Review: Airfix new-tool 1/48 Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk. XIV – Visual review

This article is part of a series:

1. This is the Airfix' newest 1/48 Spitfire kit. Click on the picture for the sprue tour!

Here is the kit many have been waiting for - the brand-new Airfix 1/48 Spitfire FR. Mk XIV. This is the pictorial tour of the pre-preduction kit sprues as presented at the 2018 Scale Modelworld show in Telford. The product itself is scheduled for release in March 2019.

It is good to finally see a new-tool 1/48 Griffon Spitfire fighter, and in terms of accuracy and feature I must admit that this kit looks very promising. Good work Airfix.

The photo conditions at the show were less than ideal, but I hope that the pictures can tell the story.

When assembling this picture set I have been experimenting with the new sticky tags feature soon to be introduced to iModeler. Click on the pictures for my review comments and tell me if you like the format!

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24 additional images. Click to enlarge.

1. Sprue A comprising fuselage parts, external fuel tank, propeller and underwing radiator housings.

1. Sprue B, comprising one-piece lower wing, rudder, elevator, undercarriage and interior parts.

1. A simplistic sprue C holds the two upper wing halves

1. Sprue D with all the small pieces - thw wheels, pilot figure, exhausts, cockpit bits.

1. The surface detail looks refined as is consistent throughout the kit.

1. Panel detail of the upper wing half 2. Leading-edge wing tanks were a distinguishing feature of the Mk. XIV 3. "E" type armament

1. Note how thin the plastic is over the wheel well. Approaching the finesse of the original!

1. There's much to like about this surface detailing... 2. Ailerons are provided as separate parts 3. Cannon ejection chutes

1. Luckily, all the wing blisters are moulded integrally with the surface

1. Camera hatch for the FR (fighter reconaissance) version 2. Cutout for the fuselage wing tank will save some sanding and filling of the forward fuselage seam.

1. The prominent blisters of the Griffon engine are provided as separate parts. Fit in this area will be crucial.

1. Rear fuselage detailing 2. Nice rows of screws (yes, these were not rivets on the real plane:)

1. This looks like a novel solution to the landing gear attachment, which is a troublesome spot of many Spitfire kits. Hopefully this socket will provide a positive and sturdy joint.

1. Like in the previous Airfix Spitfire kits, the cockpit bathtub is provided as an insert. Neat!

1. The five-blade propeller

1. Two different rudders are provided 2. Standard Mk. XIV rudder 3. Mk. XVIII-style rudder was mounted on some late-production MK. XIVs

1. The large carburettor intake of the MK. XIV is provided in two parts, split in the middle. Unfortunately, this may lead to some awkward filling & sanding.

1. Clear parts. Two different canopies are provided. 2. The camera hatch is moulded in clear plastic

1. A selection of smooth, diamond-thread and rectangular-thread tires are provided in the kit. That's going an extra mile for the modeller! 2. Main wheel tires are correctly flattened at the bottom

1. Underwing radiator housings come each in one piece, with a poseable rear flap

1. Fuselage tank cover 2. Fuel cap detail, easy to preserve thanks to the parts breakdown 3. Lower windscreen fairing is cleverly moulded into this part rather than the clear windscreen. Neat!