Andrew's 1/48 Academy Spitfire XIVc

[adt70hk]

Hi all

The two FW190s crossed the finish line earlier this week (more about that later) and so as I'm holiday I got cracking on my next subject....this.

If this review (link) is anything to by then there are some serious shape issues, most notably around the nose, albeit this individual (link) was less worried.

Despite the issues, I have chosen this kit for a number of reasons:

• I'm not that fussed about inaccuracies....after all my first love is super simple wargaming kits! 
• It's in the stash and so far I have never dumped a kit just because of some 'minor' inaccuracies.
• I won it in a charity raffle with ticket costing only 50p and so even if it is a bit of a dud, it's perfect practice for when I move onto the better quality 1/48 wingy kits in the stash....26 to be precise!
  
• Believe it or not I have only ever done one other Spitfire and so I thought I should change that.

And actually despite the issues, considering this is a 1995 tooling (albeit a 2012 rebox), I don't think the surface detail looks too bad!

I intend for this to be a 'quick and dirty' OOB build as the 190s took far too long and so I'm not even bothering to worry about the ejector pin marks on the bottom of the cockpit walls - as they won't be seen once buttoned up - so for those of you that hate them, look away now!!

The usual sprue shots are below, along with where I had got up to after a couple of hours earlier this week...and so far no major dramas.

Since I took the below shots, I've started to apply the paint...the cockpit green went on an hour or so ago.

ACW as usual!

ATB

Andrew

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For once a relatively tidy bench, following a major tidy up post the 190s!!






And the latest victim!!

[406 Silverado]

This really looks like a fairly straightforward and simple build up on this bird Andrew!! I hear what you're saying about not bothering with the pin marks as they are probably not going to be seen anyways. Will be watching the magic unfold here buddy.

[kyledehart5]

Good stuff Andrew. Looking forward to following along. Although I’m a bit blown away by the scale here…🤣😂

[handiabled]

Bookmarked this!

[adt70hk]

Aug 29, 2024 4:13:59 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

This really looks like a fairly straightforward and simple build up on this bird Andrew!! I hear what you're saying about not bothering with the pin marks as they are probably not going to be seen anyways. Will be watching the magic unfold here buddy.

Aug 29, 2024 4:50:01 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Good stuff Andrew. Looking forward to following along. Although I’m a bit blown away by the scale here…🤣😂

Aug 29, 2024 9:20:10 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Bookmarked this!

Good to have you onboard chaps. Hopefully another short update before the day is out!

ATB.

Andrew

[41chevy]

It looks to be a really nice kit. I'll be following this build.

[Steve Zuleski]

Good choice, Andrew, Ruck On!

[stikpusher]

You're gonna love this kit. Aside from a shape issue with the spinner being too bulbous, it really is an easy kit to build. Add a seat harness and you're golden in a OOB project. Oh yeah, you may want to look for new decals too, as Academy decals are hit or miss.

[adt70hk]

Aug 31, 2024 20:17:48 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

You're gonna love this kit. Aside from a shape issue with the spinner being too bulbous, it really is an easy kit to build. Add a seat harness and you're golden in a OOB project. Oh yeah, you may want to look for new decals too, as Academy decals are hit or miss.

Aug 29, 2024 20:46:14 GMT -5 41chevy said:

It looks to be a really nice kit. I'll be following this build.

Aug 29, 2024 21:33:09 GMT -5 Steve Zuleski said:

Good choice, Andrew, Ruck On!

Thanks chaps.  Good to see you have joined the party!


Carlos

I've gone with kit decal for the seat belt as I really did want this to be quick (and cheap).  As for the decals, I had notice a printing error with them but I think that should be east enough to address.

However, according to my limited source material, Academy have made an error with the decals in terms of the invasion stripes on the fuselage.  The error is such that I can't rectify it without cutting the decals up completely and even then it would be a poor compromise.

I found some AM decals and would have been willing to pay the fairly modest price for (link) if they were available in the UK...trouble is that they only seem to be available in the US and the astronomical postage pushes the cost to about £15....far more than I'm willing to pay.


Thanks again chaps another update will hopefully follow shortly!

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Ok chaps, so its amazing what you can achieve when you have a week off work and nothing planned.

