Completed - Andrew's 1/48 Academy Spitfire XIVc 'what if'
Nov 2, 2024 9:48:20 GMT -5
handiabled, tcoat, and 2 more like this
Post by adt70hk on Nov 2, 2024 9:48:20 GMT -5
Hi all
So as per the build thread, this has now crossed the finish line and by my standards in near record time, despite the issues with the decals - some of the kits doing and some of my making (see build thread for details)
As many will know this kit and its sister XIVe kit apparently has a whole host of issues (see full below list). These issues include a nose and spinner that are too short and too deep i.e. not pointy enough, and the canopy shape being off. I can't comment on the first but I agree that the canopy shape looks distinctly off to me too - not that I am an expert - oh and it has a seam down the middle . In doing my research I also discovered that the supplied decals are for a XIVe.
So you may ask why build it at all??? Well it only cost 50p thanks to a raffle ticket win, I need more practice on 1/48 wingy things and wanted to try out some new techniques, plus I have never binned a kit due to inaccuracy issues, and so if was to go horribly wrong nothing was lost......
...oh, and even allowing for the faults, it does very much look like a Spitfire as another reviewer noted!!
So a number of firsts for me with this kit:
Given the kit decal issues, I had to go down the AM decals route and use generic sets to vaguely represent Spitfire RB159 (this is a XIVc), and so the letter and number shapes aren't quite right. There a number of pics online of this Spit but none with invasion stripes, albeit it was flying at a time when they would have been painted on, hence the 'what if'.
All in all I have to say I am very pleased with this given the horror story with the decals.
So is it the most accurate Spit on the market - apparently not but it scrubs up quite nicely nonetheless....and it served it's purposed as another practice piece before I move onto better kits.
Full build thread can be found here: modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/16985/andrews-48-academy-spitfire-xivc
Finally, thanks for all the support along the way chaps, it is very much appreciated!
ACW as usual
ATB
Andrew
PS sorry for the background, I don't have proper set up and wanted a sold background to take the photos against.
PPS sorry for so many pics but I wanted to enough for posterity!
Full list of faults with this an it's sister kit
Source: www.hyperscale.com/features/2001/spitfirexivebg_1.htm
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So as per the build thread, this has now crossed the finish line and by my standards in near record time, despite the issues with the decals - some of the kits doing and some of my making (see build thread for details)
As many will know this kit and its sister XIVe kit apparently has a whole host of issues (see full below list). These issues include a nose and spinner that are too short and too deep i.e. not pointy enough, and the canopy shape being off. I can't comment on the first but I agree that the canopy shape looks distinctly off to me too - not that I am an expert - oh and it has a seam down the middle . In doing my research I also discovered that the supplied decals are for a XIVe.
So you may ask why build it at all??? Well it only cost 50p thanks to a raffle ticket win, I need more practice on 1/48 wingy things and wanted to try out some new techniques, plus I have never binned a kit due to inaccuracy issues, and so if was to go horribly wrong nothing was lost......
...oh, and even allowing for the faults, it does very much look like a Spitfire as another reviewer noted!!
So a number of firsts for me with this kit:
- First ever Academy kit (be warned their decals are awful, unless they're the Cartograph ones as they apparently sometimes use)
- First ever 1/48 Spitfire (and in fact only my second one ever - I'll let that sink in!!)
- First time doing painted invasion stripes
Given the kit decal issues, I had to go down the AM decals route and use generic sets to vaguely represent Spitfire RB159 (this is a XIVc), and so the letter and number shapes aren't quite right. There a number of pics online of this Spit but none with invasion stripes, albeit it was flying at a time when they would have been painted on, hence the 'what if'.
All in all I have to say I am very pleased with this given the horror story with the decals.
So is it the most accurate Spit on the market - apparently not but it scrubs up quite nicely nonetheless....and it served it's purposed as another practice piece before I move onto better kits.
Full build thread can be found here: modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/16985/andrews-48-academy-spitfire-xivc
Finally, thanks for all the support along the way chaps, it is very much appreciated!
ACW as usual
ATB
Andrew
PS sorry for the background, I don't have proper set up and wanted a sold background to take the photos against.
PPS sorry for so many pics but I wanted to enough for posterity!
Full list of faults with this an it's sister kit
Source: www.hyperscale.com/features/2001/spitfirexivebg_1.htm
- The sidewalls of the underwing oil cooler housings are depicted at 90° to the wing, not perpendicular to the ground as they should be;
- Academy has added an extra "step" to the area behind and below the sliding section of the canopy on the Spitfire XIVc kit. This step does not appear on the real aircraft. The fixed glasshouse area behind the canopy is therefore noticeably short, and the relationship between shapes in this area looks odd;
- Only the narrow chord rudder is supplied. The broad chord rudder was almost always fitted to the bubbletop Spitfire XIVe and Spitfire XVIII;
- The profile of the propeller blades is poor;
- "Fishtail" exhausts are not included, although these were commonly seen on the Spitfire XIV;
- The four-spoke wheels supplied were more commonly seen on earlier Spitfire variants (eg Mk. VIII/IX);
- The Spitfire XIV was typically equipped with three-spoke wheels;
- Wing cannon bulges are somewhat overscale due to the gimmicky inclusion of cannon in the bays;
- The cockpit upper sidewalls are totally devoid of detail. This is surprising, as the remainder of the cockpit is really very good.
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and turned out a masterpiece with it. 
