Brad-M Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 (edited) I am looking at adding a 1/48 Spitfire F. Mk XVIII and I was wondering what the options I have in plastic form? Thanks Brad Edited July 5, 2019 by Brad-M typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 24 minutes ago, Brad-M said: I am looking at adding a 1/48 Spitfire Mk XVIII and I was wondering what the options I have in plastic form? Thanks Brad The best starting point is the new Airfix FR.XIVe It has the large fin and rudder for a start. I believe the only other needed external mods would be deleting and scribing some panel lines on the wings. There was also a Falcon Vacform conversion for the old Otaki Mk.VIII but that would be a lot of work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted June 29, 2019 Share Posted June 29, 2019 (edited) Stay on this forum and scroll down to Spitfire XVIII wing again and further down to 1/48 Spitfire XIV for discussion, diagrams, and photos that should pretty much answer all your questions. Not my scale, but from what I have read, the new-tool 1/48 Airfix XIV already has the main parts you need do do one. It's a very easy conversion using that kit. Mike Edited June 29, 2019 by 72modeler added text Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Brad-M said: I am looking at adding a 1/48 Spitfire Mk XVIII and I was wondering what the options I have in plastic form? Thanks Brad The easiest and most accurate is a conversion of the new Airfix FR.XIV as the other poster have mentioned. you need to fill and rescribe a few wing panel lines, as they re-did the outer wing panelling, getting rid of the gun doors, and then adding a panel in the upper wing where the ammo boxes were, for survival equipment More detail here https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235014550-spitfire-mkxviii-mk18-photos-of-wing-panelling-differences-confirmed/ And, then do you want an F.18, or a FR 18, as the FR 18 has two camera openings under the fuselage, AFAIK, standard PR Spitfire layout. Quickboost do a set for a PR XI https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/QB48146 but you only need a part of it, you can use the underside of the Airfix PR XIX as a guide. 1 hour ago, VMA131Marine said: The best starting point is the new Airfix FR.XIVe It has the large fin and rudder for a start. I believe the only other needed external mods would be deleting and scribing some panel lines on the wings. There was also a Falcon Vacform conversion for the old Otaki Mk.VIII but that would be a lot of work. The Falcon vacform is a full kit, not a conversion. Fine raised panelines too. https://modelingmadness.com/review/allies/gb/cleaverspit18.htm Falcon did a long time ago Mk.XIV fuselage to use with (probably) Otaki wings, the IIRC it was intended for the Monogram IX! and for completeness, there is the Academy FR XIV kit, which requires a load of surgery to make it not look bloated.. HTH T 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olmec Head Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 If money was no object, could you cut out the bottom camera section from an Airfix PrXIX and use it to replace the similar area in the XIV? Do both match up (which they should do) if anyone has tried? I have the old AeroClub FR18 fuselage, which is now a bit superfluous, but I may use it for an FR18 and I was thinking of a airFix Spitfire XIX Wing rescribed to an e wing (adding aeroclub cannon blisters) with the vertical camera ports already in place. That may well be much easier to write than to do! Also, whilst on the topic, has anyone got plans of the mudguard plates (poor term I apologise) that slide over the glass covers on the bottom apertures for the cameras. I have seen these referred too, but no current pictures of the BBMF XIX ever seems to show them in place. Perhaps they were only fitted to FR18s? Its a pity the Spitfire 18 disappeared from the RAF Museum, I did try to get a beneath photo a couple of years ago, but an attendant turned up inopportunately and didn't see it as a good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Jones Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 I believe the camera port covers were simple discs that were released by a Bowden cable from the cockpit , and simply fell out . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olmec Head Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 That would make sense and now explain the original AP diagrams of the vertical camera fit in the Valiant Wings book on Merlin Spitfires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 9 hours ago, Olmec Head said: Its a pity the Spitfire 18 disappeared from the RAF Museum, I did try to get a beneath photo a couple of years ago, but an attendant turned up inopportunately and didn't see it as a good idea. ??? What Spitfire XVIII are you referring to? News to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted June 30, 2019 Share Posted June 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Work In Progress said: ??? What Spitfire XVIII are you referring to? News to me. they had a low back Mk.XIV there in 2016, not there when. I went this year though. Now at Cosford? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 (edited) Their XIV is MT847. It's on loan to Pima at the moment. https://aerodynamicmedia.com/loaned-raf-museum-spitfire-arrives-at-pima-air-space-museum/ They've never had an XVIII though Edited July 1, 2019 by Work In Progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Bradley Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 47 minutes ago, Work In Progress said: Their XIV is MT847. It's on loan to Pima at the moment. https://aerodynamicmedia.com/loaned-raf-museum-spitfire-arrives-at-pima-air-space-museum/ And here she is: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 Wow- wonder why they went to the expense and risk to send a static already restored airplane across the pond. Maybe Pima sent something of theirs back in return- maybe the Gannet? Too bad she's not an XVIIIe! That being said- somebody scoot over there and shoot some serious detail photos; undercart/wheel bays, radiators, fin/rudder/z-tab, cylinder head fairings/exhaust, prop/spinner, outer wing panels... you get the idea! BTW, thanks for sharing the photo and the link! