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Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 5:37 pm
by 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.

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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.

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:14 pm
by LyleW
That’s a real good looking build!

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 6:18 pm
by tempestjohnny
Excellent finish. I don't know if I could have given that one up

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 7:14 pm
by BlackSheep214
Now that Spit looks simply devine!

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2023 10:52 pm
by Stikpusher
Lyle, TJ, and Tom, thank you. I appreciate your feedback on this project.

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 6:39 am
by Gary Brantley
That's a brilliant Spitfire, Carlos! :shoutout: Man, that looks great; as TJ said, I'd hate to let that one get away! :grin:

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 8:54 am
by cbaltrin
That's beautiful Stik. I can't find any flaw--nice paint, wash, decaling, canopy masking--top notch job all the way around! :shoutout: :shoutout: :shoutout:

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 9:13 am
by keavdog
Turned out great Stik. Very nice.

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 11:43 am
by 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… :headslap:

Re: Completed Academy Spitfire FR. Mk.XIVe

Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2023 1:33 pm
by Tojo72
That's nice,never seen a Spit with the 5 blade prop