Spitfire Mk.Vc Conversion
for Tamiya's Spitfire Mk.IX kit

Laminar Flow Design, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

The Spitfire Mk.Vc was the first of this famous breed to use the so-called "universal" C wing. The C wing could be fitted with up to four 20mm cannon or eight machine guns, but the most typical fitout was two 20mm cannon and four .303 machine guns.

The C wing armament was also used on the Spitfire Mk.VIII, IX, XVI and Mk.18.

Although the Spitfire Vc was built in significant numbers, we have not seen this variant produced as a mainstream dedicated 1/32 scale injection moulded kit. Laminar Flow Design has now addressed this sad situation with their brand new 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vc conversion

This is not the first 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vc conversion that we have seen, but it is certainly the best.

Let's take a closer look...

Laminar Flow Design is a company from Belgium that is producing a range of 3d printed aircraft conversions and accessories.

Their debut production was a 1/32 scale Spitfire F/FR XIVe conversion for Tamiya's Spitfire Mk.XVI kit. This was followed by a Mk.XIV high back conversion, Spitfire Mk.XII conversion and a cockpit detail set.

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Now Laminar Flow has produced a conversion of the Spitfire Mk.Vc. This has never been available as a 1/32 scale kit previously. I am not even aware of a previous conversion in this scale.

Laminar Flow's 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vc conversion is delivered in a stout cardboard box. Inside are five resin cages that enclose the parts securely.

The set comprises 46 grey 3d printed resin parts and detailed instructions.

Options are very useful - three styles of propeller and spinner, lower wing insert with round oil cooler plus the choice of tropical or standard Spitfire Mk.Vc versions.

The instructions advise the modeller to cut the four pillars at the base of each cage, then work inward as required. It is also recommended that a razor saw or a new scalpel blade should be used to free the parts.

I used a combination of a sprue cutter, razor saw and a new hobby knife blade to remove the cages and then separate all the individual parts.

Care and time required when freeing the resin 3d printed parts from their cages and bases. I was too enthuiastic when removing the nose from its block, cracking the resin in two places. One of these is quite large, all the way diagonally across the resin nose. This is not the fault of the set - I simply did not take enough care and time when planning and removing the parts.

Fortunately, the nose could be repaired with super glue and a fine Some changes to the parts breadown should make fitting the resin conversion parts easier too.

Once the parts have been freed, you can appreciate the quality of this conversion.

Surface textures are as good as the Tamiya kit - high praise indeed. External surfaces feature panel lines, rivets, fasteners, rib tape on fabric surfaces and more, all crisply and evenly recessed.

The jewel in the crown is the one-piece nose. The propeller spinner and Vokes filter in the photo below are simply resting in place with no adhesive. Test fitting reviews that fitt will be pretty much perfect.

Striations and other printing artefacts are almost non-existent.

Here is a full list of the 46 3d printed resin parts:

• Short Merlin Nose (CB Factory Upper Cowling)

• Classic lower cowling with short caburetor intake

• Vokes lower cowling with Trop carburetor  intake\Add-on optional Ice guard grill for both carb intake

• Fishtail 3 stack exhausts

• Rotol Spinner with Jablo wooden propeller blades

• de Havilland CS Spinner with metal propeller blades

• de Havilland Hydromatic Spinner with metal paddle propeller blades

• Lower wing insert with round oil cooler (2 types of fairing: straight & trop exhaust)

• Large Teardrop canon access panels

• Outer 20mm canons (to be combiner with kit innercanons for a 4x 20mm arrangement)

The instructions are clearly laid out and include text and photographic assembly steps.

Surgery to the donor Spitfire kit is minimal.

Markings are not included.

It seems amazing that in the year 2024 we still do not have a 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vc kit. Well, Laminar Flow Design has now addressed this sad situation with their brand new 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vc conversion.

The set includes parts for Vokes tropical filter and non-tropical lower cowling.

This is a very high quality product with surface textures equalling the Tamiya donor kit. The design is clever and allows for assembly with a minimum of surgery on Tamiya's 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.IXc kit.

Removing the parts on this conversion will demand close attention and patience, but the reward for your time should be a perfectly fitting conversion.

This is not the first 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.Vc conversion that we have seen, but it is certainly the best.

Thanks to Laminar Flow Design for the sample

Text and Images Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 20 November, 2024
Last updated 20 November, 2024

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