My latest kit arrival is the Academy Spitfire Mk.XIVc in 1/72 scale. This is a beautiful kit, with finely recessed panel lines and great detail all around. The clear parts are crisp and thin, with options for either a closed or open canopy. The decals are for one choice, being DW-D. No information is given as to the squadron or pilot, although looking it up in Late Marque Spitfire Aces 1942-45 by Dr. Alfred Price shows this to be the mount of Sqn Ldr R. Newberry, OC No 610 Sqn, West Malling, 1944. Overall, this looks like a beautiful kit of a famous airplane.
While the Mk.XIVc has a lot of potential as far as markings go, my avid interest in the Swedish Air Force is giving me the idea of converting the Mk.XIVc into a PR Mk.XIX. The conversion is incredibly simple, with the only change being the addition of camera ports. With the excellent scale drawings and photos in Björn Karlström's Flygplansritningar 4, the modifications will be no problem. My biggest worry is finding a good match for the PRU Blue paint and getting a set of decals for the Swedish bird. Stay tuned for a progress report on this project in the near future, and if anyone wants to help, email me! |