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Me too! Loic! Me too!, the exact 2 marks of spits! I am mixing/matching pieces to make those exact two versions. I will be taking those radiators that don't work on the MkXIV,and put them on my spare wing with the fuselage of the Mk22(with the pointy rudder that I won't be using now also), and make a Mk.VI. I'm using the Merlin, lengthened, cut off this spit(with exhaust stacks from a P-51) cut off with the 4 bladed prop from this kit also! So, even though I'm crying the blues...it's all working out by not working out!? Glad you like the build so far, and if you have any questions, please feel free to correspond! Russ

As an aside, when doing research last night...I found this. A model by Steve Siviter which is on the LSP site(somewhere). Notice the resin engine,E wing, shaved fuse and tail on a Hasegawa fuselage. Dooohhh! Didn't know such things existed. This project is all about pushing my envelope, and using what I have available, so mine will be a low budget plastic facsimile. I typed in spitfire mkXIV in yahoo search and this came up for this site....but I can't find it.(he had to build his own radiators also, so I don't feel so bad. hehe) Had to show pics of the "destruction before construction" phase so everybody can follow what I'm doing. This is going to get a LOT more interesting (now that I know what the heck I'm doing!) Later, Russ Hopefully, the radiator elves will build(and scribe?) some new parts for me, and they'll be on my bench in the morning?

As seen, the Hasegawa parts are real good size-wise. Wing tips will be a cake walk. phew.

A picture is worth a thousand curse words. Scratch build radiator time. Radiators on a Mk14 set of plans. Hmmm. Radiators need to be shaped slightly different, and about 3/16th" deeper. Tonights project.

Whahhh, sniffle. :angry:

Moving on to the wings. This was my first big "uh oh, sphagettios(?)" moment. After cutting out the oil cooler/radiator, and taking a spare radiator off another kit, well..uh...it didn't work. Radiators on a set of Mk9 set of plans. These will go on the Mk.6 bubble top version I'll be making with all the pieces that are left over from this kit bash. I hate to waste good parts. Blaaasttttt!!!!

Moving on to the fuselage, here is the correct broad chord fin I will be making. Profile is a bubble-top Mk.14, but will work for now. Oh yea, FYI, I put the Matchbox/Revell Mk22/24 fuse up next to these plans, and they lined up nice.(cept the rudder of course.) Also, I was able to zero in my engine length, and panel lines using this profile. I'm within a 1/16th".(yes!) This is going to be a hoot!

Ooookay! I'm back as promised, with some plans...A plan...and an epiphany!! Thanks for kind words first of all, much appreciated. Loic, thank you for your very kind offer, might take you up on it, be forewarned! hah! After doing an all-night research flog, I have a squadron(or 2?) picked out and a paintjob.(uh, shoulda done this first?). Also realized I was looking at pics of Mk.12's, not 14's. Dooohhh! This would be a much easier conversion for a Mk12. No elevator mods, radiator/oil cooler same as Mk.5, and a pointy rudder. Just plug a Griffon on the front, with a small bump on top behind the spinner...and POOF. Done. But I digress. TyphoonNick is correct, this rudder is wrong for a Mk.14. Also found some other nuances that might be interesting. Here are my plans I enlarged today to show what I'll be doing. First the tail feathers. As you can see, the Hasegawa stuff is pretty much spot on in scale. (whew!)

That's an awesome weathering job! Very, nice.

