1/72 Supermarine Spitfire XIV and V1
Discussion
This is the ancient FROG Spitfire XIV which comes with a V1. It's a very basic kit - dating from around 1970. I bought it for £1 at a model show a couple of years ago. The kit had no instructions or decals - so I made up my own decals from spares and after market bits and pieces.
The only alteration I carried out was the use of a Falcon vac form canopy (the original kit version is poor and doesn't fit) and the use of a Tom's Props spinning propeller. I also scratch built a rear view mirror.
The only alteration I carried out was the use of a Falcon vac form canopy (the original kit version is poor and doesn't fit) and the use of a Tom's Props spinning propeller. I also scratch built a rear view mirror.
Hi Eric,
Those look really good, and also bring back fond memories of the very same kit purchased at Leuchars airshow with my father and late grandfather. It is highly likely that at least the V1 was built in my grandparents' house in Perth before my dad took me home to Aberdeenshire.
One can find some great things in the stalls at shows!
Thanks for posting this. It takes me back a bit
Those look really good, and also bring back fond memories of the very same kit purchased at Leuchars airshow with my father and late grandfather. It is highly likely that at least the V1 was built in my grandparents' house in Perth before my dad took me home to Aberdeenshire.
One can find some great things in the stalls at shows!
Thanks for posting this. It takes me back a bit
That would have been quite an ambitious "cut and shut" job for a 14 year old. I wouldn't even tackle it now.
The FROG XIV is fairly accurate. It's main problem is the canopy - which was always poor. I built one of these back in the early 70s and I remember even then that the canopy didn't fit very well.
The overall outline shape is not too bad on the FROG model. A year or so ago I built the Academy XIV. It's a far more modern kit with nice recessed lines BUT it is completely misshapen. I've never displayed it because it is so un-Spitfire like.
In 1/72, The best Mk XIV is probably the Fujimi kit - but they are hard to find and not cheap - certainly not £1.
The FROG XIV is fairly accurate. It's main problem is the canopy - which was always poor. I built one of these back in the early 70s and I remember even then that the canopy didn't fit very well.
The overall outline shape is not too bad on the FROG model. A year or so ago I built the Academy XIV. It's a far more modern kit with nice recessed lines BUT it is completely misshapen. I've never displayed it because it is so un-Spitfire like.
In 1/72, The best Mk XIV is probably the Fujimi kit - but they are hard to find and not cheap - certainly not £1.
Ooh! Memory lane time.
I built one of those under supervision from my uncle as a kid in the 80s. The good old days, when you could buy cheap old kits from stalls at air shows, stapled into clear poly bags, and there was a healthy trade in second-hand unmade model kits.
The Spitfire was built as an 'on the ground' model, door and canopy open and tyres 'weighted'. It was probably the best finished of all the stuff I made back then. The V1 was accompanied 'in flight' by a Tempest I think. I still have the V1 kicking around in a box somewhere, but I'm afraid that the Spitfire was broken up long ago, a fate shared by most of my models after I left home to join the army and left the models on display at home, and therefore tempting to my three younger brothers...
I built one of those under supervision from my uncle as a kid in the 80s. The good old days, when you could buy cheap old kits from stalls at air shows, stapled into clear poly bags, and there was a healthy trade in second-hand unmade model kits.
The Spitfire was built as an 'on the ground' model, door and canopy open and tyres 'weighted'. It was probably the best finished of all the stuff I made back then. The V1 was accompanied 'in flight' by a Tempest I think. I still have the V1 kicking around in a box somewhere, but I'm afraid that the Spitfire was broken up long ago, a fate shared by most of my models after I left home to join the army and left the models on display at home, and therefore tempting to my three younger brothers...
yellowjack said:
Ooh! Memory lane time.
The good old days, when you could buy cheap old kits from stalls at air shows, stapled into clear poly bags, and there was a healthy trade in second-hand unmade model kits.
No change there. I still buy kits from "under the table" boxes at airshows. This Spitfire I picked up for £1 only about three years ago. In fact, they were being sold along with Frog Vampires and Meteor F4s - all for £1 each. Bargain.The good old days, when you could buy cheap old kits from stalls at air shows, stapled into clear poly bags, and there was a healthy trade in second-hand unmade model kits.
I managed to bag 9 (I repeat 9) Airfix Hawker P1127s for £6 at a show only recently.
As you are a local, why not pop along to my club's model show in September.
It's held at the King's International College, Watchetts Drive, Camberley on Saturday, September 24.
http://www.ipms-farnborough.co.uk/index.php?id=mod...
Plenty of traders and bargains to be had - as well as great model displays by lots of visiting clubs.
I was at the Blackbushe Air Day last Saturday and was delighted to find that T J Aviation had a stall selling model kits. I bought the Fujimi Spitfire XIV. It is a world away from the FROG kit.
A few months ago I built the Academy XIV. It is a fairly modern kit but it is madly mishapen - with lots of dimensional inaccuracies. I think the Fujimi kit is the best one around at the moment in 1/72.
A few months ago I built the Academy XIV. It is a fairly modern kit but it is madly mishapen - with lots of dimensional inaccuracies. I think the Fujimi kit is the best one around at the moment in 1/72.
Indeed you were. Their Sioux was also there. A couple of warbirds were also present - a P-40 and a Hurricane - plus some historic civil aircraft such as this lovely Travel Air Mystery Ship -
It was a very nice event. There was no air display as such, just lots of nice aeroplanes to see - up close as well.
It was a very nice event. There was no air display as such, just lots of nice aeroplanes to see - up close as well.
Gassing Station | Scale Models | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff