Spitfire FR Mk.XIVe - NH909 of 273S RAF, Saigon Jan 1946. ++++ Finished + RFI ++++

[mark.au]

4 hours ago, Dunny said:

Mark,

 

Almost there now, and a good pickup on the u/c angle - hopefully easily fixed?

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

Thanks Roger.  Yes, easily fixed, I just gently bent persuaded adjusted it to the correct angle.

 

 

Some further progress this evening; upper surfaces stencil decals applied, a selective wash and some pastel stains.  The finish coat has also been applied but there’s a bit of work left to do, including a fix because I forgot to apply the yellow dashed surround to the cockpit door.  It shouldn’t be too difficult; a little Future, settle the decal on the Future, wait for it to dry and redo the finish coat.

 

A couple of overview pics, note the rudder and prop are not yet fixed in place.

 

 

 

The pic continue to emphasise some of the texturing on the wings in particular, while the camera never lies (it does), it does tend to throw big contrast into the pics under workbench lighting.  That’s my story.

 

12 minutes ago, heloman1 said:

I like, I like it a lot....

 

Colin

 

Thanks Colin, me too, I’m quite pleased with it.

 

Cheers.

[Ngantek]

29 minutes ago, mark.au said:

Thanks Roger.  Yes, easily fixed, I just gently bent persuaded adjusted it to the correct angle.

I can reliably say that if I'd tried that, not only would I have snapped them off, but the resulting sudden release of tension would undoubtedly have catapulted the whole model into the unguarded desk fan that I had cleverly set up not 5 minutes before with micron precision placement.

 

Amazing results as always Mark. I occasionally notice how clean and tidy your workspace is, and am sometimes even able to realise there might be some connection with the tidyness of your models. Then I put my coffee back down onto an open bottle of tamiya and realise that's probably just a coincidence.

 

[Terry1954]

I'm typically coming in almost at the end I reckon, but what a build! Really impressed with everything you have done here Mark, not just with the kit itself but the paint finish.

 

And I notice that you were gently "coaxed" into some 3D work by @Fritag and @hendie, something I've yet to try in earnest, but I can see it coming for me like an express train, learning curve or not!

 

This particular model also brings a bit of nostalgia to me, as I recall making a FROG 1/72 XIV in a very similar scheme, many years ago, at the ripe old age of 15 back in 1969 when it first came out. Loved that kit and put an immense amount into it, but even with the fuzziness of 50 plus years of memory, it certainly was nothing like as good as yours!

 

Great work.

 

Terry

 

 

[AliGauld]

Definitely looking the part. 

Glad to see the hitting stuff with a spanner is still in vogue.

Usually works for me.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair 

[bigbadbadge]

Glad you were able to sort the undercarriage legs. Looking mighty fine in those overhead views, great work Mark.

Chris

[AdrianMF]

Looks even better with every post!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[Bonkin]

What a fantastic build. Looking great.

[mark.au]

9 hours ago, Ngantek said:

I can reliably say that if I'd tried that, not only would I have snapped them off, but the resulting sudden release of tension would undoubtedly have catapulted the whole model into the unguarded desk fan that I had cleverly set up not 5 minutes before with micron precision placement.

 

Amazing results as always Mark. I occasionally notice how clean and tidy your workspace is, and am sometimes even able to realise there might be some connection with the tidyness of your models. Then I put my coffee back down onto an open bottle of tamiya and realise that's probably just a coincidence.

 

I was lucky that along with the rest of the kit, the undercarriage is robustly moulded and was able to withstand the adjustment.  I was prepared for the snap, it never came.  As for my workspace; I read your comment to Mrs. Mark.au and she remarked that my audience clearly hasn’t realised that I  simply push everything out of the way when taking the photos!

 

8 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

I'm typically coming in almost at the end I reckon, but what a build! Really impressed with everything you have done here Mark, not just with the kit itself but the paint finish.

 

And I notice that you were gently "coaxed" into some 3D work by @Fritag and @hendie, something I've yet to try in earnest, but I can see it coming for me like an express train, learning curve or not!

 

This particular model also brings a bit of nostalgia to me, as I recall making a FROG 1/72 XIV in a very similar scheme, many years ago, at the ripe old age of 15 back in 1969 when it first came out. Loved that kit and put an immense amount into it, but even with the fuzziness of 50 plus years of memory, it certainly was nothing like as good as yours!

 

Great work.

 

Terry

 

 

Thanks Terry.  The 3D was an attempt at proof of concept, the concept being my potential ability to work in 3D.  The jury is still out on that, but I’ve continued to mess around and am gradually getting the gist of it.  It’s like learning a language, I’ve got to start thinking in 3D instead of translating from real world to it.

 

Don’t sell your 15 year old self short! It was probably fantastic, though if it were like my 15 year old self’s efforts, it soon thereafter became a target for my air rifle in the back yard…

 

7 hours ago, AliGauld said:

Definitely looking the part. 

Glad to see the hitting stuff with a spanner is still in vogue.

Usually works for me.

 

 

Cheers,

Alistair 

I only wish there was more opportunities for spinner work in this craft of ours!

 

6 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Glad you were able to sort the undercarriage legs. Looking mighty fine in those overhead views, great work Mark.

Chris

 

5 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

Looks even better with every post!

