{"product_id":"hasegawa-plastic-model-kit-hasegawa-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb-st2-1-32","title":"Hasegawa Plastic Model Kit Hasegawa Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb ST2 — 1:32","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHasegawa is a major Japanese scale-model manufacturer, particularly renowned for aircraft kits. The company has produced numerous large-scale aircraft subjects, including several versions of the Spitfire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKit 08052\/ST2 belongs to Hasegawa's long-running 1:32 Spitfire family. The same basic tooling has appeared under several Hasegawa catalogue numbers and boxings over the years. The 08052 version is specifically identified as the Spitfire Mk.Vb.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an older-generation Hasegawa 1:32 kit. Its tooling has considerable historical interest among large-scale aircraft modellers; one experienced modeller described building the Hasegawa 1:32 Spitfire Mk.Vb as far back as 1976, illustrating how long this tooling family has been part of the modelling scene.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit provides the major components required to construct a 1:32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Fuselage halves\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cockpit interior\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Pilot's seat\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Instrument panel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cockpit sidewall details\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Control column and cockpit fittings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Merlin engine representation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engine\/cowling components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Propeller\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Main wings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Lower wing structure\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tailplanes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Rudder\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Main landing gear\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Tailwheel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Wheel-well components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Radiator and oil-cooler components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Exhausts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Clear canopy components\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Machine-gun\/cannon armament details\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    External stores appropriate to the boxing\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Decals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Assembly instructions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit is conventional injection-moulded plastic and requires modelling cement, paints and finishing materials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Large Scale Planes database confirms that 08052 is injection moulded and 1:32 scale.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe full-size Supermarine Spitfire\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Supermarine Spitfire was one of Britain's most important fighter aircraft of the Second World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDesigned by Reginald J. Mitchell and his team at Supermarine, the Spitfire evolved from a series of racing seaplanes and high-performance fighters developed during the 1920s and 1930s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe prototype Spitfire, K5054, first flew on 5 March 1936.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts combination of an advanced elliptical wing, lightweight construction and powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engine gave it excellent performance and made it one of the most recognisable aircraft in aviation history.\n\u003cbr\u003eDevelopment of the Mk.V\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spitfire Mk.V was developed as an interim solution while more powerful versions of the Spitfire were being developed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.V essentially combined the Mk.II airframe with the more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 and related engines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis allowed production to continue while Supermarine developed later variants such as the Mk.VI, Mk.VII and Mk.IX.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.V entered service in 1941 and became one of the most numerous Spitfire variants.\n\u003cbr\u003eSpitfire Mk.Vb\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.Vb was one of the principal Mk.V variants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIts \"b\" wing incorporated the Type B armament arrangement, normally consisting of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    2 × 20 mm Hispano cannon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    4 × .303-inch Browning machine guns\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis represented a substantial improvement over the earlier eight-gun arrangement and provided the Spitfire with significantly greater hitting power against fighters, bombers and ground targets.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe Merlin engine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.Vb was primarily powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin 45, a 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled V-12 engine producing approximately 1,440 hp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLater Mk.V aircraft used other Merlin variants, including the Merlin 46 and Merlin 50 series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Merlin's compact dimensions and high power-to-weight ratio were fundamental to the Spitfire's performance.\n\u003cbr\u003ePerformance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRepresentative Spitfire Mk.Vb specifications include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Crew: 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Engine: Rolls-Royce Merlin 45\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Power: approximately 1,440 hp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Maximum speed: approximately 370 mph \/ 595 km\/h\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Service ceiling: approximately 36,500 ft \/ 11,125 m\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Range: approximately 470 miles \/ 756 km, depending on configuration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in \/ 11.23 m\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Length: approximately 29 ft 11 in \/ 9.12 m\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Armament: 2 × 20 mm cannon and 4 × .303-in machine guns\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePerformance varied between individual aircraft, engine versions, altitude and external equipment.\n\u003cbr\u003eCombat history\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.V entered service at a critical point in the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBy 1941, the Luftwaffe had introduced the Messerschmitt Bf 109F, which was faster and more advanced than earlier Bf 109 variants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spitfire Mk.V was therefore developed partly to restore the RAF's fighter performance against the latest German aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.V became heavily involved in operations over Britain, France, the Mediterranean and North Africa.\n\u003cbr\u003eNorth Africa and the Mediterranean\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLarge numbers of Mk.Vs served in the Mediterranean theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft operated from Malta, North Africa and other bases, where it fought German and Italian aircraft and provided fighter protection for Allied operations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe tropicalised Mk.V had additional equipment to cope with the harsh conditions of North Africa and the Mediterranean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spitfire's presence on Malta became particularly important during the Axis siege of the island.\n\u003cbr\u003eMalta\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpitfires were among the principal fighters defending Malta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMk.V aircraft were flown against German and Italian forces attacking the island and its shipping routes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe island's Spitfires were supplied by aircraft carriers and other means, creating the famous reinforcement operations that kept Malta's fighter force operational.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.V therefore has an especially strong association with the aerial defence of Malta in 1942.\n\u003cbr\u003eEastern Front\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA number of Spitfire Mk.V aircraft were supplied to the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSoviet pilots operated the aircraft on the Eastern Front, where it was used primarily as a fighter and interceptor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese aircraft were generally Mk.Vb examples, giving the type a surprisingly broad international combat history.\n\u003cbr\u003ePacific and Far East\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSpitfire Mk.Vs also served in the Far East.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBritish and Commonwealth forces encountered Japanese aircraft in Burma and other areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe tropical environment presented major challenges for the Spitfire, including engine cooling and logistical difficulties, but the aircraft nevertheless provided an important modern fighter capability.\n\u003cbr\u003eFighter-bomber operations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.V was increasingly used in the fighter-bomber role.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft could carry bombs beneath the wings and was used for attacks against:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Vehicles\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Railways\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Airfields\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Supply dumps\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Troop concentrations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Shipping\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThese aircraft were sometimes referred to as \"bomb Spitfires\" or fighter-bombers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of cannon armament and external bombs made the Mk.Vb considerably more versatile than a pure air-superiority fighter.\n\u003cbr\u003eReplacement by the Mk.IX\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe appearance of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A created a serious performance challenge for the Mk.V.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe RAF responded by rapidly developing the Spitfire Mk.IX, which used the more powerful Merlin 61 with a two-stage, two-speed supercharger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.IX restored the Spitfire's performance advantage against the Fw 190 and later Bf 109 variants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDespite this, the Mk.V remained in extensive service because of the enormous number produced and the time required to replace the fleet.\n\u003cbr\u003eProduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Spitfire Mk.V was produced in very large numbers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 6,000 Mk.V aircraft were constructed, making it one of the most numerous Spitfire variants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eProduction involved Supermarine as well as several shadow factories and other manufacturers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe type's extensive production and long service life explain why the Mk.V appeared in so many theatres and national markings.\n\u003cbr\u003eHistorical significance\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Mk.Vb represents a particularly important stage in Spitfire development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt was effectively the aircraft that carried the Spitfire through the transition from the early-war Battle of Britain era into the much broader global air war of 1941–43.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt served against German, Italian and Japanese aircraft and was operated by numerous Allied air forces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe combination of the Merlin engine, elliptical wing and Type B armament made the Mk.Vb one of the classic configurations of the Spitfire.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hasagawa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57504170180988,"sku":"Hasagawa-08052","price":27.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0432\/8584\/0033\/files\/11C4CC1E-F873-43D7-BA01-6C1E88FBA907.jpg?v=1790402576","url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/hasegawa-plastic-model-kit-hasegawa-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vb-st2-1-32","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}