete, I masked the upper surfaces and moved on to the underside.
Painting the Black, White and Aluminium Underside
I first painted the entire underside with SMS Camo Black. This created a dark base for the following coat of SMS Metallic Aluminium and helped give the metallic finish the correct shine.
On 27 April 1939, RAF Fighter Command issued instructions for fighters to carry a black underside beneath the port wing and white beneath the starboard wing. This high-contrast scheme was intended to help ground observers identify friendly aircraft.
N3200 carried this distinctive underside scheme during Operation Dynamo. On 6 June 1940, shortly after the aircraft was lost, Fighter Command ordered the change to Sky Type S undersides.
After painting the starboard wing white, I removed the masking tape to reveal the completed black, white and aluminium finish.
Fitting the Undercarriage and Applying Decals
With the main painting complete, I fitted the more fragile parts that had been painted earlier:
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Undercarriage
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Wheels
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Undercarriage doors
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Other small external details
Leaving these parts off until the main painting was finished reduced the chance of damaging them while masking or handling the model.
Once everything was in place, I applied the kit-supplied aircraft markings and stencils.
Tamiya Mark Fit greatly helps with this process. It softens the decals so they can conform more closely to panel lines, curves and other surface details.
Once the decal was correctly positioned, I applied Mark Fit and left it alone to dry. Touching a softened decal can easily damage it, so patience is important.
Painting and Weathering the Exhausts
I left the engine exhausts off the model until the final stages.
The exhausts were first painted in an exhaust-manifold colour, followed by burnt iron in the shadowed areas.
The real exhausts were made from Inconel, so they did not simply rust like ordinary steel. However, repeated exposure to heat caused them to discolour.
To represent this, I applied red-brown with a hint of yellow, followed by a wash of rust tones. I then wiped most of the wash away, leaving colour in the deeper areas.
Finally, I rubbed a dust-coloured oil paint over the exhausts with my finger and wiped it back, leaving a subtle smear in the recesses.
Once fitted to each side of the engine cowling, I lightly dry-brushed soot pigment behind the exhausts and along the fuselage.
Adding the Final Details
The final stage was fitting the upper identification light and adding the radio antenna.
I used elastic cord to run the antenna from the tip of the fin to the TR.9D radio mast and then down towards the fuselage.
Elastic cord works particularly well for aircraft antennae because it remains under tension and is less likely to sag or break if accidentally touched.
With these final details in place, the Spitfire was complete.
Paints and Finishing Products Used
SMS paints
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British Interior Green
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Exhaust Manifold
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Burnt Iron
Tamiya paints and other tools
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XF-49 Khaki
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XF-52 Flat Earth
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XF-61 Dark Green
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Tamiya masking material supplied with the kit
Citadel Colour paints
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Bugman’s Glow
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Cadian Fleshtone
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Reikland Fleshshade
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Kislev Flesh
Other finishing materials
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Top Notch Spitfire Mk.I “B” scheme mask
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Red-brown and yellow paint for heat staining
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Rust-tone wash
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Dust-tone oil paint
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Soot pigment
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Elastic modelling cord
You can also explore the complete Tamiya range at Hobbyco for model kits, paints, tools and finishing supplies.
Key Takeaways
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The Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I is exceptionally well engineered.
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The integrated undercarriage assembly helps achieve the correct alignment.
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The kit includes a detailed seated pilot figure, photo-etched parts and canopy masks.
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The closed-canopy part can be temporarily used to protect the cockpit during painting.
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Leaving the undercarriage and other fragile parts off until after painting reduces the chance of damage.
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A camouflage mask makes the RAF Dark Earth and Dark Green pattern easier to reproduce.
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Tamiya Mark Fit helps the decals conform to curves and surface details.
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Layered colours and pigments can create convincing heat staining on the exhausts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I suitable for beginners?
The kit is very well engineered and fits together cleanly, making construction relatively straightforward. However, the camouflage masking, photo-etched parts and detailed painting make it better suited to modellers with some previous experience.
A patient beginner could still achieve an excellent result by carefully following the instructions.
Does the Tamiya Spitfire kit include a pilot?
Yes. The kit includes a detailed seated pilot figure with appropriate uniform and equipment.
Are canopy masks included?
Yes. Tamiya supplies a pre-marked masking sheet for the canopy and windscreen. The modeller must cut the individual mask shapes out before applying them.
Does the kit include photo-etched parts?
Yes. Photo-etched parts are included for details such as the seatbelts, gunsight and radiator mesh.
Which marking options are included?
The kit includes three marking options, including Spitfires associated with the Battle of Britain and Operation Dynamo. I selected Scheme C for aircraft N3200 of No. 19 Squadron RAF.
Does the Tamiya 1/48 Spitfire require paint and glue?
Yes. This is a plastic model assembly kit. Paint, glue and modelling tools are required and sold separately.
What paints were used for this build?
I used SMS Dark Earth and Forest Green for the upper camouflage, with Camo Black, white and Metallic Aluminium across the underside. Interior and smaller details were completed using a combination of SMS, Tamiya and Citadel paints.
Where can I buy the Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I in Australia?
The Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I is available from Hobbyco, online and through selected Hobbyco stores.
Final Thoughts
The Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I is widely regarded as one of the best Spitfire model kits available.
It includes canopy and windscreen masks, photo-etched details, a seated pilot figure and three marking options. The clever design of the undercarriage and flying surfaces also makes it much easier to achieve strong and accurate alignment.
The kit builds into a great-looking representation of what I regard as one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made.
For more model kit tips and tricks, follow my Facebook page. Want to add this iconic RAF fighter to your collection? Shop the Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I at Hobbyco.