Sweeeet!!! Nice and colorful. I've never seen one built with the air filters like that. Nice touch! Russ

Thanks Dave!, Fit really isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Not having a detailed engine, and a pilot in the cockpit will really knock down on the time needed to build this brute. I agree,..clipped wing it'll be. This version of the Griffon was rated as a low/medium altitude stop-gap version so the clips would be appropriate. Here's another angle. I'm actually working on the wing underside first, re-doing the radiators. The larger air intake is attached to the engine "pod". I'm enlarging some side views tomorrow to make sure I get the engine "stretch" the correct length. Only have views of late Mk.XIV with broader chord fin/rudder and bubble canopy, but they'll do.(maybe my next model?! I like these birds!) Tomorrow it'll be pics of the wing undersides, and my radiator mods. Any Spit experts out there see anything amiss, please let me know. All Mk.XIV knowledge of nuances and changes for this model are more than welcome! Later!, Russ

Thanks Denie & Kevin! Ya know, it was you who inspired me to push my "comfort zone" Kevin?! I usually have a stack of reference material before I even start, but I thought I'd show some cheek and do something outside my envelope. I can see why Spitfires are so poular...this thing has some LINES to it. Smiles at ya like a pretty girl. Super aggresive looking with that MOTOR on the front. I'm in love Now if I could just find some reference pics of a Mk.XIV in late war colors/squadron codes!!!! Seems like I see them all the time, but now that I need them...where'd they go? Russ

Okay, First attempt at posting pics. Whew! Hasegawa Mk.VI HF fuselage, with Revell/Matchbox Mk.XXIV(?) "power egg". These Roman numerals get confusing! Research shows MK.XIV's had a MK.VIII fuse,(retracting tail wheel). Also don't know if it has 5-4-3 spoked wheels. Not sure if cockpit is pressurized? Already started on tailwheel, and underside radiators and pointy rudder. Used the larger air intake for the Griffon. Will have a Master Details resin pilot...these are nice. As far as I can tell with limited library on Spits, I have a multiple choice of wing types and tips. Hmm,. Kinda like the late war clipped wing..think it's a "C" wing. Anyway, I find I definitely need some kind of photo booth to get better pics. What do you think of the progress so far? Got about 4 hrs. into it, and should have the radiators on by tonight. Also confused about all the roundel styles. Methinks the late war ones are 3-colored and have a thin white inner strip on the wings/fuselage? Research goes on. Later, Russ P.S. Got a new scribeing tool to play with. I will be doing a lot of filling, and the kit has raised panel lines....so it should get a work-out! It also worked great for cutting out the old oil cooler/radiator set-up under the wing. This is going to be fun.

Hello All, New Guy here, and I think I'll join this group build with a late war clipped wing Griffon engined Spitfire. Always wanted to try this conversion, but I'm "Spitfire challenged" and have NEVER built a Spitfire before! The learning curve looks to be steep. I started cutting plastic on friday night, and have it pretty well roughed out. Far enough along to take some pics tonight, and post them once I learn how! Hope this build won't be too boring, as Spitfires are pretty popular. Pics later on tonight. Later, Russ

Cool!, I just got this kit, and I'm really interested in how well it builds up. RAF camo will look sweet on the jug. Good choice.

Hah hah! That's classic Kevin! I just got my first REAL scriber last week and I'm going thru that exact scenario right now! Really like how you take the old kits on. Always wanted to do the BF-109E, but never got one. Was a real eye opener seeing how "dimensionally challenged" this one really is. Still want to do one...but I'll wait and see how you compensate with this build. Can't wait to see what operational squadron/colors you'll decide to paint it up with. I'm going to be lurking over your shoulder watching this one go together. Looking sweet! Russ

Good job Loic! Always wanted to do this conversion too, but always chickened out. I am following this buid-up with much interest. Can't wait to see how your cockpit turns out, that's some nice scratch building! Russ

Hello!, I got a late start reading this thread cause I'm so new.(finally get to post for the first time tonight...yeayyy!) Very nice build sir. I read your thread on your Zero build too. Really admire the way you're always pushing your "comfort zone" and learning new techniques constantly! Really enjoying watching this kit go together...thanks for sharing. Russ

Thanks for the link! Answered a question I had about kit specified wheel well colors and such. Didn't think they were zinc chromate, but it's hard to find color pics of an unrestored Bearcat. Also nice he pinned down the correct version(nose cone) of the R-2800 for the -1 early model. The kit comes with 4(!) different types. Nice to know this kit is dimensionally correct too. Again, thanks for the excellent reference!