1/48 Spitfire FR 18.
This is the new Airfix Mk. XIVe kit finished as an FR 18. The XIV/18 are my favorite Spitfires and I'm really glad this kit came about. I bought three of them in early June when they were released. Two were perfectly molded, one had seriously bad short shots on the horizontal stab parts and cockpit tub halves. Airfix made it right within 10 days. Much has been said about the QC issues with this kit and justifiably so. However, it is a seriously nice model kit that deserves to be bought and built in large numbers. The first run has sold out, so get them when they do the second run. To build an FR18 from this kit, simply keep the full span wings, use the wide chord rudder, and use the bigger tires with the three spoke hubs. The jury is out as to what the vertical camera installations looked like so I didn't make them. Some say they were covered with mud flaps, others believe they were never used in this plane and were paneled over. I chose to make a 208 Squadron a/c that was based in Palestine/Cyprus/Egypt during the late 1940s. These Spitfires saw combat with both Egyptian and Israeli Spitfires during those years. The odd camouflage scheme was applied in Egypt in 1949. It consists of Dark Earth/Light Slate Grey over Medium Sea Grey. The paints I used were Xtracolor Dark Earth and Humbrol #31 Slate Grey over Humbrol #165 Medium Sea Grey. I picked up a Model Alliance sheet with decals for this aircraft but was disappointed with the color printing. Ultimately, I only used the black serial numbers from the Model Alliance sheet. I sourced the roundels, a/c letter, and fin flash from my decal dungeon while using the wing walk stripes and limited stencils from the kit. The only aftermarket parts I used were some Eduard seat belts.
My second kit is almost finished and Should be posted soon. Get your hands on one of these and enjoy it.
Nice presentation, John...I really like this one. 🙂
Thanks, Craig!
Really nice, John. the Xtradecals 48-130 Spitfire XIV-18 sheet has this airplane with great decals. Your model looks great.
Thanks, Tom. I've got an Indian XIVe up next and will probably do the third kit as one of Johnnie Johnson's planes in Germany at the end of the war.
Nicely done John
Thanks, Tom.
A very admirable Spitfire in seldom seen colours. This mark has a quite beautiful balance of power and elegance and this project shows that off wonderfully. Well done, John; look forward to seeing what you do with the others.
‘Liked’
Thanks, David! This post war desert scheme looks good on these aircraft. Some 6 Squadron Tempests were painted in this scheme too. The next one will be Indian AF and the third kit will probably be one of Johnnie Johnson's planes immediately post war in Germany.
Lovely looking Spitfire. Very nicely done John. Looks like this is a very popular kit from Airfix. I've one on the go at the moment.
Thanks Julian. Looking forward to seeing yours.
Hi John !
Once again, a terrific build. Great to see you posting again. We've moved and over the last number of months I've been so busy that I haven't checked out my favorite modeler site in a while. THANKS for sharing your talent.
Tom
Thanks Tom! Text me the move story.
Sharp looking Spitfire, I like the look of the later Spits.
Me too Robert. Griffon engine, bubbletop, wide chord rudders, original elliptical wing make the XIV/18 my favorite Spits. Not a lot of Spitfire DNA left in the 22/24s for my taste.
Great looking build John!
Thanks, Dale.
This is an amazing Spitfire build... well done John. Great choice for the color scheme.
These later mark Spits look like they're going Mach 1 even when parked on the ground. They're very sleek and elegant planes.
"liked"
Thanks, Louis. Mk. XIV, 18, Pr.19 were the best looking piston engined fighters ever built in my opinion.
awesome Spit John
Thanks, Bob!
Nice work John !
Excellent choice of colour scheme!
Thanks, David!
A beauty John! Very sleek spit, this mark.
Thanks, Greg!
Great result John. The camouflage scheme looks really good & it's interesting to see a Mk 18 built from this kit, especially so with a bit of historical background. I've just started mine but haven't made up my mind as to what scheme I will use, although I have both Xtradecal sheets... Decisions, decisions!
Good luck, Tony! Looking forward to seeing yours.