Tamiya 60756 - 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb/Mk.Vb Trop

Plastic model kit of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb / Mk.Vb Trop fighter in 1:72 scale

Tamiya 60756 depicts the Spitfire Mk.Vb – the most prolifically produced version of this famous fighter. Compared with the early Mk.I it received a more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine and the so-called 'b' wing, armed with two 20 mm cannon and four machine guns. The tropical version, with a dust filter under the nose, served over the Mediterranean and in North Africa, among other theatres.

The kit is from Tamiya's own tooling. The model lets you build the standard or tropical version, offers wing-shape options, two front and three rear canopy parts and a display base. The decals finish the aircraft in one of four schemes, among them an aircraft of No. 316 (Polish) Squadron.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail parts
• 'b' wing with two 20 mm cannon and parts for the tropical version (dust filter)
• Two front and three rear clear canopy parts
• Display base
• Waterslide decal sheet for 4 marking options (including No. 316 (Polish) Squadron)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Item number: 60756
• 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. Before gluing, choose the version (standard or tropical) and the appropriate canopy and wing parts. Paint the cockpit interior before closing the fuselage and fit the canopy last, after painting.

Spitfire Mk.Vbs wore the typical RAF camouflage (Dark Green and grey on top, light underside), while tropical examples wore desert schemes (e.g. Mid Stone and Dark Earth). Lay the decals over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, then finish with a satin varnish. The instructions provide paint references for all four schemes.

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.Vb:

The Mk.V was developed as an evolution of earlier Spitfires, adapted to the demands of the changing air war. The key change was the more powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 engine, which improved the aircraft's performance.

The Mk.Vb variant with the 'b' wing – armed with two 20 mm cannon and four machine guns – became the most prolifically produced version of the Spitfire. These machines fought on many fronts, and tropical examples, with their distinctive under-nose filter, served in desert conditions over the Mediterranean and in North Africa.

Original aircraft specifications (Spitfire Mk.Vb):

• Length: 9.12 m
• Wingspan: 11.23 m
• Max take-off weight: approx. 3,000 kg
• Powerplant: Rolls-Royce Merlin 45 inline engine (V12, liquid-cooled), approx. 1,470 hp
• Max speed: approx. 600 km/h
• Armament ('b' wing): two 20 mm cannon and four 7.7 mm machine guns
• Crew: 1
• Service: many fronts of the Second World War, including the Mediterranean and North Africa

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.