2011 Achievements

This year I kept better track of my builds and which theme(s) they were associated with. I also was able to achieve a few other goals for my hobby:

• I started a blog of my Spitfire builds;
• I participated in 2 Group Builds;
• I completed 9 Spitfires/Seafires; my goal was 10 and I expected to get 8 back in October.

In order of construction, here they are:

Hobby Boss Spitfire Mk Vb, EP312 / D-K, personal mount of WC Dereck Kain, Edku, Egypt, 1944. Not a “bad” kit, but if you source the landing gear covers (mine came from a Revell Mk Vb), a new prop (Quickboost), and a new canopy (I used the kit one) it looks the part. Total cost is higher than it should be, given the aftermarket needed to make it acceptable. I’ll not do another. Dark Green, Dark Earth, Azure. Markings from spares and masks.


Airfix Spitfire Mk IXc, 4th PS, 52nd FG, Corsica, January 1944, F/O Bob Hoover. I didn’t correct the kit like I should have as I didn’t realize the inaccuracies. This is a great kit to learn on, inexpensive and accurate in overall shape. Earth over Light Blue. Decals by Rising Decals (72-019).


Airfix Spitfire Mk IIa, P7308/XR-D, 71 “Eagle” Squadron, P/O Bill Dunn, 27 August 1941. I finally got a new tooling Mk I here in the US and got the 3D-Kits Mk II conversion set at about the same time. I decided to make a IIa and try both out, since I liked the DFS in transition. Much has been said about the kit and conversion set, I’ve since purchased a half dozen more kits (the Mk I/II boxing) and the LR conversion from 3D-Kits. For the price this kit is an excellent basis for anything from an early Mk I to a Mk Va. Dark Green, Ocean Grey, Medium Sea Grey and Sky.


Airfix Spitfire Mk IXc (early), MA585/KH-B, 403 Squadron RCAF, P/O George Beurling, 1943, (September Theme, “Canadian Bacon” and Spitfire Group Build online). My second attempt at the new tooling Mk IX, this time I corrected the kit by backdating the elevators, removed the wheel well bulges and sourced 5-spoke wheels. I also improved the cockpit with a better seat and column. Decals came from the Canadian IPMS sheet for RCAF aces. Dark Green, Ocean Grey, Medium Sea Grey & Sky.


Airfix Spitfire Mk I, R6595, 610 Squadron, RAF, Biggin Hill, August 1940, (Airfix Group Build online). Another “old school” build, I decided to take my old 1979 tooling and make it a quick build like I would have back in 1979. Another subject chosen because of the history and with a unique scheme (too large unit markings and fin flash backwards). Hand painted Dark Green, Dark Earth and Sky; decals are from an Aeromaster Sheet on the BoB (72-028).


CMR Spitfire Prototype K5054. I’ve quite a few of CMR’s Spitfires & Seafires to fill in my gaps. This is a lovely kit, it went together very quickly and I must say I’m getting much better at the vac canopy. Overall Light Grey-Blue (I used RLM 76).


CMR Seafire FR.47, VP459, 179/P, 800 Squadron FAA, HMS Triumph, Fall 1950 (November Theme, “Land of the Morning Calm”). While I believe the Spitfire to be the most beautiful aircraft ever designed, the Seafire FR.47 is nearly my favorite of the line. In this livery it’s very attractive and the slim lines of the original Spitfire are taken to their limits. The only challenging portion of this build was the prop -- I wanted it to turn and may just replace it with a set that is permanently fixed. The vac canopy was no trouble at all.


Airfix Spitfire Mk I (early), K9794, WZ T, 19 Squadron RAF, Duxford August 1938. Responding to another modeler who attempted to build their new tooling Spitfire and experienced an awful mess, I documented and shared my build as part of the same Airfix Group Build. I decided to complete it with spare decals from a CMR Mk I, as this was a scheme I wanted in my collection; albeit very close to the kit scheme.


Fujimi Spitfire FR XIVe, 2 Squadron, 2nd TAF, RAF Wunsdorf, Germany, 1947. I began this build based on Paul Lucas’ excellent Camouflage & Markings, RAF Fighters 1945-1950 Overseas Based. Using period photos that appear to show a very dark scheme he surmised these were FR XIVe in the low-level recce scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey, Extra Dark Sea Green over PRU Mauve. Alas, more recent research indicates that while authorized, no FR XIVe were painted thus, and all were delivered in a modified DFS of Dark Green, Ocean Grey over Medium Sea Grey with a Night spinner. A fairly easy build, I had to modify the tail wheel to be retractible and open the starboard camera port. My first use of the newer Tamiya paints for the DFS.

Those last 3 will get their own postings soon in order to provide the usual details.  I failed to complete the MPM Spitfire FR Mk XVIII, but December was just too busy for me. 

I also got my other blog started, focused on all my models, not just Spitfires.

Thanks for looking.

Fujimi FR Mk XIVe

Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XIVe, 'F', 2 Squadron, Germany, 1947. 

I wrongly collected 2 extra Fujimi kits of the Mk XIVe rear view (bubble top) Spitfire thinking these were externally identical to the Mk XVIII.  My desire was to build two Far East subjects, only to find out later I'd mis-interpreted the information I had. Getting better references helped immeasurably (okay it's measured by the loss of pocket money I must now spend to get the correct kits).

