Trumpeter 1/48 Supermarine Spiteful Mk.XIV
By Robert Hill
Overview
Borne out of a late-WW2 desire to provide the Spitfire with more speed and a roll rate that was to be the best on any fighter aircraft, the Spiteful used newly discovered data on aerodynamic compressibility. A new wing that tossed aside the traditional Spitfire ellipse was designed and fitted to a standard Spitfire XIV fuselage. While the new wing did allow this prototype to be faster than an unmodified Spitfire XIV it also exhibited some undesirable behavior in the stall. After the first prototype crashed in September of 1944 a new one was built incorporating a new fuselage. The new airplane was different enough from the Spitfire to warrant a new name, and the Spiteful was born.
Following the end of the war only 17 production examples (with a larger tail that also was found on the Spitfire 22/24/Seafire 46/47) were built. A naval version was ordered as a hedge against the failure of the Royal Navy's first jet fighters, but with the successful operation of the Sea Vampire the need for the Seafang disappeared. The Spiteful wing did live on with Supermarine's modestly successful naval jet fighter, the Attacker.
The Kit
Trumpeter has chosen an unusual subject that will fill in any 1/48 scale Spitfire collection. Upon opening the standard box the modeler will find 79 clear and light gray parts, 5 photo etch parts for the radiators and chin intake, a color decal placement sheet, an 8 page, 6 step instruction booklet and a decal sheet.
The clear parts represent the bubble canopy, wingtip lights, gunsight and fuselage-side camera port. The main canopy bubble contains a mold line running right down the top of it that will need to be sanded and polished out. The canopy is 2 piece and can be set in the open position.
The model is covered with fine panel lines with some very subdued rivet detail. Ailerons and flaps are positionable, and the main wheels are made up of two halves. The gear wells are separate boxes that will need to be glued to the lower wing haves.
The one-piece 5-bladed propeller is sandwiched between a backing plate and spinner, and looks good and should be much easier to build versus a prop with separate blades.
There is a basic cockpit with a tub and side panels/main panel. Decals are used for the main instrument panel. I've read some other reviews that suggest the cockpit may be more "Spitfire" like and therefore inaccurate for Spiteful. To me it's so small that only the most "learned" of Supermarine fanatics will be able to tell the difference.
Oddly Trumpeter has decided to include an optional fuselage side camera. This was on some late-model Spitfires but I haven't been able to find any evidence that the Spiteful had them. Check references if you choose to use this part and the clear window to cover it. In any case some drilling of the fuselage will be needed.
Photoetch and Decals
There are 5 photoetch parts – 4 identical screens that are used in the front and rear of each radiator, and a smaller screen to cover the chin carburetor intake. They are well made and shouldn't be a problem to install.
Trumpeter has provided markings for 3 Spiteful Mk. XIV:
RAF production Spiteful RB518 in standard RAF day late-war camouflage"What-if?" Finnish Air Force SU-213 in silver finishAnother "what-if?" Netherlands Air Force H83 in standard RAF day late-war camouflage
Conclusion
Trumpeter has created one of the few Spiteful models on the market in any scale. Detail is very good and it fits together well without too much fuss. Other than the removal of the seam on the canopy it should be a quick and easy build, and when done will fit nicely within a collection of Spitfire or British aircraft. Whether you choose to build a Spiteful from reality or the "what-if" fantasy you will not be disappointed. My thanks to Stevens International for the review sample.