Tamiya 60748 - 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I

Plastic model kit of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I fighter in 1:72 scale

Tamiya 60748 depicts the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I – an early version of one of the most famous fighters in history. It was the Mk.I that played a key role in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940, defending British skies alongside the Hurricanes. Its distinctive elliptical wing and slim nose give the aircraft an elegance still recognisable today.

The kit is from Tamiya's own tooling and faithfully captures the airframe, with a detailed cockpit interior and exhausts. The decals finish the aircraft in the colours of two units that took part in the Battle of Britain.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail parts
• Detailed cockpit interior and exhausts
• Clear canopy parts
• Waterslide decal sheet for 2 marking options (Battle of Britain units, 1940)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Item number: 60748
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 128 mm, wingspan: 156 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

As a Tamiya-tooled kit it features good parts fit and approachable assembly. Paint the cockpit interior before closing the fuselage and fit the canopy last, after painting – self-adhesive masks help with its finish.

Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk.Is wore the typical RAF camouflage: Dark Green and Dark Earth on the upper surfaces over a light underside. Lay the decals over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, then finish with a satin varnish. The instructions provide paint references.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes and modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel-line wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Gloss varnish for the decals and a satin coat to finish
• Optional: self-adhesive canopy masks

About the aircraft – Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I:

The Spitfire was designed in the 1930s as a modern fighter powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin and fitted with a thin, elliptical wing of good aerodynamic qualities. The Mk.I was the first series-produced version.

In the summer of 1940, during the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire Mk.I and the Hawker Hurricane stood against German raids. The aircraft's agility and performance made it a symbol of British air defence, and later Spitfire versions remained in service to the end of the war and long after.

Original aircraft specifications (Spitfire Mk.I):

• Length: 9.12 m
• Wingspan: 11.23 m
• Max take-off weight: approx. 2,620 kg
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin III inline engine (V12, liquid-cooled), approx. 1,030 hp
• Max speed: approx. 580 km/h
• Armament: eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns
• Crew: 1
• Combat debut: the Battle of Britain (1940), among others

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of Japan's model-making industry. It launched its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960 and soon set a global benchmark for quality thanks to precise tooling and excellent parts fit. Tamiya's own-tooled kits are popular with beginners and experienced modellers alike, combining accurate detail with thoughtfully engineered, enjoyable assembly. Beyond plastic kits in many scales, the company offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Tamiya operates in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.