1/48 Spitfire Mk.XIV prototype

Gallery Article by Robert-Jan Willekens on Dec 30 2003

 

I like colourful models, as you can see. Warplanes are supposed to be drab and dark, but sometimes they come in rather lively appearances! Witness to this is my rendition of this Spitfire JF316 Mk.XIV prototype. Another Spitfire, you may say. Yes, the most well-known, well-researched and most modelled airplane of them all! My first airplane kit was indeed the Airfix Spitfire, a long, long time ago (1968?...)

This particular Spit started off as the Hobbycraft Mk.XV Seafire. I deleted the four-blade prop, which was replaced by a resin five-blade example. Next was the deletion of the hook, simply done by removing the rudder and replacing it by a spare ICM pointed rudder which I didn't need for my ICM Mk.IX rendition. The wheels are from True Details. Decals came from the spare decal bank and are mostly AMD. Finally, the paint was airbrushed on using Extracolor paints. Glorious Yellow!!

The prototype Mk.XIV (at least this one, for there were six built) was in fact a Mk.VIII airframe, to which the R-R Griffon 65 was mated; the asymetrical oil coolers were deleted from the Mk.VIII and the two same-shape coolers were fitted. Later prototypes reflected the new fuselage with larger span vertical tail and rudder.

Robert-Jan Willekens

      

Photos and text © by Robert-Jan Willekens