Spitfire F XIV Conversion
for Eduard's Spitfire Mk.VIII kit

Laminar Flow Design, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Laminar Flow Design is a Belgian company that produces a range of 3d printed aircraft conversions and accessories for Spitfire kits. Until now, these have been exclusively 1/32 scale conversions designed for Tamiya's stunning 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.VIII, IX and XVI kits.

Laminar Flow has now stepped into the 1/48 scale arena with their brand new Spitfire F Mk.XIV conversion for Eduard's Spitfire Mk. VIII kit.

I love the beefed-up engine cowl and bigger fin and rudder of the Mk.XIV, and I am sure that many others do too.

We haven't exactly been bowled over by high back Spitfire XIV options in 1/48 scale. Academy offers a 1/48 scale high back Spitfire Mk.XIVc kit dating back to 1996, but it is seriously flawed. The fuselage in particular is just plain wrong.

Airfix released quite a nice 1/48 scale low-back Spitfire Mk.XIVe in 2019, but there is no sign of a high back Spitfire XIV from Margate any time soon.

Aeroclub offered a short-run injection moulded conversion in 1980 and Falcon included a vacform conversion in their range in the 1980s, but both are long out of production. Kitbashing was the only other option. Even now, there is no easy or obvious way to build an accurate 1/48 scale high back Spitfire F / FR Mk.XIV

Thankfully, Laminar Flow Design has now addressed his omission with a brand new high quality 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.XIV conversion.

The conversion is delivered in a stout cardboard box packed securely within four resin cages.

Laminar Flow offers three options for the conversion. All three options have been supplied for review.

Base Set (Cages 1 & 2)

The first option is the Base Set. This comprises 68 grey 3d printed resin parts and detailed printed instructions. The Base Set will deliver a Spitfire F XIVc.

The Base Set is supplied in two resin printing cages.

Parts included in these cages are:

• Griffon Nose

• Carburator Intake

• Round and Fishtail exhaust stack

• Complete Spinner and Propeller Assembly

• Under Wing Radiators

• Standard Tail & Rudder (WWII version)

• Rear Fuselage Hatch & Template

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 and a new hobby knife blade to remove the cage and then separate all the individual parts.

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

Surface textures are as good as the Eduard 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 big, one-piece nose. This captures the bulky lines of the Griffon powerplant beautifully.

Other resin parts in the Base Set include a replacement propeller ssembly with six blades (one spare), Mk.XIV fin and rudder; two styles of individual exhaust stacks with perfectly hollowed-out ends and new wing radiators with fine face detail inside the housings.

The instructions are clearly laid out and include text and photographic assembly steps. If you prefer, you may download PDF versions of the instructions or work off high resolution versions on your computer screen.

Fuselage and tail cuts should be fast and easy as they all fall on natural panel lines.

Option 1 (Cage 3) Post War, E Wing and FR Parts

Option 1 parts are printed as Cage 3.

The 16 optional parts inside this cage are:

• Larger fin and rudder for post WWII versions

• FR hatches & cutting templates (high & low back)

• Camera & rack (high &low back)

• E-wing early panels (without the large bulges seen on post-war examples)

Just in case you want an e wing Spitfire XIV and you do not require the PR and large tailplane options, there is another choice.

If you have Eduard's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.XVI kit in either the ProfiPACK or Dual Combo, two sets of wings are included. One of these is an early-style E wing and the other is a late style E wing with the large bulges. You can rob the box for the early E wing sprue and leave enough parts for a late version. The early E wing should fit the Mk.VIII fuselage without trouble - in theory! I will report back after I have tried this.

For FR Spitfires, three hatches need to be installed. This will be done with the assistance of three resin templates. This will be probably the most challenging aspect of assembly, but the resin templates will make the task as manageable as possible. Just drill multiple hole along the inside guides of the templates and clean-up with a sharp hobby blade.

Option 2 (Cage 4) Cockpit Parts

Option 2 parts are printed as Cage 4.

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Thumbnail panels:

The 10 optional parts inside this cage are:

• Instrument panel with frame

• Access door

• Waffle foot guards

• Port side switch box

• Priming pump

• Landing gear quadrant

• two throttle quadrants (reflector or gyroscopic style handle)

These will be nice enhancements for the Eduard front office.

If you have always longed for a high-quality 1/48 scale high-back Spitfire Mk.XIVc or e, Laminar Flow Design has now answered your prayers.

This is a high quality product with surface textures equalling the Eduard donor kit. The clever design allows for assembly with a minimum of surgery on Eduard's 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.VIII. If you are a moderately experienced modeller who is used to working with resin, you should not have too much trouble with this one.

I'm looking forward to carving up an Eduard Spitfire Mk.VIII soon!

Thanks to Laminar Flow Design for the sample

Text and Images Copyright © 2024 by Brett Green
Page Created 11 September, 2024
Last updated 12 September, 2024

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