Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

[Stikpusher]

This is my build of the Academy 1/48 Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe. I built it OOB aside from adding a seat harness and an acetate lens for the gunsight. I did replace the roundels and fin flashes with some Aeromaster decals, since the kit did not include the 1945 style upper wing roundels, which the markings should be. Otherwise, contrary to reputation, the Academy decals worked perfectly. The markings are for 451 Squadron at RAF Gatow near Berlin during the Allied occupation in 1945. I used Tamiya paints for the RAF Temperate Day Fighter scheme.














Since this model was built for the CAF Museum at Falcon Field in Mesa AZ, as part of Phoenix IPMS project, I kept weathering to an absolute minimum.

Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcomed.

[LyleW]

That’s a real good looking build!

[tempestjohnny]

Excellent finish. I don't know if I could have given that one up

[BlackSheep214]

Now that Spit looks simply devine!

[Stikpusher]

Lyle, TJ, and Tom, thank you. I appreciate your feedback on this project.

[Gary Brantley]

That's a brilliant Spitfire, Carlos! Man, that looks great; as TJ said, I'd hate to let that one get away!

[cbaltrin]

That's beautiful Stik. I can't find any flaw--nice paint, wash, decaling, canopy masking--top notch job all the way around!

[keavdog]

Turned out great Stik. Very nice.

[Stikpusher]

Gary, Chris, and John, thank you for your kind words.

I did have one oh no moment near the end when the glue holding the photo windows gave way while I was removing the masking and they fell into the fuselage. I ended up making new windows using Micro Krystal Klear, since glueing them back in place was not an option due to their design.

So a word of caution to any who build this kit - use very strong glue to attach those windows before joining the fuselage halves together…

[Tojo72]

That's nice,never seen a Spit with the 5 blade prop