In terms of the build, this is where I'm at:

• Cockpit done.....the IP had no decals and so I did the lightest of dry brushes with chrome to try to pick out some details.  It's not perfect but is better than a black slab.
• Main body assembly completed as far as it can go.  Just need to attach canopy and then primer up next!  I did though lose one of the stubs next to the 20mm cannon, so had to fashion a new one from styrene rod.
• 'Add ons' such as undercarriage, spinner, prop blades cut off the sprue and already primed ready for some paint....I did a quick and dirty prime with some rattle can primer to move things on.
  

As you know, I like to do a bit of research on my builds where possible....so for better or worse here goes......in terms of the plane's history, there is a quite bit online - some of which indicates that Academy have got a few things wrong:

• Spitfire RM619 AP-D (as per the decals) was Mk XIVe not a XIVc as per the box.  I understand that the main difference is that the 20mm cannon were mounted on the outside of the wings with the 'e' wing.  Whilst I can do this on the kit, it means that the cannon blisters would be in the wrong place and so I think it would look off.  I've therefore fitted them as per the kit.

• Apparently after leaving the factory, it passed through No. 33 MU (Maintenance Unit?) on 09/04/1944 and sent to its first squadron, 91 Squadron, on 12/07/1944.  It is then apparently shown as passing to 130 (Punjab) Squadron (date unknown) and the 350 (Belgian) Squadron, in this case, either in early October 1944 or mid-January 1945 (the information I gives both dates without being definitive).

• Apparently a mission on 16/01/1945 turned out to be its last flight, as it was shot down near Aachen (Germany) on an armed reconnaissance.  F/Lt. Smets of 350 (Belgian) Squadron was badly hit and had to bale out, becoming a PoW.
  

• A photo of it on the Imperial Museum website shows a very nice side shot.....leaving no doubt that the plane only had invasion stripes on the underside of the fuselage, whereas the decals have them around the whole of the fuselage.  I can't fix this without wrecking the decals.  I understand that, at least according to the rules, 'top side' invasion stripes were discontinued in early(?) July 1944. This info, combined with the lack of fuselage 'top' markings would indicate that I should not use the supplied invasion stripes on the top of the wing. I'm also planning to paint the stripes on the underside.

• After I had glued the gunsight in place and was about to button it up, I realised too late that the gunsight was a solid lump of plastic.....and did not have an accompanying nice clear piece as even with the most basic of Airfix kits.  As there was no way I could address this without risking damaging the kit, I simply paint the offending protrusion a very light silver/chrome colour....far from perfect but hopefully it won't look too obvious from a distance.  Lesson learnt!

It also struck me that the profile of Griffon powered Spitfires front end bear a remarkably striking resemblance to Supermarine's Schneider Trophy entries, most noticeably S.6 and S.6B.

And finally there was a second RM619 flying after the war.  The very short version is that after the war Rolls Royce bought an ex-RAF MK XIV, RM689 (this had the 'clipped' wings).  In 1967/68, it was given the full elliptical wings as part of work on the film the Battle of Britain.  For some reason after the filming was over, Rolls-Royce decided to keep the wingtips on and retain a camouflage scheme, albeit modified to be more correct for a late-war fighter. However, for some reason the wrong serial was applied, RM619, along with No 130 Squadron codes AP-D, which had nothing to do with RM689’s history.  See here for the full story.


Usual set of pics below.

ACW as usual.

Andrew

Sources:

www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205127136
www.rafcommands.com/archive/05663.php
www.key.aero/article/how-rolls-royce-bought-spitfire-ps250
www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p096.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_S.6B
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Supermarine_S.6B_ExCC.jpg



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The real RM619



AIRCRAFT OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE, 1939-1945: SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE.. Image: IWM (CL 1353) IWM Non Commercial License




My homage
As I said I wanted to keep it simple and quick, and so didn't enhance the cockpit in any way.
















Spitfire MK XIV vs Supermarine S.6B....what do you think?

[kyledehart5]

Excellent work Andrew. You’re off to a great start. And I always love a history lesson

[handiabled]

Great backstory to the bird your building. Your really moving along with this!

[TJ]

You've got my attention now. Interesting story.

[406 Silverado]

You did a good job with that IP in bringing out the details and are moving right along on working past the loss of parts issues. One thing is for certain.....you indeed do a ton of research on your builds as indicated by all of the facts that you've laid down for us on this bird Andrew. Progress is moving along well and I'm looking forward to more.

[adt70hk]

Sept 2, 2024 0:08:09 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Excellent work Andrew. You’re off to a great start. And I always love a history lesson

Sept 2, 2024 4:36:10 GMT -5 TJ said:

You've got my attention now. Interesting story.

