Kit's FR.18 and F.22 **FINISHED**

[Kitaholic]

These are the kits I will hopefully be completing for this GB (fingers crossed)

Xtrakit Mk.22




Slight register problems on this one, c'mon Hannants, what you playing at?



Ready and raring to go, apart from choosing the schemes

Xtradecal sheet being used



Some annoying register issues, don't expect this from these guys. Luckily got plenty of spares



AZ Model Spitfire Mk XIVe



The original plan was to use aftermarket to update it to an XVIII. Was surprised to find that what you get in the box is an XVIII that has to be backdated to a XIV, saved some pennies there



Xtradecal sheet for this one. More register problems. What you doing Hannants?




Ready and raring to go, apart from choosing from all those schemes

[Stuart]

Those look like a nice pair of kits kit - I look forward to seeing those built up.

I know what you mean with the xtradecals - I buy a lot of their stuff and I quite often have issues with the register of the roundels.

Cheers

Stuart

[Kitaholic]

Finally got a start on these two

The XVIII
Cockpit detail isn't bad, bit soft and no representation of a gunsight




Taking shape. Quite a bit of trimming and sanding and repeat required to get the cockpit in. The distinctive Griffon bulges are moulded on and lack definition where they join the fuselage, maybe shading will help that. Also wingroot joint is going to take a bit of fettling

The 22
Cockpit detail a lot crisper on this one, and there is a gunsight, sort of




Again taking shape. General fit is much better. No problems with cockpit fit and wingroot is much better too

[iggie]

Nice progress Kit, the cockpit of the '22 looks especially nicely done

[Kitaholic]

Thanks, got some vaguely spitfire shaped things now, pics up tomorrow. Does anyone know if these two carried the 'Rebecca' fairings underneath as nearly all the underside pics I can find are either modern or artwork, can find one pic of what appears to be the prototype 22 with the fairing but no others. All other period pics don't show the underside clearly.

[DazDaMan]

I do like the late-model Griffon Spits. Good stuff.

[Purplethistle]

Nice 'pits.
Looking very good, very early

[Kitaholic]

thanks guys, real life got in the way a bit but bit more progress done now

Was looking over the XVIII and suddenly noticed this, should have seen it at the start, would have been an easier fix



bit of micro chisel work and it's clear



Beginning to look like a Spit now



The 22 was clear at least



and again Spit shaped at last



and some paint thrown at them now




Notice the difference in definition of the Griffon bulges. Wonder if the Quickboost upper deck would fit the AZ kit

[iggie]

there's certainly a huge difference between the two. Looking quickly online at images of Griffon engined Spits, the real thing was part way between the two; more defined than the AZ version, but not quite as sharp as the Xtrakit one.....

But, both are looking good with a coat of paint!!

[DavidWomby]

I too have noticed a lot of variation in the shape and definition of those Griffon bulges between different brands of kits. I wonder who actually did get them right.

Looking great with the paint on!!!

David

[Martin R]

Kit,

Have to agree with David: they're looking good!

Regards,

Martin

[Old_Tonto]

They do look great. What is the external difference between the XIV & XVIII?

[Kitaholic]

thanks guys

The most distinctive difference is a broader chord rudder on the XVIII ( the XVIII was designed around the Griffon 65, and later the 67, while the XIV was an interim to get the Griffon 65 into action). I'll leave it to the experts to come up with the smaller differences. (means I don't know )

[Old_Tonto]

So it's just the same bird with a bigger back end.

[Kitaholic]

Not always a bad thing