discussion Completed - Andrew's 1/48 Academy Spitfire XIVc 'what if'

[adt70hk]

Hi all

So as per the build thread, this has now crossed the finish line and by my standards in near record time, despite the issues with the decals - some of the kits doing and some of my making (see build thread for details).

As many will know this kit and its sister XIVe kit apparently has a whole host of issues (see HERE for full list). These issues include a nose and spinner that are too short and too deep i.e. not pointy enough, and the canopy shape being off. I can't comment on the first but I agree that the canopy shape looks distinctly off to me too - not that I am an expert - oh and it has a seam down the middle. In doing my research I also discovered that the supplied decals are for a XIVe.

So you may ask why build it at all??? Well it only cost 50p thanks to a raffle ticket win, I need more practice on 1/48 wingy things and wanted to try out some new techniques, plus I have never binned a kit due to inaccuracy issues, and so if was to go horribly wrong nothing was lost......

...oh, and even allowing for the faults, it does very much look like a Spitfire as another reviewer noted!!

So a number of firsts for me with this kit:

• First ever Academy kit (be warned their decals are awful, unless they're the Cartograph ones as they apparently sometimes use)
• First ever 1/48 Spitfire (and in fact only my second one ever - I'll let that sink in!!)
• First time doing painted invasion stripes

Given the kit decal issues, I had to go down the AM decals route and use generic sets to vaguely represent Spitfire RB159 (this is a XIVc), and so the letter and number shapes aren't quite right. There a number of pics online of this Spit but none with invasion stripes, albeit it was flying at a time when they would have been painted on, hence the 'what if'.

All in all I have to say I am very pleased with this given the horror story with the decals.

So is it the most accurate Spit on the market - apparently not but it scrubs up quite nicely nonetheless....and it served it's purposed as another practice piece before I move onto better kits.

Full build thread can be found HERE.

Finally, thanks for all the support along the way chaps, it is very much appreciated!

ACW as usual

ATB

Andrew


PS sorry for the background, I don't have proper set up and wanted a sold background to take the photos against.

PPS sorry for so many pics but I wanted enough for posterity!


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[Steven000]

Despite the issues you had it turned out great Andrew Looking forward to your next project, cheers

 

[Ian M]

Well It looks good to me. I am by far a Spitfire expert but I always say if it looks right...
It looks like a tidy build so beat that into shape well. Paint wise; most excellent old chap.
Like it a lot.

 

[papa 695]

Fantastic work Andrew.

 

[adt70hk]

Despite the issues you had it turned out great Andrew Looking forward to your next project, cheers

Well It looks good to me. I am by far a Spitfire expert but I always say if it looks right...
It looks like a tidy build so beat that into shape well. Paint wise; most excellent old chap.
Like it a lot.

Fantastic work Andrew.

Thanks very much chaps, coming from such a talented trio, I take the feedback as a real compliment.

ATB

Andrew

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Well done on turning this one around Andy. Gotta love these 5 bladed Mk XIV variants. Great looking model,

 

[colin m]

What a great job. Accuracy, well, it's never worried me and your Spitfire, looks like a Spitfire. I recently had to paint invasion stripes in 1:48 and still remember, even thought how simple of a job it seems, they certainly are not straightforward. I can see this didn't phase you, they look spot on.

 

[yak face]

Great job andrew , it looks lovely . Invasion stripes - they always look great but I dread having to do them , its an awful lot of masking! Ive got an ICM spit to do and thats got them , probably explains why its still in the stash! Cheers tony

 

[Jim R]

Looks very nice indeed. If there are inaccuracies then only very few would notice. It looks a great model of an iconic Spitfire to me.

 

[adt70hk]

Well done on turning this one around Andy. Gotta love these 5 bladed Mk XIV variants. Great looking model,

What a great job. Accuracy, well, it's never worried me and your Spitfire, looks like a Spitfire. I recently had to paint invasion stripes in 1:48 and still remember, even thought how simple of a job it seems, they certainly are not straightforward. I can see this didn't phase you, they look spot on.

Great job andrew , it looks lovely . Invasion stripes - they always look great but I dread having to do them , its an awful lot of masking! Ive got an ICM spit to do and thats got them , probably explains why its still in the stash! Cheers tony

Looks very nice indeed. If there are inaccuracies then only very few would notice. It looks a great model of an iconic Spitfire to me.

Thank you very much indeed guys, coming from such a talented bunch, I am genuinely humbled.

Colin, Tony - I know what you mean but I was lucky and sourced some a small UK store that specialises in a whole host of their own custom made kabuki tape AM plane marking masks, including invasion stripes. That said the underwing oil cooler housings are just in the wrong place and the curve of a Spitfire wing doesn't help either!

Thanks again chaps!

ATB

Andrew

 

[flyjoe180]

Brilliant Andrew, enjoyed watching your build thread, and the finished result is one to be proud of for sure

 

[adt70hk]

Thanks Joe, your support is very much appreciated!!

Apologies if I gave asked this already but whereabouts in NZ are you? My wife grew up there before coming to the UK and getting stuck with me!. We actually got married in Auckland and have been back twice since then.

Thanks again.

Andrew

 

[Tworrs]

Very impressive Andrew, you can be very proud of that one.

 

[adt70hk]

Very impressive Andrew, you can be very proud of that one.

Thanks Garry. Glad you like it. I'm very pleased with it!!

ATB

Andrew