BloorwestSiR Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Griffon posted Spitfires are my favourite variant of this iconic aircraft. Years ago, I did a high back XIV conversion using the Tamiya VIII kit and the RB conversion which was designed for the PCM kit. Lots of extra work as a result but I managed to pull it off. I then built the old Revell/Matchbox Spitfire 24 kit thinking at least I'd have one bubble top version. A kit of its time but I still enjoyed it. PCM released their high back XIV kit and finally we had an OOB option for a late war Griffon kit. As a result, I made plans to convert one to a PR XIX and finding a Cammet high back conversion to doa bubble top XIV. I started the XIX but haven't finished it yet. Now we have the latest option from Laminar Flow Design. nmayhew, LSP_Kevin, Martinnfb and 7 others 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Peaking in the box, everything has a nice protective cage around them. I did have a single part break loose but it was intact so no issues there. Cutting away the packing gave me a closer look at the quality of the parts LFD include extra exhaust pipes in case one looses/break any. The new retractable tailwheel as well as the templates for where to make cuts in the kit fuselage. LFD includes them for doing the fuselage hatches as well as for engraving the leading edge fuel tank panel lines. A really nice touch. Camera and mount if you do the FR option. Lastly the spinner and prop blades. scvrobeson, Fanes, Tolga ULGUR and 11 others 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 First step I did was cut the nose free. I used a pair of side cutters and took my time removing the supports. There's internal bracing as well as locating pegs to help attach it to the fuselage. I then started on the fuselage cuts. Their location are marked out on the instructions and the mostly follow panel lines. A quick test fit to the nose. Looks good so far. I then continued on with the remaining cuts to the vertical tail and the tailwheel section. For the latter, I used the included jigs to mark the location out and then cut them with a razor saw. The pegs on the back of the nose plug into the kits bulkhead. Then you glue thay to the fuselage giving you a nice secure join. Just tape holding things together. More to come... Landrotten Highlander, Sepp, scvrobeson and 22 others 24 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Let me be the first to follow this! Thanks for sharing this Carl, very inspiring. Cheers, Tom BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 Thanks Tom! It's a very well thought out conversion I was looking at the template for the fuselage hatch. He has tabs moulded into it that lock into place on the kit part so it's aligned correctly. Very clever and well done and reduces the chance of error. Uncarina 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncarina Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Brilliant! Cheers, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scvrobeson Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Ah, good to see someone getting a jump on this. Looking forward to seeing how it all goes together Matt BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shoggz Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 Following! BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 I took a look at the chin scoop and noticed that the shutter door(?) is even moulded in place on the upper side. I guess that's one of the benefits of 3D printing the parts. It's hard to see in the pic but it's there. Here's the various templates for engraving new panel lines and hatches. They're marked left and right so no mixing that up. For the fuselage camera hatch, hees the backside of the template. Note the cutout along the upper lip. That fits over the tab on the fuselage half. The exterior side. The template inner edge needs a quick sanding to completely remove the attachment points and then it'll be ready for scribing. It's pretty much foolproof and a brilliant way to do this. KUROK, Furie, Fanes and 20 others 22 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolga ULGUR Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 3 hours ago, BloorwestSiR said: More to come... Nice, Is there any problem at the junction of the nose part and fuselage, or is the picture deceiving? BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BloorwestSiR Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share Posted August 13, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, Tolga ULGUR said: Nice, Is there any problem at the junction of the nose part and fuselage, or is the picture deceiving? It's just a bit deceiving as I haven't done any tweaking/adjustment to the fit yet. The fuselage is still mostly the rough cut plus I haven't glued anything yet. I suspect things should fit better once I commit things to glue. Edited August 13, 2023 by BloorwestSiR Uncarina, Tolga ULGUR and geedubelyer 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tolga ULGUR Posted August 13, 2023 Share Posted August 13, 2023 3 minutes ago, BloorwestSiR said: It's just a bit deceiving as I haventydone any tweaking/adjustment to the fit yet. The fuselage is still mostly the rough cut plus I haven't glued anything yet. I suspect things should fit better once I commit things to glue. Thanks Good luck in your project BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 Fantastic, what an amazing conversion set, I wish it was around when I built my XIV (Hasegawa/Warbirds) Cheers Dennis BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunnus Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 Great work on the conversion set, Carl! I may delay the start of my build so that I can benefit from your trailblazing! Good to see the thought that went into the design of this conversion set. Touches that you normally don't see from an upgrade like this. BloorwestSiR 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williamj Posted August 14, 2023 Share Posted August 14, 2023 Looks very impressive, Have a set coming and plan on a highback with belly tank. So much to look forward to, now if we could only find someone to do some Mk XIV markings,decals,stencils. BloorwestSiR and John1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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