The Fujimi kit is not without it's flaws, detractors or fans. Somewhat easy to find, not too expensive, a bit over engineered to allow for 4 variants (PR XIX, F XIVc, F XIVe, and F XIVe rear view), but not too difficult a build. The cockpit is wrong but easily fixed, I left mine as is. Here's an easy mod of the kit to FR standard, which most rear view XIVe marks were. 

The Aircraft

In late 1944, as the rear view (the formal name of the bubble top variants) Spitfire F Mk XIV was being developed and produced, the RAF desired a photo-reconnaissance version. After some debate over the mark number and whether it would be called a PR or FR or F Mk XIV (PR) the Air Ministry decided on FR for fighter-reconnaissance. 

As the rear view was basically a refined F Mk XIVe, Supermarine also added, and the Air Ministry accepted, the additional refinements necessary to carry one oblique and up to two vertical cameras. The specification was approved for introduction in 5 stages with Stage 1 being the basic mark. Stage 2 introduced the rear view; stage 3 added the oblique camera with rear fuel tank; stage 4 added the vertical cameras; and finally stage 5 added a second rear fuselage tank. Of note is that all this added equipment weight was offset by removing the ballast necessary in the tail due to the heavier Griffon engine.

My references indicate only 120 FR Mk XIVe were made, deliveries beginning in early 1945, in addition to the few conversions and test examples. Serials were TX974-998, TZ102-149, 152-176, and 178-199. 

The subject of my model has an unknown serial number, but is coded 'F'. All were delivered to Northern Europe in the Day Fighter Scheme of Dark Green, Ocean Grey, over Medium Sea Grey with Sky band and spinner and yellow wing leading edge. For assignment to 2nd TAF the Sky spinner was repainted Night and the Sky band over painted. For the tactical reconnaissance role, the roundels were all the same size and type at 36 inches. 

I've two references that state the paint scheme actually used was the low-level PR scheme of Extra Dark Sea Green, Extra Dark Sea Grey over PRU Mauve, however this has been universally refuted as highly unlikely. 

Reference: Spitfire the History, RAF Fighters 1945-1950 Overseas Based, Spitfire in Action

The Model

The Fujimi kit is a very good kit even with its faults. Care must be taken to make the minor mods needed when building one of the variants the basic kit can make. While the instructions generally provide most of the needed specifics, the kit is based on research done on restored aircraft so additional work is required to be accurate. As an example, other than a few early Mk XII airframes, all Griffon Spitfires had a retractable tail wheel based on the Mk III prototype. The Fujimi kit models the tail wheel down and with the door outlines; many restored Griffon Spitfires have this feature for ease of maintenance and reliability, but only rarely on operational machines.

As mentioned earlier, the cockpit is not accurate; it is represented by a half-tube or tub.  The seat is ok and the control column is right.  The instrument panel is just a half-circle disk, so I used a printed panel glued on.  With some masking tape seat belts and the canopy closed up, it will all look okay.  My other one will get a proper cockpit, either scratched or aftermarket.

I like the prop assembly on this kit.  It’s easy to paint, and although the blades are separate it assembles easily and looks the part when done.  

To correct the kit to make the FR Mk XIVe, one must do the following:

• Scratch a boat antenna;
• Use 3 spoke wheels;
• Create camera ports both port and starboard;
• Use the short span wingtips;
• Add a whip antenna;
• Correct the retractable tail wheel, with doors.

An additional feature that I’ve yet to determine is whether it should have round or fishtail exhausts.  Since I could not find a photo showing round, I used the kit exhausts.  My subject is post-war and many post-war machines were retrofitted with round exhausts.  

Boat Antenna

Unfortunately I’ve not been able to find a good drawing or photo of this antenna.  I’m the only one in my local area who knows it’s supposed to have one, so I decided to ignore it for now.  Eventually I’ll figure out what they look like, correct the model and post updated photos here.

3 Spoke Wheels

I believe all Mk XIVe had these due to the required capability for carriage of bombs.  The few photos I’ve got show them.  Unfortunately the kit has 4 spoke wheels.  I did not have any 3 spoke wheels in my spares box, so I stuck with the kit wheels.

Camera Ports

Unlike the PR XIX, which has a camera port on the left side, and 2 underneath, the FR XIVe has a port on both sides, opposite each other.  Since the kit has all 4 ports marked, it was easy to drill them out using a 1/16th in bit, which looked the right size by eye.  I then filled them with Microscale Micro Krystal Klear.

Short Span Wings

My references indicate the Mk XIV wings had a tendency to wrinkle under use.  So eventually all were required to have the short span wings to lessen the stresses on them.  Easy enough as the kit offers this option.

Whip Antenna

Most photos don’t seem to show an antenna for the rear view configured Spitfires.  It’s there, but is a short whip antenna installed about 3 scale inches aft of frame 18 and slightly to the right of the centerline of the fuselage.  Frame 18 is the one behind the aft camera that faces downward.  I used invisible thread, about 12 scale inches long.

Tail Wheel & Doors

As mentioned before, Fujimi molded the doors closed and provided the tailwheel as a fixed unit; used by some operational aircraft post-war and a typical modification of modern Griffon powered Spitfires (Rudy Frasca’s Mk 18 is configured with the tailwheel fixed down).  I carefully cut the doors out, then with some judicious sanding was able to use them on the kit.  I cut a piece of sprue and fitted into the hole for the tail wheel to fit.  

For decals I went to my spares; 36 inch national marking III in all six positions plus the 24 inch square fin flash marking (i).  If / when I get some Sky letters I’ll add the fuselage code letter “F”.

Thanks for looking.