Academy 1/48 Spitfire Mk. XIVe

[stikpusher]

I started this project today, and this will be something a bit unique for me. This past Tuesday at IPMS, one of the local air museums, Falcon Field, came by with a request. They are doing a tribute collection for all of the RAF aircrew who trained there during WWII, and requested various types of 1/48 RAF aircraft from a list to be built by our chapter members for their collection. I volunteered to build a Griffon Engined Spitfire (no Marque beyond that was specified) using the Academy Mk.XIVe from my stash. I’ll be building this OOB, so that the project should go smoothly. I’ve built their Mk.XIVc previously, and remember that one being a trouble free project. All the kits built by us will go on display in the CAF Museum at Falcon Field for all visitors to see.

Here is my kit



and of course construction starts with the cockpit, of which I did most of the assembly today and am now ready to start painting.



more updates here when I have stuff worth photographing….

[jeaton01]

Sounds like fun, Carlos.

[406 Silverado]

I'll be watchin' this one Carlos!!

[keavdog]

Sounds like a great project!

[stikpusher]

Joe, amd John, thanks. I really wasn’t wanting to start two projects at once right now. But the idea of getting one of my builds into a museum was too tempting to pass up.

[Joe Rix]

That's quite a neat subject to commemorate. Even cooler you get to build a model in order to do so and have it publicly displayed. I think the Griffon engined Spits are the sharpest looking of the entire line. I look forward to following along on this one Stik.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 17, 2023 22:23:13 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Joe, amd John, thanks. I really wasn’t wanting to start two projects at once right now. But the idea of getting one of my builds into a museum was too tempting to pass up.

It would be for me too Carlos.

[deafpanzer]

What a great tribution your club is doing! I managed to find a seat on the first row so I will be following this. Have fun!

[stikpusher]

Joe, I love the late marque Griffon engined Spits... their beefier fuselage, tall tail, and the cowling contours just make 'em look tough. Not as petite as the Mk.I thru V Spits.

Joe, they had a long list of kits they need for the collection, and if I had more time, I would have built more. It's very motivating to be part of such a project.

Andy, that was great of the museum folks to come ask our club for help. The right people for the job! I hope that you enjoy the show.

[brandonk]

You can't go wrong with a nice Spit. Looking forward to this.

[TJ]

I'm pulling up a chair

[stikpusher]

Now that my Thunderstreak is all finished, I’ve resumed work on this one. The wing is now assembled, and paint is progressing on the interior…

[deafpanzer]

Looking good Carlos!

[kyledehart5]

How cool that they’re going to be duplicating these. Love it.

[Real G]

I too like the Griffon engined Spits the best, especially the bubble-tops!  I have the same kit in the stash Stik, so I look forward to seeing yours built!

[stikpusher]

Kyle and Neal, thanks.

Neal, to my eye, the Griffon Spits just look so much meaner than the original. Still sleek, but more powerful.

[TJ]

Aug 11, 2023 16:29:28 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Kyle and Neal, thanks.

Neal, to my eye, the Griffon Spits just look so much meaner than the original. Still sleek, but more powerful.

A few more bumps and on some that 5 blade prop

[stikpusher]

Aug 11, 2023 20:15:48 GMT -5 TJ said:

Aug 11, 2023 16:29:28 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Kyle and Neal, thanks.

Neal, to my eye, the Griffon Spits just look so much meaner than the original. Still sleek, but more powerful.

A few more bumps and on some that 5 blade prop

The tail area is beefed up as well. I need to build an early Spitfire next to see them side by side… 😏

[stikpusher]

Now that I have several other projects wrapped up, this one is back as my focus point.

I have finished up painting of the interior parts and salvaged a late war RAF PE seat harness off an older scrapped build.



next up, get this all installed and get the fuselage closed up...

[406 Silverado]

I'll be looking forward to seeing this one in progress. Never seen an Academy Spitfire built up before. Looks like you've got a good start going here already.

[handiabled]

Coming together really nice Carlos

[deafpanzer]

Nice touch using the harness from other kit!!! My Spit didn't have small windows behind the cockpit so is your some kind of recon fighter or all late Spits had those? I have so much to learn...

[stikpusher]

Joe, Brent, & Andy, thanks for looking in and commenting.

Joe, the Academy Spitfires are nice kits. Yes they can use a new spinner, but otherwise, OOB, they are a great choice.

Brent, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I don’t hit any snags on this one.

Andy, this one is indeed a Photo Recon type. Only the FR variants had camera window ports, not the standard fighter versions. You can barely see the installed camera partially covering the window on the left fuselage half. I’m still trying to figure out the differences in the different Marques and sub types.

[kyledehart5]

Very nice. I will stop in to watch too

[stikpusher]

Thanks Kyle! I hope that you enjoy what comes along next!

Today I got the cockpit components installed and the fuselage closed up







and of course I had to do a test fit of the wings...



they are gonna fit real nice when I get them glued on

[M1Carbine]

Carlos, looks like the fit on the Academy is not all that bad. Wing roots look like they will be OK as well. Tuned in

-Bob

[stikpusher]

Bob, so far the fit is excellent. If I use a rubber band around the wings and fuselage span wise when I glue the wings on to insure correct dihedral, it looks like there will be minimal to zero gap or step at the wing roots.

[stikpusher]

Today I did fuselage seam clean up, then glued the wings in place. The fit was excellent!



Later I added many of the remaining small bits that won't get broken off during painting.



I still need to add a few more small bits, plus dip the canopy in Future, mask it off, then glue it into place, but I'm just about ready to begin painting....

[kyledehart5]

Yes. That’s coming together nicely. I’ve never built anything from academy. I like it.

[stikpusher]

Sept 11, 2023 23:26:21 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Yes. That’s coming together nicely. I’ve never built anything from academy. I like it.

Thanks. Academy makes some very nice kits of thier own. Just be sure to check a kits lineage under their labels, as they also do a lot of clones and reboxes of other companies’ kits as well.

This kit is great, but really could use a replacement spinner, as the kit part is too bulbous in profile compared to the real thing.