Spitfire PR. Mk. XIX

[GTX]

Hi folks,

I am after recommendations for a Spitfire PR. Mk. XIX kit, preferably in 1/48 scale.  Need it for two what-ifs I'm currently planning.

Regards,

Greg

[Radish]

There isn't a kit as such.

The best route is probably:

Academy 1/48th Spitfire XIVc and then use various Aeroclub conversions.
At the very least (cause everything is fairly simple to do by yourself) just buy a new cockpit canopy as this was special.

Generally, you'll need to smooth all panel lines from the wing, add new panels to replace the armement panels in the wings, easy as these are seperate in the kit and a quick piece of card substituted will do the job nicely, add a couple of underwing bulges for oil thingies and a long slender intake on the port nose below the exhausts. Drill and glaze the camera ports. nothing beyond the wit of man. There may be other detail changes you can make, but it depends on how far you want to go.

Good luck....I'm thinking of doing one myself.....sometime! But I want to do Powles real one that he used to fly over Communist China during the Korean War.

[Leigh]

Not a Mk XIX but here's how I made the cameras on my P.R. Spitfire

[Jennings]

Here's how bad I want a 1/48 PR.XIX, and how far you have to go to get one that's even reasonably  akin to accurate:

The Academy kit is (IMHO) worthless.  The wings are about 50% too thick, the fuselage is shaped wrong, and the nose looks like Jimmy Durante on steroids.  Ditch it.  Looks great in the box, but not much else.  Oh, save those radiators.  And save the vertical fin from the angled fuselage break line aft if you must.  It's not accurate, but it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

Get yourself a Tamiya Mk.V (or a Mk.I for that matter).  You've got a *reasonably* accurate Spitfire shape that builds easily.  Now get yourself an Airfix Spit 22/24 (or Seafire 46/47).

Chop the nose off the Airfix kit and graft it onto the Tamiya fuselage.  Chop the tail off the Tamiya kit and graft on the Academy tail.  An alternative here is to simply use some plastic card and putty to make the new tail and then scratch the bigger rudder.

Put the Academy (still inaccurate, but better than another poke in the eye with that stick) onto the Tamiya lower wing (no easy task, that).

Use the correct bits and bobs like wheels and such, fill in all the panel lines and cannon bumps & bulges on the wings, add the camera ports, add a Falcon PR canopy, and as we say in America, wallah.

Now, WHY DOESN'T SOME ENTERPRISING MANUFACTURER DO A FEKKING 1/48 PR.XIX FOR GOD'S SAKE!?!?!?!?!

Sorry, I feel better now.

J

[Radish]

Quite possible, Wooksta. Aeroclub probably did.

By the way, I like the Academy kit.
yes, the nose is bad, yes there are other problems, but it builds nicely and I like it.

[Jennings]

Quite possible, Wooksta. Aeroclub probably did.

By the way, I like the Academy kit.
yes, the nose is bad, yes there are other problems, but it builds nicely and I like it.

It's basically Spitfire shaped, true.  But it's woefully inaccurate regardless.  It does build great, and if it's not real accuracy you're after, it's a fine kit (as is the old Otaki/Arii kit).

It just amazes me that no manufacturer seems to have been able to simply send a team out to a couple of museums and/or airshows with cameras, plumb bobs, and tape measures to come up with a really accurate Sptifire kit.  Just amazing..

J

[GTX]

Hi folks,

Look what I found - not sure of the quality/details, but may be worth a look.



More info here, just scroll right to the bottom of the page.

Regards,

Greg