They've returned! Hasegawa has them for almost all their new tool modern jets and V-22's etc. Ive used a couple already, Im hopefully starting to paint a Tamiya Me 262 inflight using one...cheers Chris
Just in the process of completing the Airfix XII that I've had in the stash since it was released. Been calling to me for a long time!!! Goes together great. Absolutely NO fit issues. Just a bit of cleanup on top of the cowl and fuse join lines. Cockpits a bit soft on the detail as you say, but you really are not going to see a lot when its all closed up. Really looks the part and a very satisfying build!. I did throw in a Eduard IX seat belt. Personally I like the simplicity over fit drama issues! Also miles better than their more recent tooling Mk XIV! (go figure!)
The recent Mk XIV is infinitely more accurate in every way. The Mk XII has a curved spine and looks humpbacked. The XII nose bumps are also a caricature, quite well fixed on the XIV.
Why thank you. The Airfix kit has gone into the dustbin of history (aka Harry's stash) but I will build the SH one alongside my 1/32 version..yes 1/32!
Hi - just found your channel (and subscribed of course). What a great review. I have just bought an Airfix MkXII (on ebay for surprisingly sensible money) and was looking at reviews. I would not have the patience (or the skills) to build the Special Hobby kit, for the very reasons you point out. I am impressed at how well the Airfix appears to fit. Harry Houdini recently did a 'dry build' of their MkXIV, which debunked the kit's many detractors. He pointed out that following the instructions will produce a perfect fit. I still use Humbrol acrylics, their larger pigmentation being useful for helping to fill in those panel lines. Incidentally, the Hornby/Humbrol paper-based paint chart includes conversion tables for several other paint brands including GW, Gunze, Xtracolour, Lifecolor, Vallejo, Revell, Tamiya, Testor plus FS and RLM. It is also possibly on their website. For those here in the UK (and elsewhere), Kingkit is a great second-hand retailer. He currently has four MkXIIs in stock, at a reasonable £24.99 each (plus P&P). Thanks again. I look forward to exploring your channel.
Thanks for the sub and comment - I'm definitely progressing with the Special Hobby kit, I;ll have to dust off the "old basic modelling skills" to get through it, but I think the effort will be worth it. The next stage will be a major conversion of a 1/32 Spitfire that I've been planning for years - I'll be using the Tamiya Mk VIII to do that at the end of this year hopefully. Cheers, Chris
Icm does a cheap spitfire with crew, great thing about it that it has a full engine, well 98% of a engine. Personally I don't like the spits overrated, all about the hurricane myself. I put that down to being British and have spits hailed as the pinnacle of Battle of Britain and rammed down our throats ... and we all know that ain't true. But as a machine it is beautiful
I think the Hurricane has a beauty all of its own. I have the Trumpeter 1/24 Mk 1 Hurricane to do a Battle of Britain tribute build one day! Cheers, Chris
I’m surprised by that. I am in Canada and, over here it’s all about the Hurricane and Lanc. I appreciate the spitfire a little bit more because of all the variants. I find the hurricane variants to be almost too similar to each other. Not to say I don’t have a great appreciation for the hurricane.
I’d beware of Special Hobby. I bought a kit that was missing a part. They wanted me to pay €25 for postage (as much as I bought the kit for) for the tiny bit important part that was missing. Their customer service is poor unfortunately.
Good stuff Chris. I've had ago at SH's MkVc recently and that is really nice, not Tamiya nice but still a good kit. Seems the MkXII offers the same experience.
Thanks Tim. Yeah, I had the ancient (1995) Tamiya Mk V Spitfire just off the bench that I thought about adding to this review, I think its better than both kits, but 20 years older! I'll save that comparison for another day. The MkVc is almost the same as the Mk XII kit IIRC, so thats good news! Cheers, Chris
Indeed! I'm thinking of doing a "what should be my first 1/48 kit and why it should be a 20 year old Tamiya kit" video to explain that to the punters!! I have a Mk V here..hmmmm
To be fair, I'd look at the prices as well. The best kit in the world is of limited use to those of us on a limited budget, even before you include the absolute b*tch of photo-etch.
I remember the clear stands with models back in the 60’s
They've returned! Hasegawa has them for almost all their new tool modern jets and V-22's etc. Ive used a couple already, Im hopefully starting to paint a Tamiya Me 262 inflight using one...cheers Chris
You'll be happy to hear that Laminar Flow Designs have released a 3d printed Mk XII conversion set for the 1/32 Tamiya Spitfire
That conversion set literally arrived on my bench yesterday! I stayed up at 3am the night he released it and put my order in....
Just in the process of completing the Airfix XII that I've had in the stash since it was released. Been calling to me for a long time!!!
Goes together great. Absolutely NO fit issues. Just a bit of cleanup on top of the cowl and fuse join lines. Cockpits a bit soft on the detail as you say, but you really are not going to see a lot when its all closed up. Really looks the part and a very satisfying build!. I did throw in a Eduard IX seat belt.
