Squadron Signal Walk Around publications have a long history of high quality and accuracy in detail. This new addition to that line of books is no exception. This particular product focuses on the land-based Spitfires equipped with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, including the Mark I, Vb, and IXc variants. Displayed in extensive detail are the external and internal workings of the aircraft that played a key role in Britain's defense.

This publication is a scale modeler’s delight. Included in the 80 pages within the book are scale drawings, b&w images from WWII, and many color images of museum aircraft. It is the latter than intrigued me as a modeler. As an example, please refer to the image labeled Sample picture 1 and check out the caption. I often articulate the rudder on the Spitfires that I build and I now know that the deflection angle should not exceed a specified number of degrees. That’s good to know!

As modelers, we want to get the details right, and the cockpit of any aircraft usually draws much attention. In a Spitfire, the seat becomes an attention-magnet and this publication obliges with a great set of images showing the cockpit access hatch opened, various pictures of the instrumentation, and a set of images showing the pilot’s seat. The colors are evident, the details are clearly shown, and the images cannot fail to add to one’s ability to assemble a stunning cockpit.

This publication will provide the modeler with an excellent reference and guide when building the I, Vb and IXc Merlin variant Spitfire.

What’s Out There?

There are a number of Spitfire I, Vb, and IXc models in 1/72nd, 1/48th, 1/32nd and 1/24th scales. The list below is not an exhaustive list of available kits, but it serves to show that there are many options with a variety of kit manufacturers putting Merlin variants in the marketplace.

• Tamiya 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I
• Tamiya 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I
• Airfix 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I/Mk.IIa
• Pegasus 1/48th Spitfire Mk. I
• Revell of Germany 1/72nd Spitfire Mk.Vb
• Smer 1/72nd High Tech Spitfire Mk Vb
• Airfix 1/48th Spitfire Mk.Vb
• Hasegawa 1/48th Spitfire Mk.Vb
• Hobby Boss 1/72nd Spitfire Mk.Vb
• Trumpeter 1/24th Spitfire Mk.Vb
• Hasegawa 1/48th Spitfire Mk IXc
• Tamiya 1/32nd Spitfire Mk IXc
• Eduard 1/48th Spitfire Mk IXc

Thanks to MMD Squadron for providing this publication for review and IPMS/USA for the review opportunity. This publication is highly recommended!