Airfix A55001 Small Beginners Gift Set Supermarine Spitfire
Airfix A55001 Small Beginners Gift Set Supermarine Spitfire MkVc
Glue It!
Paint It!
Decal It!
Display It!
 |  |  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | 1:72 | 1:72 | 1:72 | 1:72 | 1:400 |
| No. Parts | 26 | 24 | 31 | 39 | 29 |
| Skill Level | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pre-coloured Plastic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paints, Glue & Brush Included | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dimensions: | 131mm |
| Model: | A55001 |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Pack Quantity: | 26 |
| Batteries Required: | No |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Age: | 8 years and up |
| Assembly: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 131mm |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Quantity: | 26 |
Firstly, there is a great tutorial / assembly video on the airfix YouTube page that follows the construction of this model.
I had no real troubles with this model, the paints were incredibly dry but somewhat salvageable, and the package had been flat packed to fit in an envelope.
I bought this kit to confirm my suspicion that I’d enjoy this hobby after watching some YouTube videos by people like The Inner Nerd, and saw this particular kit on a Hornby TV documentary.
As per a lot of the reviews here, I wasn’t surprised when I found that the included paints were pretty gummed up. So I bought them again from a local model shop only in dropper bottle form.
The kit was quick to put together and was fun! With everything included it was great to (take over the kitchen table and) zone out with, and would be equally good to keep the kids/grandkids busy for an afternoon. (I clumsily broke the aerial mast so be careful with that bit)
I learned a lot making this, and with my suspicion now confirmed I’ve since bought more and have got into the world of airbrush stuff lol
I must have made a couple of dozen Airfix Spitfires over the years but it has been a while. This was a nice kit to make and I think that the quality of the parts and mouldings were better than they ever were in the past. However, the paints provided with the kit were mostly dried up and I had to buy some of the green paint separately to be able to finish the model off. Amazon support just directs to Airfix support which is pretty much non-existent for an issue like this.
Note a little tip at the end..
I bought this set for my friend who is trying to get into it, since he didn’t know what to do at all I went to his house and helped him a bit when needed. I noticed the box was a bit broken on the top right but other than that nothing on the box. The box art was good tbf to Airfix. As we continued through the model there were a few things to consider before buying. Firstly if you want a lot of detail there is no point getting this Airfix model as it’s designed for complete beginners, I would recommend a different one of their products for that. It’s not perfect either, for example there are sometimes small gaps where the joins are. Also the front propeller piece that makes the actual propeller spin doesn’t fit very well. Other than that everything was alright with the model itself. As for the paints glue and brush everything was okay but as expected. The glue had a very strong smell, and was quite “clumsy and random” according to my friend. Also the paints were by no means good. As the black was completely dried out and the 106 half dried out. The brush was fine but could probably only be used 3-4 times on seperate occasions. Other than that it’s a good little set with fair detail, and also very good easy instructions.
A little tip for the join gaps a good little trick to deal with them if you want to (obviously not essential) is to get a pot with a lid, cut up some of the access plastic that’s not in use, and the glue cement, mix it well, and leave for 24 hrs. After use a cocktail stick to spread the “filler” into any places that’s needed, you don’t need a massive layer just enough to Seal. After this sand it down and paint over. It just a small tip to cover up everything
I got this to build with my daughter after doing the red arrows Hawk.
The kit quality is excellent and easy to build, would have given 5 stars but the paints were in poor shape, with separated pigment and signs of drying out which meant the colour was not as intended. However a few drops of water thinned it out to usable paint. The grey was mixed with some white to lighten it as the 1st coat was overly dark which I believe is due to the paint ageing/drying out… probably been on a warehouse shelf for longer than intended.
But overall, it finished well with nice decals and a little ‘weathering’ applied using some of the wife’s old eye shadow!
It was a fun project and I’d recommend it as a starter kit for a youngster.
Whether you’re trying to get someone into a new hobby or rekindle an interest in modelling this is a great wee starter pack.
Instructions, paint, a brush and decals so you can make it exactly like the picture on the box if your choose to or mix it up with the supplied colours for a different design.
With all model kits the pieces might need slight trimming but that can be accomplished with a craft knife if you own one or a pair of scissors which means no specialist tools are required.
Cheap and an easy introduction, the only downside is this is a gateway drug and expect to be shelling out more money for bigger and more elaborate models once this one is complete!
Thank you Airfix
You pay for a starter kit but paints we’re useless all dried up to a crusted scab in the pot all four we’re bined quality control needs improving i know only a base model but very disappointing to the gift receive
22 years later, I’ve decided to pick up the hobby again, and was looking to test the waters if I would still enjoy creating model airplanes. (Spoiler Alert: I do).
I picked up this kit as it seemed like a good deal, and a lovely starting point as it came with all the paints, brush and decals needed. The paints thankfully all were in fine condition, none had hardened or needed anything added to make them usable. The kit itself is reasonably simple if you’ve done any modelling work before, with a few fiddly bits that ideally you paint on the sprue first. The molding was great, and didn’t require much sanding down, and all pieces fit together quite snug. Painted easily, and has successfully kick started a new hobby!
While I did a far from perfect job, I’m happy with the outcome, as now I can justify better tools and time spent learning!
I looked at the price of ready built and decided to buy this kit. It was easy to assemble and paint within the duration of a football match so I now have my iconic Spitfire model. I warmed the stand on a radiator and angled it so the aircraft is banking.
Great kit, only thing that let it down for me was the paint, one of mine turned up solid and unusable, so bear in mind may need to buy a replacement or have some paint thinners to hand