Spitfire Mk XIV

Spitfire Mk XIV

Spitfire Mk XIV
By Dennis Norman

Editor’s note: Dennis Norman, author of Model Aviation’s “Free Flight Scale” column since 2002, passed away in November 2021. In honor of his many contributions to this magazine and Free Flight (FF) modeling, we will include his final columns in this and a future issue. Fly high, Dennis!

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The Air Ace Models replica of Squadron Leader R.A. Newbury’s Spitfire Mk XIV is shown after a serious crash and before undergoing replacement of its right-half wing and covering. Photo by Holly Chenail.

England’s Supermarine Spitfire was one of the most graceful and elegant aircraft to emerge from World War II. Designed initially by Reginald J. Mitchell, whose high-performance racing seaplanes inspired a new generation of military fighters, the first Spitfire coincided with the development of the 1,000 hp Rolls Royce engine. More than 23,000 variants of the Spitfire were built in total, and scholarly discussions of subsequent developments of the Spitfire line are what books are made of. Suffice it to say, the Spitfire has been a popular subject for model aircraft builders since the 1930s. 

New engines and design alterations produced a variety of Spitfires with longer noses, shorter or longer wings, and varying rudder shapes. As a FF Scale subject, the Spitfire Mk XIV is superb. It incorporates both the proportions and details for good performance.

The specific subject of this column is the Spitfire Mk XIV (RB159) of Squadron Leader R.A. Newbury, who was the commanding officer of No. 610 Squadron that operated anti-diver (V-1) patrols from Lympne, England, in September 1944. The Mk XIVs employed in this way destroyed more than 300 V-1 bombs. A total of 527 examples of the Mk XIV were built as fighters, and an additional 430 were built as photo reconnaissance types for low-altitude work. The Mk XIV is one of the best-looking Spitfires, and one that should give you a high-performance model. Tally ho!

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This handsome three-view shows the camouflage and markings of the Mk XIV that was flown by Squadron Leader R.A. Newbury, the commanding officer of No. 610 Squadron in September 1944. Photo by Air Ace Models.

In looking at scale drawings of the Spitfire Mk XIV, you will notice that the original had a rather awesome five-blade propeller. You might try devising a five-blade propeller, but I found it to be more practical to carve an enlarged two-blade propeller from a balsa block. You will also notice that the Mk XIV had a rather impressive spinner, which I duplicated for use with the two-blade propeller. These were accommodations for a rubber-powered model, and, like the original, it was a good performer.

The building plans and parts sheet are included in the online portion of this article that is located on the Model Aviation website. I have built both Peanut Scale and Walnut Scale versions. To make Peanut Scale plans, enlarge the wingspan to 13 inches. For Walnut Scale, enlarge the plan to 17-3/8 inches. If you wish to build a model larger than Walnut size, simply use a wingspan of your choice and the entire plans and parts sheet should be proportional to it. 
Neither my Peanut Scale nor Walnut Scale Mk XIVs had landing gear, in part because both were designed to fly. Landing gear was retracted in flight and it made no sense to me for contest competition. 

Those of you who have read my articles throughout the years know that I am an advocate of carving pilot busts for FF Scale models. I typically use a dense, white Styrofoam for making pilot busts, and I highly recommend this to you. In part, my thinking is that in building a Scale model, it is a major sin of omission not to include a pilot because the full-scale aircraft had a pilot when flown.

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After cutting out the basic fuselage formers, etc., they are assembled on a temporary jig. The photo shows them before stringer placement. Air Ace Models photo.

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The Mk XIV fuselage is shown after the placement of stringers above the wing root. The temporary jig is then removed before the fuselage structure is completed. Air Ace Models photo.

One of the things that I pioneered was the use of a color copier to make tissue for FF Scale models. If you can find one, the June 2002 issue of Model Aviation explains my method for preprinting full-color tissue. Since writing that article, the owner of the copy store who helped me to do this has retired, and the proprietor who bought his business decided to charge me several times more to do the same work as his predecessor. Fortunately, I had made enough spare copies that I was able to continue providing kits for Air Ace Models. 

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The fully assembled airframe of the Air Ace Spitfire Mk XIV is ready for covering with the markings of Squadron Leader R.A. Newbury as they appeared in 1944. Air Ace Models photo.


Tips -  Patterns used to print covering, as well as resources for and references about the Spitfire Mk XIV. Also covering techniques, including chalking tissue and spray painting. 

spitfire downloads

Welcome to a different approach to covering rubber-powered Free Flight Scale models. Using heat-fused copiers, I have created a waterproof, lightweight, and highly detailed Japanese tissue that will permit you to quickly achieve stunning results.

Some tips for covering with this preprinted tissue are as follows:

1. Use scissors to cut the pieces from the tissue sheet as needed. The edges of the tissue sheet are adhered to heavy bond paper with double-stick tape. Most of the tissue is not attached to the heavy paper, so cutting the tissue separates it for application to your model.

2. Use a permanent glue stick to adhere the tissue to the frame. Coat only the outside edges of the airframe being covered.

