1/18 Spitfire Mk. XIVe - Race #80

[airscale]

So, this is the picture that changed everything…

 

 

This is a Spitfire Mk. XiVe (ex TZ138) being raced in Tinnerman Air Races at Cleveland, Ohio piloted by James McArthur placing 3^rd on September 4th 1949. The next day McArthur left the airfield at 6:00 am with the winnings and the aircraft leaving no trace of his destination.

 

As soon as I saw it, I couldn't stop thinking about it – bare metal, civilian not military, beautiful lines and right up my street. I had been struggling with fatigue on my F7F and after a bit of soul searching decided why not do both?

 

I found a few more pics, and in fact she is still flying as C-GSPT in Canada..

 

 

I looked at the Airfix 1/24 Spitfire Mk. 1a kit and what might be involved in converting it to a Griffon, low back Mk. XiVe, certainly a possibility, but through a culmination of events I went for this…

 

 

..it's a 1/18 Seafire FR47 available by order from HpH at 450 Euros without shipping and is being sent on Monday J. I went for it as it's bigger and needs less outline work to correct this to a Mk. XIV than taking a Mk. 1 all way up to the later marks..

 

I have the Monforton book which while it doesn't cover the Griffon versions it has remarkable detail & drawings on everything Spitfire, so I am already part way through drawing up some bespoke PE for it which is scaled up from what I have pending for the 1/24 kit..

 

..I also couldn't wait while it was being prepared so thought I would get started on something, and thanks to Tony Taylor's exceptional pics of the seat (I found them on a forum so I do hope he doesn't mind me re-posting..) I decided to start here..

 

 

..so first up I prepared the rear braces by scaling the drawings and using them as templates to form & bend up the parts..

 

 

..made up a kit of parts either turning on a dremel, forming from litho or using RB Motion car parts..

 

 

..assembled the parts and made up pistons etc from tube & rod..

 

 

..added the start of the seat mounting & adjustment frame – working from such accurate scaled drawings is an amazing bonus as it fits like watch parts and lines up properly provided care is taken..

 

 

 

..onto the seat itself – I decided to make this from litho even though it is a resin/paper moulding, just because I like to work with it..

 

..I annealed a part of it so I could shape the sort of ‘pocket' thing on the side – as I was working I also referred to David Glens book on his incredible 1/5 scale version…

 

[airscale]

..there is a uniquely shaped depression in the seat bottom for the parachute pack, so I made a plastic card ‘plug', fixed it to a thick base and worked annealed litho around it with a coffee stirrer stick..

 

 

..again, making up a kit of parts, including folding a lip at the back of the seat so it will meet and support the seat back..

 

 

..a dry fit of the parts so far..

 

 

 

 

..making the seat back – I drilled it so I could use micro rivets to fix it together..

 

 

..used the Monforton drawings to scale templates for all the parts, here I am starting on the fittings related to the seat height adjustment lever..

 

 

..and the finished adjustment lever bits & bobs..

 

 

.. I was quite impressed to find with careful assembly it actually works!

 

..lowest position..

 

 

..highest position..

 

[airscale]

After a week, that bit is finished and I like how it has turned out..

 

 

 

 

 

 - this is assembly number one of what will be a long term project.. I hope you will join me on the journey..

 

 ..also, as it's a Spitfire I am looking forward to getting a lot of advice as I go, as I learn about the airframe and the long list of subtle differences between Marks, versions and variants – I only wish Edgar Brooks was around to keep me straight – in a way I hope this becomes my tribute to him

 

See you soon folks..

TTFN
Peter

 

 

[dodgem37]

Peter, that is remarkable.  Such fantastic modeling.  I love it when a project comes together.  Great show!

 

Sincerely,

Mark

[BloorwestSiR]

That's an incredible start Peter. 

 

I'll be looking forward to more progress.

 

Carl

[dennismcc]

Magnificent madness has returned, and a Spitfire to boot, I will be following this closely.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[richdlc]

holy crap!

 

tigercat a bit too boring for you mate?

 

superb start, I wish I had half of your talent with metal

[Guest]

Here we go again !!.........Harv  

[D.B. Andrus]

I love your work.

 

Cheers,

 

D.B.

[williamj]

      Yikes!!     This is just spectacular...        

         And a Canadian subject no less.

Edited March 18, 2016 by williamj

[Bill_S]

Amazing stuff, Peter!

[fightersweep]

Oh my God! And my favourite mark of Spitfire!

 

Stop it....you're killing me...

 

 

 

....No! don't stop it! I want to watch and drool!

 

 

Best regards;

Steve

Edited March 30, 2018 by fightersweep

[Chek]

I hope you will join me on the journey..

 

 

Peter

 

It'll be a privilege and a pleasure to, Peter.

[Hubert Boillot]

 

There you go again ! And what a start !

 

Keep it coming

 

Hubert

[Out2gtcha]

Im already out of superlatives.