This model represents Spitfire LF.XVIe TD191 as it appeared while serving in Germany with 443 "Hornet" Squadron RCAF as 2I-P, not long after the end of the war. The model is based on ICM's 1/48 scale Spitfire XVI; in my estimation, this is probably the most accurate Spitfire model kit ever released by any manufacturer, in any scale. Unfortunately, though, my copy of this kit was from a very early release and suffered from problems that were eliminated on later releases, namely large numbers of sink marks and seriously twisted and warped wings and fuselage parts. These problems were so serious that, at first, I tried to return the kit to where it was purchased. They wouldn't take it back. Next, I tried to obtain replacement parts directly from ICM in the Ukraine, but they never replied to my repeated letters and e-mails. So, in the end I had no choice but to persevere with the kit as it was.

The various twists and warps were eventually overcome, but not before I'd tried every trick I could think of and invented a few new ones! After this, it was mostly smooth sailing. The kit was built almost from the box, minus the kit-provided engine, and with a few improvements; the prop and spinner were replaced with more accurately shaped offerings by Aeroclub, a resin seat with photoetched seatbelts, white metal control stick from Aeroclub and other, scratchbuilt, detail was added to the cockpit, new mainwheels were donated by a Hasegawa Spit IX, the elevators were cut away from the tailplanes and reattached in a dropped attitude, the rudder and tailwheel were attached offset to one side, clear nav lights with coloured bulbs were added to the wingtips, and a scratchbuilt Beam Approach antenna was added under the belly, as was a resin 30 gallon slipper tank from an old Spitfire XIV detail set by Hi Tech. The cockpit door is from Fotocut's etched-brass Spitfire detail set. About one millimetre was cut from each main gear oleo strut to improve the model's "sit", and photoetched metal torque links replaced the kit parts.

The kit's panel lines were rescribed where necessary and generally sharpened up before the model was masked up, primed with Mr. Surfacer 1000, and painting began. First, Gunze Mr. Color yellow was airbrushed over the outer wing panels for the leading edge strips and outline for the upper surface roundels, as well as the prop spinner for the spiral stripe and the prop tips. These were masked off before Gunze acrylic Medium Sea Grey was sprayed on the undersurfaces of the model, and gloss black on the prop and spinner. A bit more masking, and the top surfaces of the model were airbrushed Ocean Grey, custom-mixed from various Gunze acrylic colours. Finally, the Dark Green disruptive pattern was sprayed over the upper surfaces, again using Gunze acrylic, this time with this card paper masks held a couple of millimetres from the surface of the model to create a slightly "soft" demarcation. The national markings were found in my spare decals' box, stencils are from Arrow Graphics' "Spitfire Scribbles" sheet, and the serial number and Hornet squadron crest for the nose were created on my computer and printed on decal film before being applied to the model. The decals were sealed with a coat of Future floor polish, faint exhaust staining was airbrushed onto the model using shades of tan, gray and black, and a wash of oil paint thinned with lighter fluid was applied to the panel lines. Polly Scale clear acrylic was used to give the model a satin sheen, paint chipping was simulated with a silver pencil crayon, the pre-finished wheels, main gear doors, prop and spinner, underwing bomb carriers, canopy hood, cockpit door and whip antenna were attached, and the model was finished.

I'm happy with the final result, but if I were to do it again I'd be sure to avoid the warpage and sink-mark problem by starting with a later issue of this kit!