Need to buy a Spitfire Model - Confused

Lucky guy! 

Well, it depends on how much you want to spend.  Tamiya makes the definitive Spitfire in 1/32 but it can cost well over $100.00.  To some of us that is a bargian for what the kit offers!

A more cost-effective, albeit smaller option would be the fantastic Eduard 1/48 kits.  These can be had for less than $50 and offer a simple Weekend edition with no bells and whistles to the Profi-Pack version with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in.  Eduard even offers a Royal Class version which contains 2 complete kits, all sorts of resin and photo etch goodies, and even includes a beer glass!

I'd recommend going to a site like Sprue Brothers, Hannants or Squadron and do a search for "Spitfire"

DiscoStu

Lucky guy! 

Well, it depends on how much you want to spend.  Tamiya makes the definitive Spitfire in 1/32 but it can cost well over $100.00.  To some of us that is a bargian for what the kit offers!

A more cost-effective, albeit smaller option would be the fantastic Eduard 1/48 kits.  These can be had for less than $50 and offer a simple Weekend edition with no bells and whistles to the Profi-Pack version with everything but the kitchen sink thrown in.  Eduard even offers a Royal Class version which contains 2 complete kits, all sorts of resin and photo etch goodies, and even includes a beer glass!

I'd recommend going to a site like Sprue Brothers, Hannants or Squadron and do a search for "Spitfire"

This is good advice. If he hasn't made any models before, I'd recommend the Weekend edition or something along those lines. 1/48 is a good size - the 1/32 might be overwhelming. Right now, I'm building the Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk1a which is an easy kit, but small and inexpensive. For your purposes, more of a stocking stuffer that a bona-fide gift.

I have an older 1/32 Tamiya Mk.V that I probably won't get to for a while and frankly taking up valuable stash space. It's been opened but has all the parts. I would let it go for considerably less than that pound thing you were talking for the Tamiya. Problem is, I'm across the pond from you apparently.

Otherwise the Revell is a good bet. They are making some sweet stuff lately.

Hello and welcome to the forum,enjoy your visit.

Like Cat Daddy mentioned, you might consider the Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Mk I.  It's small, so some of the cockpit pieces are little, but it builds up into a nice kit, and the parts count is fairly low.

There are a few problem areas regarding the fit, but someone here can guide your bf through the build process.  There are already a few threads here already showing how to assemble the kit.

Here's one I completed a couple of months ago.  

Good luck getting him into modeling.