FinnAndersen

All I can say is "Take your time". The Sword XIV is not the easiest kit to build. It takes care and a lot of dry fitting to make into a decent model. If you have the Highback, be very observant on the fitting of the canopy. You may find that the fuselage is a bit too wide. Also the forward fuselage requires extreme care to fit the rocker covers precisely. But if you manage all this, you will have a very good looking model. /Finn PS: The Academy is somewhat portly and look definitely "off" when compared to a properly made Sword.

Instructions are only the manufactors opinion. It's entirely OK to know better. 😉

Could you make a makeshift tool out of some play dough, clay or silicon?

Quite, but there was this

I too have the KP, although in an unbuilt form. I do have a lot of experience in cross-kitting, but in this instance, I will refrain, as I believe that the benefits will be marginal as you will have too much (difficult) modification of the Eduard fuselage to make it worth your while. /Finn

For the XIV consider using the Sword, it's currently being re-issued. The XII will be a problem any way you choose to do it, but it's a beauty. Otherwise I wish you the best of luck, it's certainly a major project. /Finn

Given the amount of reuse (e.g. the wedge for the undercarriage introduced with the C wing) in the Spitfire development I will tend agree. My main source here is Jeffery Quills "Spitfire", where I understand that work was put into a laminary flow wing that was meant for the Spiteful. From Quills book I get the impression of an organization that was very focused on immediate needs /Finn

I don't know, but I have a feeling that repainting a RAF fighter was not done on squadron level. Possibly at an MU, as it was not a trivial task; somebody mentioned the control surfaces that needed to be rebalanced after a paint job. There's this video that describes RAF painting, it may give you some clues. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F02334 In the end it's your model and nobody can prove you wrong, so go ahead with your unique idea. /Finn

I fully understand, they are fantastic. As others have pointed out, you need at VIII as starting point. (the VII and VIII were developed in parallel and shared a lot of features different from the IX). The difficult part will be the early style short engine intake that are present on some of the early IX kits and the lower cowling that goes with it. And dont forget the cockpit pressurization intake under the starboard exhaust. And then of course the very different cockpit glazing. You should be able to find an aftermarket example, though. /Finn

I'd say no. The XII intake was a tad bigger than the early IX, and I believe this it what I see. As for the radiators, well, I'm away from references, but the Griffon required much more cooling than a Merlin, so... HTH Finn

Have you considered Hawker Fury LA610? Might be an easier modification of a Sea Fury. Mentioned here: https://navalairhistory.com/2018/02/21/hawkers-fastest-fury-la610/ /Finn

Sorry to highjack the thread, but notice the different "C" in CV-W and CV-P. There was no standard "font" for the squadron codes /Finn

Couldn't be many Air Vice Marshal flying operational fighters. Any idea who this was?

Minor correction as I believe that you are mistaken. The triangular rank pennant with two red stripes was for Wing Commanders, the rectangular with one red stripe was for Squadron Leaders. /Finn

Thanks, just what I needed /Finn

I'm not usually posting here, but am doing a diorama including some RAF personel and a RAAF pilot. My problem is to find some reasonable paints for these two types. I'm only aware of the RAAF uniform being of a darker blue than the RAF uniform. I usually paint enamels, but it's not crucial. I live in Denmark, so will only reluctantly order from outside EU, with the exception of GB. /Finn

I must say that you prepare and rehearse incredibly well. And full marks for not doing it on the model. I'm one of those, however, that have the idea that a matt painted aircraft is best reproduced by something less matt. My take is that when you reduce the aircraft to a 1/72 or 1/48 size, the paint should have to follow, meaning that the pigment should be smaller as well. This is of course not possible and my idea is to use a paint with just a little sheen. I've made some models with dead matt varnish and it does not look realistic in my eyes. Making the experiments you do, will allow you to choose the finish on an enlightened basis and don't let me get in your way 🙂 Last thing, this video https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F02334 takes you through the painting of a spitfire wing. The interesting thing is that camouflage paint is not painted on the raw aluminium, but on a primer. So if the special night peeled, what was showing? Primer or aluminium? HTH Finn

what about a matt varnish?

1 The Y-strap emerges from the slot in the seat back and mates with the shoulder straps 2 The lap straps are connected to the seat via buckles. One of the seat strap ends in a pin or cone The other straps has a series of grommets. One grommet of each strap is fitted over the pin. 3 At the top of the pin, a locking device is inserted in the pin. once you know this, you can recognize it on the Hurricane drawing. (Middle right) I'm not sure if Kits World is aware of all this... Don't panick from this nitpicking, as with a canopy on top, nobody will notice /Finn

Sutton harness has been discussed before here on BM. I suggest that you try to search the site. The set you have do not resemble my idea of a sutton harness, but others may know more Sorry not to be more specific. /Finn

For a FM-1 build, look no further: I've copied it a it's a beauty... /Finn

I have a spare contra rotating prop from a AZ Seafang, if that will help. /Finn

I use Micro Sol and Micro Set and have removed decals by applying Micro Set with a brush, gently getting under the decal with the wet brush. HTH Finn

Perhaps offtopic, but I've seen many Spitfires done with matt gray-green internally. I wonder if the paint should be semi gloss. Opinions? /Finn

Ha, those were the days, when you could pull off that kind of stunt The Spitfire bubble canopy was made to match the original windscreen, i.e. the front of the bubble sloped in a way that the Typhoon or Tempest did not, so the short answer is no. If you want to do a lowback IX or XVI, I would recommend an Eduard. They are the current best Spits HTH Finn