Preview: Kotare's Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) ‘Battle of Britain’ in 32nd scale

Kotare Models delivers a Festivus surprise with the announcement of the Spitfire Mk. 1a, late production, in 32nd scale. We look at the three BoB markings, the real kites & the kit's features & pre-order bonus in our preview...

Preview: Kotare's Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) ‘Battle of Britain’ in 32nd scale

Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) ‘Battle of Britain’

From Kotare

Kit No #K32505

1/32nd scale

Over 136 parts

35 cm wingspan.

Decals from Cartograf.

Expected late April/May 2026.

Price: US $109

Kotare website

A Christmas surprise from Kotare, who will bring THE BoB icon to our workbenches next year.

Kotare are to release a new version of their popular 1/32nd scale Spitfires to their stable. This time, the most notable Spitfire of the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) model, was flown by famous pilots in the thick of the action at that time.

The Subject: The Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) 

Late production Mk.Ia in the R6####, R7### & X4### serial number range (completed between May 1940 and April 1941 and featured in this model) and AR2## (from July 1941 to January 1942) saw the introduction of constant-speed DeHavilland propellers and armour plates behind the pilot’s seat & headrest (which were retrofitted to earlier production aircraft) as well as engine-driven undercarriage retraction. 

Other incremental changes were introduced, such as a composite “plastic” seat, a fireproof bulkhead, a revised “raised rivet” radio access door, station-keeping lights in the fuel tank plating, the reinstallation of the TR.1133 VHF radio and the elimination of the gauge for the top fuel tank, the fuel pressure gauge, the priming cock and the front parachute flare tube. Some Mk.Is were armed with 2 Hispano 20mm cannons and were designated the Spitfire Mk.Ib (at which time the 8-gun armed aircraft was re-designated the Mk.Ia). The cannons proved to be so unreliable that the Mk.Ib was withdrawn from service until improvements had been made in late 1940. Numerous engine, airframe and armament improvements were made to the Spitfire before production ceased in 1948, by which time over 22000 had been produced in 2 dozen variants, with the most notable being the 1030 hp Mk.I, 1470 hp Mk.V, 1720 hp Mk.IX, 2035 hp Mk.XIV, the photo-reconnaissance Mk.XI and the navalised Seafire Mk.III. 

The kit: K32005 Kotare 1/32 Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) ‘Battle of Britain’

This variant consists of 136 high-quality injection-moulded plastic parts featuring details found on late-production Spitfire Mk. Ia was manufactured just before and during the Battle of Britain, including engine-driven undercarriage retraction controls, composite pilot’s seats with & without harness detail, an instrument panel, and a wireless access door with raised rivets. 

Also included are optional mirrors, TR.9d & TR.1133 wireless controllers and aerial masts, an IFF Mk.II R3002 receiver, a flameproof bulkhead, dual-height rudder pedals, original metal pilot’s seats with & without harness detail, and DeHavilland and Rotol propellers. There is also a fully illustrated instruction manual.

 

Decals & Markings:

Provided in this boxing are high-quality Cartograf decals for 3 late-production Spitfire Mk.Ia from the height of the Battle of Britain.

Spitfire Mk Ia, X4277, F/O Richard Hillary, No. 603 Squadron, Royal Air Force, September 1940

Richard Hillary was a Battle of Britain 5-kill ace who is best known for his book "The Last Enemy", based upon his experiences during the Battle of Britain. He was killed in a training accident in 1943.

Spitfire Mk.1a X4425, Flown by F/Sgt George Cecil Unwin, No. 19 Squadron, RAF Fowlmere, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, September, 1940

The pilot of this aircraft was George Unwin, nicknamed ‘Grumpy’, and was one of the most experienced pilots, and not just within No. 19 Squadron. He was one of the first Spitfire pilots.

Spitfire Mk. Ia Fighter - R6800/LZ-N, Squadron Leader Rupert 'Lucky' Leigh, No.66 Squadron, Gravesend, England, September 1940

This Spitfire flown by P/O HW Reilley was part of 66 Squadron. On the 26-7-40 it was shot down by a Bf-109 & crashed near Sevenoaks. It was later salvaged on 21-10-40

Pre-order bonuses:

All pre-orders for K32005 Kotare 1/32 Spitfire Mk.Ia (Late) ‘Battle of Britain’ placed through www.kotare-models.com will receive a beautiful (and highly collectable) Darryl Legg box art print suitable for framing and 32P001 Spitfire Mk.Ia (Mid/Late) 3D print exhaust (value US$12.99) free of charge. Additionally, the first 300 pre-order customers will also receive 32P003 Spitfire Door (Mk.Ia Mid/Late) free of charge.  (Note that this offer is exclusively available for pre-orders placed through www.kotare-models.com and only available while stocks last.)

The tooling is completed and the decal art and instructions are nearing completion. Shipping is planned for late April/May 2026. This kit is now available for pre-order directly from their website...