Now don't laugh, the Academy 1/48 Spitfire Mk.XIVe

[Doug]

Hi all,

Yes, I know there are problems with the kit, just not really sure what to do. Most build reports tend to focus on resin replacements for the spinner & blades, nose section, undercarriage (legs. wheels, hubs) and the broad chord rudder, which apparently is not in the kit.

So:

1st, Are there a current update/correction sets available for this kit?

2nd, If not, is there anything that can be done with the kit? (Oher than throw it in the bin)

3rd, Are there any other kits of the marque in this scale I should be looking at?

Thanks in advance, (for all helpful comments).

Doug.

Edited September 13, 2009 by Doug

[Graham T]

I didn't laugh, it's not that bad. IIRC there is a mod set available from an outfit called DACO that addresses all the shortcomings. Not sure whether it's still available though. Good luck.

[krazyivan1942]

Hi,

I'm currently building this kit.

I'm no Spitfire specialist, but it looks like a Spitfire to me. YES the prop & spinner don't look right, so they are being replaced with a QIUCKBOOST set and the rest is being build OOB.

Replacing the decals to represent A/C flown by Sqd Ldr Falconer, 451 Sqn RAAF

Cheers, Paul

[Edgar]

The DACO set contains :- new nose section from the firewall forward, new prop/spinner, new radiators, fishtail exhausts, new seat, "e" style cannon bay covers, shorter "e" style cannon barrles, (post-war) 3-spoke wheels, metal u/c legs and tailwheel, broad-chord rudder. If you only want to run just with a new prop, Aeroclub's P428 is the one, and Airwaves do a broad-chord rudder on its own.

Edgar

[Andrew Jones]

The Aeroclub Spitfire 18 conversion can also be used to produce an accurate XIV from the academy kit , although it must be said the kit is not that bad ,especially if the nose profile is slimmed done a bit and the prop and spinner replaced,{ I used a spare from the airfix seafire kit }.

[Nick Belbin]

I guess it depends on how either fussy and /or accurate you want to be. The depth of the rear fuselage is also too deep as is the thickness of the of the wings.

[Harvs73]

One way to look at it, do you notice the difference when looking at the model? Do you have enough knowledge to tell what is wrong with it without someone having to stand there and tell you about it? If the answer is no then why expend the extra money when the kit is an easy straight from the box build. I have made two of them, one OOB and the other with replacement prop blades as these look bad OOB.

There are several ways of fixing the problem including the aeroclub fueslage as well as Ron's Resin (I think) who do a nose and replacement bits for the kit.

The models at the links below may be laughable to some but I enjoyed making them and I reckon they came out well (except I didn't get the prop on the first one on quite right for the photo).

http://www.aussiemodeller.com/pages/Galler...e%20no%202.html

http://www.aussiemodeller.com/pages/Review...vs_spit14e.html

Edited September 13, 2009 by Harvs73

[Doug]

Hi All,

Thanks for that, perhaps I will just build as is and simply replace the prop and blades as most of you suggest, I have to say I didn't really see much wrong with it and most of what I have read about the kit all state it's a good, solid build. And David I like the builds and can't see why people would have a problem with them, if that's what the kit looks like then why shuld I bother spending almost twice the price to create a kit that few people would even notice is wrong!

Thanks everybody.

Doug.

[AnonymousAA74]

There's nowt wrong with the Academy Spit. It's a wonderful model and fits together beautifully. I built one with Eduard PE and a little resin, and one with just the KMC resin set. Even without, they are lovely little kits. You'll get some armchair historians say that whatever profie isn't correct, but it's all about fun isn't it?

[Dereknf]

To add to the above, I've built the XIVc and e and all I did was replace the kit propeller with the Quickboost one and it all the difference. Nice kits and very easy to build I found. There will be those that tell you the nose profile is all wrong and indeed it is a little fatter in depth than than Airfix F.22 in the same area but is of the order of a couple of mm at most. The finished article looks good to me.

Academy Spitfires I prepared earlier.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

The models at the links below may be laughable to some

Nothing laughable about those at all. Very nice work.

[Doug]

Right, have ordered the quickboost spinner and cannon barrels as mentioned, so thanks for that advice.

Can I just ask an extra question does the kit come with standard wing tips as well as clipped ones? I have ordered the Spitfire Mk.XIVe

Doug.

[AnonymousAA74]

These are my Academy Spits HERE and HERE

[Doug Rogers]

As a kit they go together very well and have nice detailing, finely engraved panel lines etc. I used the Ron's Resin set on mine, which does improve the look a little. Got another set to use on a bubble top XIVe, which will become a MkXVIII along with the enlarged rudder.

[Spitfire31]

The DACO set contains :- new nose section from the firewall forward, new prop/spinner, new radiators, fishtail exhausts, new seat, "e" style cannon bay covers, shorter "e" style cannon barrles, (post-war) 3-spoke wheels, metal u/c legs and tailwheel, broad-chord rudder. If you only want to run just with a new prop, Aeroclub's P428 is the one, and Airwaves do a broad-chord rudder on its own.

Edgar

I bought two Daco sets last year in good faith, and was quite disappointed to see that several of the parts are apparently directly based on Airfix F22/24 kit parts. The radiators are completely wrong (all rounded where the sides and bottom should be flat with just the fillet against the wing being curved in plan view, and vaguely romboid in shape when viewed head on) and the Rotol blades are much too pointed and look more like Mk IX blades (though handed in the opposite direction, of course). The Airfix cylinder banks have been corrected though, and the nose is fairly OK, even though the front of the bank covers seem to be a bit close to the spinner backplate.

Unless the Daco parts have been revised, I'd vote for either Aeroclub or, even better, QuickBoost. The QB nose, prop and spinner look virtually perfect in shape and the prop even includes a resin jig for setting up the assembly. Unfortunately, QB doesn't make any replacement radiators – not yet, in any case.

FWIW,

Joachim

[thx6667]

There's nowt wrong with the Academy Spit. It's a wonderful model and fits together beautifully.

It certainly is a good kit, its just not a great replica - the best description I ever came across was "Spitfire on steroids".

As Harv said, if nothing leaps out at you as being wrong then go for it - for all the talk about that F-16 kit, I'm not bothered by the nose on that, so cest la vie.

If you wish to fix the flubs on the Academy kit, there are fixes available, if not, go for it.

[CPNGROATS]

...just kidding,

Soundslike with some effort a nice model can be had from the Academy kit. And when done you will have something special....

Cheers,

ggc

[Harvs73]

I will say though, the prop does need replacing and don't even bother with the kit decals. I tried to use them and between the shattering and the not sticking, it just wan't worth it. I used the aftermarket set from Red Roo Models to represent some RAAF aircraft at the end of the war.

[Enzo the Magnificent]

and don't even bother with the kit decals. I tried to use them and between the shattering and the not sticking, it just wan't worth it.

That's pretty standard with Academy decals.

[Don McIntyre]

My attempt at the Academy Spitfire. The only additions/modifications made was the plastic sheet camera port fairing on the fuselage and the stretched sprue fuselage antenna. Decals are from Aeromaster for a Belgian machine:

Edited September 14, 2009 by Don McIntyre

[Matt Roberts]

Ah the Academy Spit XIV, the Barry Bonds of Spitfires (for the Yanks on the board!)

Just an FYI - I think Quickboost has a new cowl top in the latest issue of MAI. IIRC the rocker covers are a bit too much and these will probably do a bit of rhinoplasty on the nose.

Matt