Tail-Dragon Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 (edited) I'm working on a Spitfire XIVe highback by converting the Airfix 1/48 Spit XIX without kitbashing. I realize there are easier ways to get there, but I purchased the kit and parts when these were the only options, so I may as well use them. I'm also grateful for all the info I've been able to get from this website, many excellent modellers have gone down this road in various ways, and I value the knowledge they've been willing to share. Thank you, all. I'm using the Airfix 1/48 Mk XIX, Barracudacast 4 spoke wheels, and cylinder head covers (to correct the short kit covers), Ultracast's Sitfire seat with late harness, access door, and Mk XIVe cannon barrels. I'm also going to use Quickboost's Gyro gunsight. I've filled the unwanted panel lines and blisters/intakes and camera ports with Zap glue and talc, Millput, or scrap plastic. I shortened the ailerons, scribed the appropriate panel lines, and added the blisters from stretched sprue, reprofiled Eduard FW-190 bombs, and cannon bases from aluminum tubing. I've scratch built the inner fuselage lower section to cover the wing root cavities, drilled out the lightening holes in the cockpit frames, opened up the rear bulkhead, opened the access door, built up the aft fixed canopy sill, replaced the cylinder head covers with the Barracudacast parts, and drilled out the exhaust, torque links and tie down point. It's the long way to go, but, as I said, at the time it was the only option … … and the work continues. Edited September 17, 2019 by Tail-Dragon 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 The cockpit is finished, and ready to close up. It's using Mike Grant instrument decals, Ultracast's Spitfire seat with late style harness, with the harness extended with plastic strip to drape over the rear bulkhead frame. It also has Quickboost's gyro gunsight with combiner lenses from .005" clear plastic, scratchbuilt compressed air bottles and trim wheel. 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Great work in the cockpit. Sure there may be a kit out for it now, but there's something special about piecing it all together for yourself. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted September 24, 2019 Author Share Posted September 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Thom216 said: Great work in the cockpit. Sure there may be a kit out for it now, but there's something special about piecing it all together for yourself. Thanks! I'm planning on a parallel build with a 'bubbletop' - 402 Squadron, (The Winnipeg Bears) RCAF, operated highbacks and bubbletops side by side in the last months of the war. Seems like an interesting side by side build to me. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 You’re putting into practice what I’ve been thinking of doing since the Airfix Mk XIV was released. I’ll be watching closely in the hope of picking up some tips. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted September 24, 2019 Share Posted September 24, 2019 I like this. I have the XIX kit in the stash but wasn't too happy about the bottom of the fuselage in the cockpit. May I ask what your solution is? It looks like resin inserts? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted September 24, 2019 Author Share Posted September 24, 2019 9 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said: I like this. I have the XIX kit in the stash but wasn't too happy about the bottom of the fuselage in the cockpit. May I ask what your solution is? It looks like resin inserts? Hi The cockpit inner skins are just .010" plastic rolled over an x-acto knife handle are run under boiling water (took a few tries to get the arc right). I used the instrument panel and seat frame as templates to get the arc right. Then just above where the fuselage 'bells' out, scrape down as close to .010' as you can get and trim piece to fit. After cementing, I layed one fuselage side on a sheet of glass, with the new piece hanging over, and trimmed it flush with the fuselage mating edges. Tape the fuselage sides together and trim the other side to match, add tabs on one side, and hide the fuselage/extension joint with new stringers, add the rest of the stringers and frames with strip, and your off to the races. 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 The XIVe Highback is getting close, and I've started on the FR XIVe Bubbletop. I want them to arrive at the paint shop together. Once again, Ultracast's late style seat, Quickboost's gyro gunsight, and mike Grant's instrument decals. The FR XIVe cockpit ... The pair as they are now ... 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted October 10, 2019 Author Share Posted October 10, 2019 (edited) I've also found that 402 Squadron, RCAF, (Winnipeg Bears) also operated the XIVe with full span wings and no camera port before the end of the war (several being lost to flak) … so … I guess I have another to build! Edited October 10, 2019 by Tail-Dragon 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Great result so far, I’m even more determined to do the same now. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 Beautiful pair of spits! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimea River Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I like what you've done so far but I especially like how you picked out those harnesses on the resin seats. Beautifully done! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) … and the work continues. I've been finishing off both airframes, filling rivet holes (why do they do this?) refining panel lines, finishing and installing gunsights, and working on the canopies. For the vacuform canopy, I've added inner framework from strip, guide rails for the sliding section (it actually slides open and closed on the tracks) and the emergency canopy release's from brass wire, blobs of 5 minute epoxy, and strip. The smallest item I had to scratch was the mirror for the highback XIVe. Slowly getting there ... Edited October 28, 2019 by Tail-Dragon 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Wow, such great work on this Spits! And that mirror is so tiny it's crazy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted October 29, 2019 Share Posted October 29, 2019 Ooh, those are both mighty fine. An encounter with the late-60s (FROG?) Mk.XIV and V1 combo made this my favourite of all Spitfire versions (though the Seafire 46 trumps even a XIV). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted October 29, 2019 Author Share Posted October 29, 2019 1 hour ago, Ex-FAAWAFU said: Ooh, those are both mighty fine. An encounter with the late-60s (FROG?) Mk.XIV and V1 combo made this my favourite of all Spitfire versions (though the Seafire 46 trumps even a XIV). That's the kit I first discovered the Mk XIV when I was 14! I've always thought the XIV was the most elegant Spit! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted November 10, 2019 Author Share Posted November 10, 2019 (edited) At last the painting has started, first the canopy inner color, and the wing leading edge yellow, then after masking the yellow, the lower surface Sea Grey medium (I'm using Tamiya's acrylic) Upper surfaces when it is safe to mask the lowers ... Finish line is in sight now! Edited November 10, 2019 by Tail-Dragon 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wlad Posted November 11, 2019 Share Posted November 11, 2019 On 29/10/2019 at 08:40, Tail-Dragon said: That's the kit I first discovered the Mk XIV when I was 14! I've always thought the XIV was the most elegant Spit! The Griffon makes the Spitfire, and Seafire, look very purposeful and powerful. The high back XIV is a favourite of mine too, along with the Seafire 46. I couldn't believe my luck when I found the Novo repop of the Frog XIV back in 1982. I never finished the kit because of university and I couldn't get past the ridiculously thick transparencies. I will wait for the high back XIV to come out in 1/48 though. Nice build so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 (edited) The upper surfaces are now masked and painted, I used paper paint masks off the web and am quite happy with the result. There's a little refinement to be done, but overall the results seem quite good. Hope you like so far ... Edited November 13, 2019 by Tail-Dragon 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 I like! Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanroon Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 13 hours ago, Tail-Dragon said: The upper surfaces are now masked and painted, I used paper paint masks off the web and am quite happy with the result. There's a little refinement to be done, but overall the results seem quite good. Hope you like so far ... Pleased my old camo pattern is still relevant. 👍🏽 GRE 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted November 14, 2019 Author Share Posted November 14, 2019 5 hours ago, Vanroon said: Pleased my old camo pattern is still relevant. 👍🏽 GRE I had no idea who to attribute that camo mask to, so I'm glad you posted. Thanks much for making that available, it's very handy! Cheers Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted November 14, 2019 Share Posted November 14, 2019 19 hours ago, Bedders said: I like! Justin Me too John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tail-Dragon Posted December 4, 2019 Author Share Posted December 4, 2019 Continued on - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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