1:72 Spitfire Mk I Cockpit Structure Insert - metal seat with armour (post-May 1940)

A cockpit structure insert for the Spitfire Mk.I in 1:72 scale

A printed insert of the internal structure of the cockpit for the Spitfire Mk.I in 1:72 scale from the maker IBG, in the variant with a metal seat and an armor plate. This is not an airplane kit but an accessory: the part carries the structure of the fuselage frames, the floor features and the seat in one piece, so it saves assembling small parts and above all it brings a detail that plastic cannot carry in a small scale.

The real subject

The experience of the first fighting of 1940 led to the Spitfires being given an armor plate behind the pilot. The seat was meanwhile produced in two forms, metal and of pressed synthetic material, and both occurred side by side in service. This variant matches the metal seat with armor, that is, the form used after May 1940.

Usage tips

Try the part dry while the fuselage halves are still apart and carefully sand down any overhang. It is glued with super glue. Paint the inside of the cockpit in interior green and add the seat belts and the instruments separately. A dark wash will bring out the frame structure and a dry brush will lighten it slightly.

Who the set is for

• Builders of early Spitfires in 1:72 scale
• Modelers who care about the right form of the seat
• Models with an open canopy
• More experienced builders used to working with resin

The set is an accessory to a plastic kit, not a model in its own right. The kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.