1/48 ICM Spitfire Mk.VIII

Gallery Article by David Mielke - "VMFA314Knights" on Apr 3 2017

 

      

Here is another of my 1/48th WWII "Canadian Aces" Spitfires built up out of the box (with the exception of the custom markings). The ICM kit is a bit of a challenge to put together, so you best have some experience prior to taking this one on, or it may languish a bit as you abandon it for easier projects. Some flash has to be removed, parts cleaned up and much dry fitting is necessary as there are a lot of panels that can be left open and an engine to be constructed which complicates gluing things together. 

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There is a lot of optional parts in the ICM kit which is nice, as it allows you to build a number of variants of the basic kit or swap parts with other kit versions. I used the clipped wings and half heartedly constructed the engine and gun bays for show. Overall the ICM kit seems to build up into a nice representation of the Spitfire and it can typically be found at fairly reasonable cost however now that there are improved kits on the market I'm not so keen on the ICM offering. I ended up rushing this one a bit to catch up to my Tamiya Mk. V Spitfires being built at the same time so it is not my best work but it looks alright on the shelf. 

I elected to build RCAF S/L Bert Houle's Spitfire Mk. VIII that he flew while assigned to 417 Squadron while the unit was based in Anzio, Italy during early 1944. The desert paint scheme provides a bit of variety to the Spitfire collection, which is also nice. FYI - Bert Houle was born in Massey, Ontario (north of Manitoulin Island) and was one of Canada's "Aces" of WWII.

I used decals for the RAF roundels however the ID lettering and serial number was sprayed using paint masks cut by a Silhouette Portrait plotter cutter. 

It was when Bert Houle was with 417 Squadron that a photo was taken of him in his Spitfire cockpit showing a bullet hole in the rear view mirror ...a calling card from some Fw 190s that he had tangled with during a mission on January 22, 1944. Houle was credited with a Fw 190 however his own aircraft took a mauling in the ensuing fight as well... regardless he made it home that day, served two tours of duty and ended up surviving the war. 

You can never have too many Spitfires, 

David Mielke

Photos and text © by David Mielke