 

Regards,

Adrian

 

4 hours ago, Bonkin said:

What a fantastic build. Looking great.

 

Thank you gents.  We’re definitely on the home stretch now, the next update will be finish pics I expect.

 

Cheers.

[mark.au]

20 hours ago, mark.au said:

there’s a bit of work left to do, including a fix because I forgot to apply the yellow dashed surround to the cockpit door.  It shouldn’t be too difficult; a little Future, settle the decal on the Future, wait for it to dry and redo the finish coat.

So, I decided to paint the yellow markings instead of using decals because I didn’t want to mess up the finish.  The masking was a little intricate but otherwise it was a fairly routine task.  They’re a little brighter than intended but within tolerance.

 

 

After that I completed the remaining tasks; I added some more flattening to the elevators and rudder to represent the fabric being sun-effected, painted the nav lights, installed the gunsight (which wasn’t nearly as tricky to set in place as I expected), attached the rudder and prop (the latter of which I dropped and had to reattach three of the five blades), removed the masking and cleaned up some minor overspray, and finally added the shoulder harnesses (I used a 3D decal for that) and the cockpit door.

 

And with that my 1/48 Academy Spitfire FR Mk.XVIe was done.

 

 

 

 

The million dollar question, does it look like a Spitfire Mk.XIV?  I’d say yes.  Are there problems with shape, even with the corrections? Yes.  In a general sense the kit is stocky everywhere.  The most distinctive feature to my eye is the long, slightly drooping shape to the nose and the kit misses badly, and despite the correction and adjustment to it, it’s still a little thick.  Otherwise it’s not too bad, definitely not unbuildable and I’m quite happy with it.

 

I may or may not have an Airfix kit in my cart at BNA which would look very nice next to this one, and don’t think would put it to shame.

 

Thanks for following along on this one, all of the comments and reactions are much appreciated.

 

Cheers.

 

[Dunny]

20 hours ago, mark.au said:

Yes, easily fixed, I just gently bent persuaded adjusted it to the correct angle.

Mark,

 

Crikey - that must have been a buttock clenching operation! Well worth it though - looks much better, and a cracking finish sir! Push the BNA button - happy to donate spare Xtradecals for another scheme (seeing as wot I nicked yours!) I shall push mine forward this weekend, and will be very happy if it turns out half as well as this!

 

Cheers,

 

Roger

[AdrianMF]

Wonderful paint job and a super build. Thanks for kicking off the mini GB too!

 

Regards,

Adrian

[bigbadbadge]

Oh yes, what a beauty, great job all round on this one Mark, you've lead the in this unofficial GB so thank you from me too.

Cracking work. 

Now press that buy it button,  I have another XIV in the Stash and an XVIII arrived yesterday courtesy of Airfix Flying hours.

Really enjoyed your build. 

Chris

[corsaircorp]

Superb job Mark !!

You've nailed it !!

Congrats my friend !!

CC

[Biggles87]

Beautiful! It certainly looks like a Mk XIV to me.

Until you removed the masks I had assumed that there was an intentional blanking plate over the camera port.

 

John. 

 

[AliGauld]

An absolute beauty.

You, Sir must have the eyesight of an Owl to get that masking around the door so precise.

Fantastic stuff.

 

Cheers,

Alistair

[Bonkin]

Magnificent! Definitely one to be proud of. I'd be very happy with that as well. Thank you for sharing your build.

 

[Winded Penguin]

A very lovely XIV. Thoroughly enjoyed watching this one to it's conclusion 

[mark.au]

16 hours ago, Dunny said:

Push the BNA button - happy to donate spare Xtradecals for another scheme (seeing as wot I nicked yours!) I shall push mine forward this weekend, and will be very happy if it turns out half as well as this!

BNA basket still filling….

I’m quite sure yours will raise the bar Roger.

 

16 hours ago, AdrianMF said:

Thanks for kicking off the mini GB too!

I really liked how it just grew a life of its own.

 

16 hours ago, bigbadbadge said:

Now press that buy it button,  I have another XIV in the Stash and an XVIII arrived yesterday courtesy of Airfix Flying hours.

 

Well, there’s a theme here, isn’t there….

 

13 hours ago, Biggles87 said:

Until you removed the masks I had assumed that there was an intentional blanking plate over the camera port.

 

John. 

 

A lot of them had that but looking at the reference pic it looks to me like both camera ports were uncovered - you can see right through both.

 

12 hours ago, AliGauld said:

You, Sir must have the eyesight of an Owl to get that masking around the door so precise.

Funny you mention that.  I don’t.  But, I do have an optician who made me a set of +2.5 glasses when I told her I wanted to see the fine detailing in my models a bit better.  When I wear them with my contacts still in it’s like bionic eyesight.

 

Thanks for all of the comments gents, much appreciated.

 

Cheers.

[opus999]

Wow, I missed a few days and it's done already?  It look amazing!  I love your attention to detail. 

 

The kit does have accuracy issues but taken as a whole, the shape looks pretty good to my eye.  It will be interesting to see it next to an Airfix one....

[mark.au]

Well, we have an RFI...

 

 

And some glamour pics to go with it...

 

 

 

Cheers.

 

[hendie]

just caught up after a few days away.  Excellent finish - looks every bit a spitfire to me