The Spitfire Mk.XIV was developed to improve on the high altitude performance of the Spitfire Mk XII. The Mk.XIV combined elements of the Mk.VIII with the new 65 series twin supercharged Rolls Royce Griffon engine. As the airframe was developed, more and more modifications were made, such as the cutback fuselage with bubble canopy and the “E” wing which featured clipped wingtips and improved armament. The Spitfire Mk XIV could climb at over 5000 feet per minute and achieve a top speed of 446 mph.
The basic review of the Airfix 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk. XIV was done to show the kit as it would go together right from the box, with a minimum of cleanup or special adjustment. The review pretty much just followed the instructions. But in this short video, I want to suggest solutions for a couple of, what I consider to be, the two significant shortcomings of the kit: the cover over the forward fuel tank and the gaps at the wing root joint.
When Airfix first announced that they were doing a Mk XIV, the majority of modelers were expecting an earlier Mk XIVC or Mk XIVE with the Spitfire’s signature Malcolm hood. For many, and myself included, the cutback bubble canopy version came as a disappointment. As of this writing (3/2023), there is still not a satisfactory Mk XIV with the Malcolm hood. To that end, I have outlined two different methods for going about a conversion of this Airfix kit to either a Spitfire Mk XIVC or Spitfire Mk XIVE (Here)
Airfix UK https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/aircraft.html
Airfix US https://www.airfix.com/us-en/
Hannants Hobbies https://www.hannants.co.uk/
Sprue Brothers Hobbies http://spruebrothers.com/
Britmodeller http://www.britmodeller.com/
Hyperscale http://www.hyperscale.com/
Spitfire Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire
Spitfire Society http://www.spitfiresociety.org/
Contour Gauge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPQq3KHVC1A
Fabrication 101 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m59nPHHLX7U
Acrylic Resin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4URAxj6oz0
Facts on File http://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques/Files/files.html