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 On 30/06/2019 at 11:55, Olmec Head said: If money was no object, could you cut out the bottom camera section from an Airfix PrXIX and use it to replace the similar area in the XIV? Do both match up (which they should do) if anyone has tried? Dig out an Airfix PR XIX, I just did. You need to drill two holes in the underbelly, if you want to match up the XIX kit, then you need some collars, (look at kit camera ports) but using a XIX for that bit seems over the top. Bear in mind unless you display on a mirror base, or regularly turn your model over, adding fine detail maybe a waste of effort. As with many kit fixes, try the simple one, in the case, using the PR XIX as a guide, drilling some holes, and glazing them. If that fails, cut up a XIX, but that assumes that bit will fit the new kit, and subsequent making good.... On 30/06/2019 at 11:55, Olmec Head said: I have the old AeroClub FR18 fuselage, which is now a bit superfluous, but I may use it for an FR18 and I was thinking of a airFix Spitfire XIX Wing rescribed to an e wing (adding aeroclub cannon blisters) with the vertical camera ports already in place. That may well be much easier to write than to do! Again, why do the wing, there are plenty of wing donors, the ICM kit can be got very cheaply, and the ideal donor is the Hasegawa IX, it has a too slim/short fuselage, and a decent wing etc, and is IIRC mentioned as a donor. I have the Aeroclub 18 conversion, but not to hand. The Hase IX was also reboxed by Revell as a IX/XVI kit, and can be got reasonably cheaply if you look. https://www.scalemates.com/kits/revell-04554-supermarine-spitfire-mkixc-xvi--103969 If your skills run to cross kitting and rescribing, and adding blisters to a XIX wing, I suggest that drilling some holes may well be easier. Note, if you want an Mk.18, you don't want an e wing anyway, it has it's own unique panel layout. see here Given Aeroclub's status, legendary and no longer producing, you may find that the conversion is now 'collectable' and perhaps worth selling as is. Your model(s) and your choices, just adding some suggestions. HTH 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad-M Posted July 1, 2019 Author Share Posted July 1, 2019 Thanks everyone for the ideas. I only have 1 PR XIX, so that will stay as is. Cheers and Happy Canada Day! Brad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olmec Head Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 Sorry I didn't realise it was a Spitfire XIV, my attempt to look under it would have been a bit superflous then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 (edited) One should also model the filler pipe for the fuel tank(s) situated behind the cockpit. The rectangular opening by the headrest on MT847 above shows where that filler should be located (though the pipe itself is missing), but the installation was the same as on the Mk 24. Here's a decent starting point for photos of that. http://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/supermarine-spitfire-f-mk-24-in-detail/. Worth noting that XVIIIs only got the big rudder after they were produced, sometime around 1946. There are several photos of new XVIIIs with the earlier Mk XIV/XIX type rudder, e.g.: Justin Edited July 2, 2019 by Bedders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted July 2, 2019 Share Posted July 2, 2019 A bit OT, but the number of recent threads about converting the Airfix Spitfire XIV into a Mk.XVIII seems to indicate that this variant is quite popular. A bit surprising since the XVIII didn't see action in WW2 but understandable considering the good postwar service and the number of interesting markings carried. Maybe Airfix should have issued a Mk.XVIII from the start... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas Enerdal Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 Justin, Some XVIII did get the larger rudder during production. In SAM Publications The Supermarine Spitfire Part 2: Griffon-Powered (Robert Humphreys) p.167-169, there are pictures of MK.XVIII production at Keevil. They have all the larger rudder. Unfortunately the serials have not yet been painted onto the aircraft. (most are painted with black spinners and sky fuselage band) The fuel filler is included in the kit, part no D24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VMA131Marine Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 When I lived in Urbana-Champaign, IL in the '90s this Frasca-owned Mk.18 used to fly over regularly. It's since been sold on and I'm not sure where it is now. I could always tell when it was flying in the pattern just from the sound. It was something to behold. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 I believe it's now in Germany with Hangar 10 collection http://www.meiermotors.com/index.php/aircraft/vickers-supermarine/supermarine-spitfire-mk-xviiie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas Enerdal Posted July 4, 2019 Share Posted July 4, 2019 (edited) WIP, thanks for the link! On page two there is quite a lot of pics, a few show the Mk.18 wing, topsides anyway. The panel lines and hatches can be seen, even if the gun bulges for the Hispanos have been removed. The fuselage filler can be clearly seen as well. One thing missing/differing from the kit is a second, headrest armor plate behind the pilot. The roll-over bar is then a plate with holes. These have been seen on in service Mk.XVIII (208 sq in Palestine/Egypt) See below for details. I have noted this arrangement on some but not all XVIII as well as some FR.XIVe. It is faithfully reproduced in the old Cooper Detail CD4815 Spitfire 22/Seafire 47 cockpit set. Edited July 21, 2019 by Tomas Enerdal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomas Enerdal Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) Dear All, I have earlier probed around regarding the possible presence of a fuselage mounted downward identification lamp on FR.XVIII. Linescriber has just helped us with pics from the Indian AF museum. Now we know what it lookes like, thanks! Edited August 26, 2019 by Tomas Enerdal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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