3. While working with the tissue, it is best to keep your hands clean and damp because dry fingers might damage the tissue when working with it. Do not overwork the tissue because it will tear if you are not careful.

4. If you wish to wet-cover the airframe, lay the tissue piece, printed side down, on a piece of waxed paper. Using a soft brush, dampen the unprinted side of the tissue. After approximately a minute on the waxed paper, transfer the tissue piece, using the waxed paper as a carrier, to the part of the airframe to be covered. Align the tissue piece with the frame, and then pull the waxed paper away. Tighten the tissue piece to the frame, making such adjustments as might be needed to accurately align the tissue piece with the frame.

5. In the case of fuselages with compound curves, wet-cover as described for the best results.

Do not use dope to attach this product and do not applydope as a coating. If a flat finish is desired, use Testors Dullcote (1250 Clear Flat Lacquer Overcoat). If a glossy finish is desired, use Testors Glosscote (1261 Clear Gloss Lacquer Overcoat).

I hope you enjoy this procedure! Thermals!

SOURCES:

Testors

(800) 837-8677
www.testors.com

New Technique for Getting Brighter White Markings

Because my original efforts to brighten white areas by painting the back of them with white paint proved difficult, I devised a new method of making white areas brighter. This involves using self-adhesive white label stock that is cut to the size of the area to be brightened, and then placed on the back (inside) of the tissue. This method involves no paint and is most effective. Care must be taken to carefully cut the white area so that it will not overlap and show through the colored portion of the tissue.

You will see that the markings have been printed on the back of commercial label stock. Simply cut out the markings, peel the backing off, and carefully place the label stock on the back side (inside) of the area to be brightened.

References: Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV

A: Drawings

1.Supermarine Spitfire Mks by XII, XIV, XVIII and XIX, by P.B. Cooke, 1988. Aircraft Archive, Vo..1, Fighters of WWII, Argus Books Ltd.

Spitfire in Action—Aircraft No. 39, by Jerry Scutts, 1980. Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc.

3. The Spitfire Collection, by Model & Allied Publications, Ltd.

B: History, Markings, Etc.

1. Aircraft of WWII, by Bill Gunston, 1980, pgs. 193-197. Octopus Books, Ltd.

2. Arco-Aircam Aviation Series—No. 8 Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XII-XXIV by Ted Hooton and Richard Ward (Illustrator), 1969. Acro Publishing

3. The Best of Air Age,by Air Age, Inc., Model Airplane News, 1979, pgs. 76-77

4. Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways by Bill Gunston, 1995, pgs. 86-87. Osprey, An Imprint of Reed Consumer Books, Ltd.

5. The Complete Book of Fighters by William Green and Gordon Swanborough, 1994, pgs. 557-564, Smithmark Publishers, Inc.

6. Complete Book of World War II Combat Aircraft by Enzo Angelic and Paolo Matricardi, 1988, pgs. 75-86. Military Press, distributed by Crown Publishers, Inc.

7. Cutaway Aircraft of World War II 1989, pgs. 6-7. Argus Books

8. Fighters 1939-1945, by Kenneth Munson, 1969, pgs. 72-73 and 141-144. Macmillan & Company

9. Flying Colors, by William Green and Gordon Swanborough, 1981, pgs. 94-96. Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc.

10. The World’s Great Fighter Aircraft by William Green and GordonSwanborough, 1981, pgs. 96-99, Salamander Books Ltd.

11. Military Aircraft Markings and Profiles, by Barry C. Wheeler, 1990, pgs. 36-37 and 64-65. W.H. Smith Publishers, Inc.

12. Scale Aircraft Drawings World War II, Vol. 2, Supermarine Spitfire by Peter M. Bowers, 1991, pgs. 118-12. Air Age Publishers Inc.

13. Supermarine Spitfire, by Mike Spic, 1990. W.H. Smith Publishers, Inc.

14. Spitfire, by Bill Sweetman, 1980. Crown Publishers, Inc.

15. Spitfire, by John Vader, 1969. Ballentine Books, Inc.

C: Plastic Kits for 3D Details

Several plastic kits of Spitfire variants exist. To my knowledge, there is no specific kit of an Mk XIV, but the following should be of use to you in configuring and decorating your model.

1. Spitfire Mk Vb by Heller Models: 1:72 scale (1 inch = 6 feet)

2. Mark IX Supermarine Spitfire by Monogram Models, Inc., 1962. Decals are suitable for enlarging on a Canon color copier to the size of your model.

3. Vickers Supermarine Seafire XV by Canadian Hobby Crafts Ltd. The Mk XV is close to the Mk XIV. This 1:48-scale (1/4 inch = 1 foot) kit has excellent plans and three-views.The decal sheet has markings for a Seafire of either the Royal Navy or the Royal Canadian Navy.

4. U.S. Army Spitfire Mk 5C by Revell Inc. Though not an Mk XIV, this kit is an excellent reference for paneling, the cockpit interior, landing gear, etc.

SOURCES:
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org
National Free Flight Society (NFFS)
www.freeflight.org
June 2002 Model Aviation
https://library.modelaviation.com/edition/model-aviation-200206

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