72591 – 1/72 – Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb North West Europe 1941-44 – Black Box Edition

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb became the backbone of RAF Fighter Command’s offensive and defensive operations over North West Europe between 1941 and 1943. Entering front line service in early 1941, the Mk Vb equipped many of the squadrons conducting the “Circus,” “Rodeo,” and “Ramrod” operations—daylight fighter sweeps and bomber escorts intended to draw the Luftwaffe into combat. Its improved Merlin 45 engine and universal wing made it a versatile platform, though by mid 1941 it was already meeting increasingly capable German opposition.

The real test came in early 1942 with the appearance of the Focke Wulf Fw 190A over France. The so called “Focke Wulf Summer” exposed the Mk Vb’s limitations in speed, roll rate, and climb at low to medium altitudes. RAF losses rose sharply, and Fighter Command was forced to adapt tactics while waiting for the Spitfire Mk IX to restore parity. Despite this disadvantage, Mk Vb units continued aggressive cross Channel operations, often led by experienced aces such as Robert Stanford Tuck or Wilfrid Duncan Smith, two of the very few RAF fighters pilots to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross with Two Bars for repeated gallantry in combat.

Full list of Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb – North West Europe 1941-44 – Black Box Limited Edition contents:
2x Complete Spitfire Mk Vb plastic model kits (each of them including two different fuselage versions and two different wing upper halves variants)
1x Huge decal sheet with 18(!) marking options (containing 42 roundels and 20 fin flashes to cater for the huge variety included in the box!)
2x 3D-printed cockpit structure insert (with/without additional armour and headrest)
2x Sets of 3D-printed wheels
2x Sets of 3D-printed exhausts (each of them in 4 different variants!)
2x 3D-printed seamless carburetor air intakes
10x 3D-printed rear view mirrors (5 variants, each in 2 copies)
6x 3D-printed gunsights (3 variants, each in 2 copies)
2x Photo-etched frames with some of the smaller details
2x Sets of the most thoroughly researched stencils ever prepared for a Spitfire Mk Vb model in any scale (with separate subsets for Supermarine, CBAF and Westland-produced machines)
2x Sets of painting masks
1x Special bonus