2024, finally completed this one. I started many years ago to lobby Airfix on every page I could for Mk XIV, with the added larger fin for a MkXVIII option. They finally did it! But it’s taken a few years to get around to a finished model. This is without doubt my most favourite Spitfire mark and paint scheme. 28 squadron based at Kai Tak in late 1950 – with Korean war theatre stripes.
Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.
This kit has had some not great reviews – poor fit in places, particularly the fuel tank cover. I didn’t find this too bad. There are some thought out parts and fitment – it’s well designed, I thought. My only negative about the kit is that some of the parts are a bit soft in detail and require resin replacements – the gun barrels are the worst. As it happens, I don’t replace these on this kit, but I will in future.
I really tried very hard to make this a very beat up and dirty airframe. There are some reference photos of this machine at Kai Tak looking very untidy indeed. But looking at my final photos I think I could have gone a lot further!
My build was from the box except the following:
Drilled out exhausts.
Resin wheels.
Under fuselage camera ports.
Re-scribed upper and lower wing panels. The Airfix kit is really a Mk XIVe and the outer .303 bays are still marked. On the XVIII these are not there as the wing was a strengthen redesign with the space being used for survival equipment.
Under wing signal lamps rather then centre fuselage.
I used the kits rockets to provide the rails only, chopping off the actual rockets themselves.
PE seat belts as usual.
Aftermarket decals were used; XtraDecal sheet X48230 to represent a machine from 28 squadron in late 1950. The black and white stripes are hand painted.
Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.
Black And White Images
(Click to zoom in)
Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk XVIII of 28 Squadron based at Kai Tak, late 1950. Airfix 1/48th scale.
