Spitfire Mk.Vb Early
ProfiPACK Edition

Eduard, 1/72 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Like its nemesis the Messerschmitt Bf 109 F, the Spitfire Mk.V was a pastiche of proven formula and makeshift improvisation until later, more powerful and standardised versions became available.

Despite its stop-gap heritage, the Spitfire Mk.V served with more than 140 RAF Squadrons and took the air war to the skies beyond Europe. The Mk.V was the first Spitfire to see combat over the Western Desert, the Mediterranean, the Soviet Union, the Indian sub-continent, the Pacific and more.

4,489 Spitfire Mk.Vs rolled off the production lines.

This is an all-new tooling that launches Eduard’s small-scale Spitfire family. The debut offering is the Spitfire Mk.Vb, Early Version.

Parts breakdown and level of detail are uncannily reminiscent of Eduard’s 1/48 scale Spitfires.

Indeed, this new 1/72 scale Spitfire actually contains more grey and clear plastic parts than its larger 1/48 scale counterpart, underscoring the ambition of the design.

Eduard's 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb Early comprises 220 comprises parts in grey plastic (72 marked not for use) , 24 parts in clear plastic (13 parts marked not for use), decals for six marking options and instructions. Also keep in mind that many other parts are optional, further reducing the actual parts count.

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Thumbnail panels:

The first thing you will notice as you remove the sprues from their bags is the exuisitely subtle and crisp surface textures. Recessed panel lines, rows of rivets and shrewdly executed fasteners. The photos do not quite do justice to the subtlty of the textures.

The fuselage and wings are on Sprue G. The fuselage halves on Sprue G represent the earlier Mk.Vb with the external armoured windscreen glass.

The recessed area at the front of the opening for the windscreen on this fuselage is deeper than the later versions too.

Next we have the wings.

The wings capture the specific attributes of the Mk.Vb cannon bulges and the arrangement of several panel lines and hatches.

This is really nice attention to detail.

Sprues M and N are generic grey plastic parts. These look to be common for any of Eduard's future 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk.I to V with many options related to control surfaces, exhausts, propellers, undercarriage and much more.

Engineering and Options

The kit is broken down conventionally. The fuselage is full-length with the only insert being the forward wing root.

The lower cowl is separate too.

Ailerons and the rudder are separate, while the flaps are moulded closed. The elevators are moulded with the horizontal stabilisers in the neutral position. A choice of fabric or metal skinned ailerons is offered.

The canopy side door is a separate part, with the option of posing the door open or closed.

The clear parts are free from distortion and quite thin.

The closed canopy options comprises a combined sliding section and rear section, while the open canopy supplies a separate sliding section to sit over the rear clear part.

Markings

Markings are supplied for six subjects.

These are:

• P8699, F/Lt John Bisdee, No. 609 Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, July 1941 

• W3257, F/Lt Eric S. Lock, No. 611 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, July-August 1941

• W3320, P/O Donald E. Kingaby, No. 92 Squadron, RAF Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, July-August 1941

• P8783, Sgt Donald R. Morrison, No. 401 Squadron RCAF, Biggin Hill, United Kingdom, November 1941 - February 1942

• W3774, P/O William V. Crawford-Compton, No. 485 Squadron, RAF Kenley, United Kingdom, November 1941 - March 1942

• P8537, Sgt Jaroslav Hlouzek, No. 313 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, United Kingdom, November 1941 - March 1942

Stencil markings are supplied on a separate decal sheet.

Instrument dial decals, harness straps and red leading edge machine gun patches are on the decal sheet too.

It is fantastic to see Eduard's Spitfire family shrunken to 1/72 scale. Eduard has lavished well-deserved attention on this vital workhorse.

Eduard’s 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk.Vb kit is beautifully detailed, accurate, boasts lovely fine surface textures and offers most of the options that you will ever need for this sometimes complicated subject.

I have built a number of the 1/48 scale ProfiPACK versions of Eduard Spitfires including the Vc and can confirm that they are a pleasure to put together. I have no reason to believe that the experience will be any less pleasurable in the smaller scale.

The inclusion of photo-etched parts and masks just adds to the appeal..

Eduard’s 1:48 scale Spitfire family has been an instant classic since their initial Mk.IX release. This all-new 1/72 scale Mk.Vb Early maintains that high standard.

Thanks to Eduard for the sample

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 23 December, 2025
Last updated 26 December, 2025

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