Sept 2, 2024 1:58:26 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Great backstory to the bird your building. Your really moving along with this!

Sept 2, 2024 7:44:43 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

You did a good job with that IP in bringing out the details and are moving right along on working past the loss of parts issues. One thing is for certain.....you indeed do a ton of research on your builds as indicated by all of the facts that you've laid down for us on this bird Andrew. Progress is moving along well and I'm looking forward to more.

Thanks chaps glad you're liking it so far....and glad you like the history lesson.  I think it brings things to life a bit!  My family may not necessarily agree!

Based on my limited experienced, I also think  doing research on planes it a bit easier because, at least in the case of the RAF, a serial number or squadron codes make it relatively easy to track given the quality of the records.  Plus my assumption is that there was far more opportunity to take photos between missions, whereas with an 'army' unit in the frontline things obviously weren't quite as easy.

Thanks again.

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

OK chaps, so more progress:

• Plane, radiator covers and undercarriage covers all primed in black, showing some nice detail, given the age of the kit (1995)!
• Spinner painted in Sky, hopefully with a subtle mottling effect.  
• Prop blades all painted and ready for assembly with the spinner.

ACW as usual!

ATB

Andrew

[handiabled]

Looks like your ready to splash some color on this!

[adt70hk]

Sept 8, 2024 2:57:26 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Looks like your ready to splash some color on this!

Indeed Brent....I had a quick five minutes morning and so the prop has been assembled.

Next up will be some preshade....ii always use the lightest of the main camo colours to keep it simple in this case Medium Sea Grey.

ATB

Andrew

[41chevy]

All your work is excellent! The color prep is good top coats will look good. Research on any build is in my opinion half the fun!

[adt70hk]

Sept 11, 2024 13:10:55 GMT -5 41chevy said:

All your work is excellent! The color prep is good top coats will look good. Research on any build is in my opinion half the fun!

Thanks Paul.  Glad you like it and the research - couldn't agree with you more on that front!  An update to follow shortly.

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

OK chaps....short update here.

Pre main coat mottling applied using Medium Sea Grey and prop assembled.

The underside has had it's initial MSG main coat too.  It will get another very light coat tomorrow as it's a bit too prominent for the effect I am looking for but I always do it that way, as I would rather be too cautious than apply too much and lose the effect.  FYI the picture was only taken quickly and so the light has whited it out a bit but you get the idea.

ACW as usual.

Andrew

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[keavdog]

Coming along very nicely!

[kyledehart5]

Looking very nice indeed!

[handiabled]

Fantastic looking pre-shade mottle work!

[adt70hk]

Sept 13, 2024 17:02:21 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Coming along very nicely!

Sept 14, 2024 1:00:52 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Looking very nice indeed!

Sept 14, 2024 2:41:49 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Fantastic looking pre-shade mottle work!

Thanks chaps! Glad you're liking it!!

ATB

Andrew

[stuart]

Nice looking bit of paint that.

Did you resolve your invasion stripe decal issue? You could just paint them of course.

[adt70hk]

Sept 18, 2024 5:33:45 GMT -5 stuart said:

Nice looking bit of paint that.

Did you resolve your invasion stripe decal issue? You could just paint them of course.

Thanks Stuart.  I have sorted out stripe issue and have started to paint them on - I thought it would be a good idea to try doing it given the kit was virtually free.  I'm going to get set of AM decals too, as the decals are for a XVIe, and this is XVIc....and the letters and roundel are all in one with the stripes.....plus I figured a combination of decal and painted stripes would look odd too....but more about that later.

One of the stripes is slightly off but as it's on the underside, they won't be seen.

Pics on the stripe process below.....I've never done it before, so it took a while to work out what process best to use....plus the radiators were just in the wrong place, making the masking a bit tricky.

ATB

Andrew


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Working out the spacing......I will do it differently next time







Ready for the white base coat......






White down....you can see how I've left space for of the black to go down without wiping out too much of the detail (hopefully)







Black down






And the big reveal.....all in all, I'm reasonably happy, aside from the wonky stripe

[Steve Zuleski]

Stripes are looking good from here

[adt70hk]

Sept 21, 2024 10:06:22 GMT -5 Steve Zuleski said:

Stripes are looking good from here

Thanks Ski!

[kyledehart5]

Mighty fine work Andrew. Those stripes look wonderful.