Personally I like the simplicity over fit drama issues!
Also miles better than their more recent tooling Mk XIV! (go figure!)
The recent Mk XIV is infinitely more accurate in every way. The Mk XII has a curved spine and looks humpbacked. The XII nose bumps are also a caricature, quite well fixed on the XIV.
Will be getting both then! 😉😆😂
Excellent review kiddo....👍🏻🤜🏻🤛🏻🍻
They each have their strengths - I will be finishing the Special Hobby one as I'm using it as a mule for my Tamiya 1/32 conversion. Cheers!
Excellent review young man! 👍🏻👌🏻👏🏻
Why thank you. The Airfix kit has gone into the dustbin of history (aka Harry's stash) but I will build the SH one alongside my 1/32 version..yes 1/32!
Hi - just found your channel (and subscribed of course). What a great review. I have just bought an Airfix MkXII (on ebay for surprisingly sensible money) and was looking at reviews.
I would not have the patience (or the skills) to build the Special Hobby kit, for the very reasons you point out. I am impressed at how well the Airfix appears to fit. Harry Houdini recently did a 'dry build' of their MkXIV, which debunked the kit's many detractors. He pointed out that following the instructions will produce a perfect fit.
I still use Humbrol acrylics, their larger pigmentation being useful for helping to fill in those panel lines. Incidentally, the Hornby/Humbrol paper-based paint chart includes conversion tables for several other paint brands including GW, Gunze, Xtracolour, Lifecolor, Vallejo, Revell, Tamiya, Testor plus FS and RLM. It is also possibly on their website.
For those here in the UK (and elsewhere), Kingkit is a great second-hand retailer. He currently has four MkXIIs in stock, at a reasonable £24.99 each (plus P&P).
Thanks again. I look forward to exploring your channel.
Thanks for the sub and comment - I'm definitely progressing with the Special Hobby kit, I;ll have to dust off the "old basic modelling skills" to get through it, but I think the effort will be worth it. The next stage will be a major conversion of a 1/32 Spitfire that I've been planning for years - I'll be using the Tamiya Mk VIII to do that at the end of this year hopefully. Cheers, Chris
Thanks for the info.
Good review mate, looking forward to progress reports when you get stuck in to these ones!
Thanks Damian - both are nowhere near as easy as a Tamiya P-47, but nothing really is these days! I hope to get to them soon, for sure! Cheers, Chris
Great review sir...Cheers from America!
Thanks Gary, hope it was helpful! Cheers Chris
Icm does a cheap spitfire with crew, great thing about it that it has a full engine, well 98% of a engine.
Personally I don't like the spits overrated, all about the hurricane myself. I put that down to being British and have spits hailed as the pinnacle of Battle of Britain and rammed down our throats ... and we all know that ain't true.
But as a machine it is beautiful
I think the Hurricane has a beauty all of its own. I have the Trumpeter 1/24 Mk 1 Hurricane to do a Battle of Britain tribute build one day! Cheers, Chris
I’m surprised by that. I am in Canada and, over here it’s all about the Hurricane and Lanc. I appreciate the spitfire a little bit more because of all the variants. I find the hurricane variants to be almost too similar to each other. Not to say I don’t have a great appreciation for the hurricane.
great vid and great attention to detail. Nice job
Thanks!
I’d beware of Special Hobby. I bought a kit that was missing a part. They wanted me to pay €25 for postage (as much as I bought the kit for) for the tiny bit important part that was missing. Their customer service is poor unfortunately.
Good stuff Chris. I've had ago at SH's MkVc recently and that is really nice, not Tamiya nice but still a good kit. Seems the MkXII offers the same experience.
Thanks Tim. Yeah, I had the ancient (1995) Tamiya Mk V Spitfire just off the bench that I thought about adding to this review, I think its better than both kits, but 20 years older! I'll save that comparison for another day. The MkVc is almost the same as the Mk XII kit IIRC, so thats good news! Cheers, Chris
@@beckersmodels I’ve just finished the old MkI Tamiya and you’re absolutely right mate, I’d say it’s the best starter Spit out there. Still!
Indeed! I'm thinking of doing a "what should be my first 1/48 kit and why it should be a 20 year old Tamiya kit" video to explain that to the punters!! I have a Mk V here..hmmmm
@@beckersmodels do it Chris. It would make a nice follow on to the MkXII vid.
Why don't you use the extra flaps on the airfix kit for the special hobby kit?
Not a bad idea, I might look into that! Cheers, Chris
You probably already know this but Special Hobby are not "shake and bake" kits, like Tamiya. Interesting perspective though.
Indeed! It will be a relatively slow build for sure. Cheers, Chris
If Eduard won't hesitate from releasing it's own Mk.XII it will sweep that two ones far miles away!
0:09 V-1 was NOT a rocket!
To be fair, I'd look at the prices as well. The best kit in the world is of limited use to those of us on a limited budget, even before you include the absolute b*tch of photo-etch.