Academy 1/48 Spitfire FR Mk XIVe

[jgaudon34]

I built this kit as a non-FR and plugged the camera holes in the fuse. I also added the wing tips. All FR would have been produced with clipped wings.

It represents a Spitfire Mk XIVe of Group Captain Johnnie Johnson in Mar 1945. I had one reference photo to go by.

This is Johnnie Johnson's last Spitfire.*** (CORRECTION - I have come to find out in the last few days that this was not the last Spitfire for Johnnie - He flew MV257 immediately after the war ended into June 1945.)
He was promoted to Group Captain in March of 1945 to 125 Wing 2TAF RAF. While not a flying role he did accept the offer from Wing Commander (Flying) George Keefer for a personal aircraft (MV268). He did not add to his already record total of 38 victories while flying this aircraft, but he did have at a few operational sorties in it. One of his last missions was to lead 125 over Berlin in the last days of the war.

The Academy kit has some critics with the accuracy of the shape. However, I cannot knock it for engineering and fit, accuracy not withstanding.
I had built this kit before - out of the box, but when I found a DACO replacement parts kit, I decided to improve a few things. I used the replacement nose, rudder and under wing radiators. This required a bit of cutting and filling which in the end did not turn out that bad.

This is 3 of Johnnie's aircraft for me. I will be building his first Squadron Leader aircraft, a Spitfire Mk V from 610 Sdn when he supported the Dieppe Raid in Aug 1942.

Spitfire Mk XIVe JEJ by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk XIVe JEJ by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk XIVe JEJ by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
Untitled by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk XIVe JEJ by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk XIVe JEJ by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr
Spitfire Mk XIVe JEJ by Joe Gaudon, on Flickr

[Willem]

That turned out beautifully. I remember building the same kit with the same replacement nose a while back. A bit nerve-wracking!

Great bit of background too.

[jgaudon34]

Thanks Willem, appreciate the comments.

[jgaudon34]

UPDATE and CORRECTION - I have come to find out in the last few days that this was not the last Spitfire for Johnnie - He flew MV257 immediately after the war ended into June 1945.
Now I am going to have to do another one