December is here, and with it the yearly Christmas shopping headache – or, depending how you see it, opportunity Because I’m regularly receiving emails asking about various aviation-related gift ideas, I have assembled a few offers which may be helpful when selecting a suitable Christmas gift – if a Spitfire theme is the order of the day.

For Spitfire in his/her heart

Mentioned previously at these pages, Delphic Designs: Technical Illustration as Fine Art offer their exquisitely detailed and elegantly framed wooden Spitfire models, complete with an intricate 3-dimensional cutaway section. New is the fact that during December this item can be purchased at substantial seasonal discount!

Considering current exchange rates for US Dollar, if ordered from abroad this offer is particularly attractive. But that’s not all: as a special offer to visitors of this site, Delphic can personalize your Spitfire model with the markings of your choice – to match the individual sentiments or memories of your beloved – at no extra charge. Just mention the Spitfire Site and this offer (together with the markings of preference) when ordering your sample.

Delphic Design has an entire range of Spitfire-related products which we have previously presented here.

For a modeller

The brand-new and much talked-about Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire IX kit is now available at HobbyLink Japan. In fact, this product ranks as one of the best plastic kits ever produced, and with Tamiya’s impeccable reputation for quality it is guaranteed to please any air modeller.

You will probably find that the HLJ price is significantly more attractive than if purchasing the same kit from a local hobby supplier. Ordering quickly should ensure that the package arrives in time before Christmas.

You can find our review of the Tamiya 1/32 Spitfire here.

Book tips

An armchair historian and book collector might be pleased with three-part Swift to Battle: No. 72 Squadron RAF in Action, a trilogy about one of the premiere Spitfire units in the RAF. Of this series, part 3 is to be published in January, but Pen & Sword, the publisher of the book, now offers Volume 2 of the book to a discounted price of £20, or both initial volumes for £40. And if you order both, the delivery is free within the UK.

Pen & Sword also carries a truly impressive line of other aviation and history books. Their Christmas discounts should be worth checking.

Our review of Swift to Battle is available here.

Kids

If you need a Spitfire toy for the younger generation, you can’t go wrong with Airfix, especially after James May’s Toy Stories – recent show on TV which brought this old and tried hobby into a spotlight again. Better still, Airfix now offers all-new, simple to assemble kits of this famous aircraft. The 1/72 Spitfire IX and/or Spitfire XIX can be purchased directly from the Airfix website or via Hannants. There is also a commemorative set Battle Of Britain Fighter Collection, featuring five Spitfires and Hurricanes in large boxing.

For the youngest in your family, the 1/100 scale pre-painted models from the same company will be perfect because they do not require glue.

See also my review of Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk. IX.