SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MARK XIV

History was forever made on October 5, 1944 when a Spitfire XIV of No. 610 Squadron was the first Allied aircraft to shoot down a turbojet-powered Messerschmit 262A Swallow!

Designed as an experimental Mark V fore-runner of future Griffin-engined Spitfire, it proved so promising, it was named the Mark XIV and rushed into production. Over 1.000 aircraft of this type were manufactured and deployed before the end of World War II. It was the Mark XIV that finally had the range and maneuverability to go against the FW-190 on equal term. Powered by differed from the earlier Spitfire by its larger rudder and elevators, five-bladed ROTOL propeller and four 20mm cannon mounted in its type “C” or “E” wing.

Besides its successful battle history, in particular shooting down over 300 V-1 Flying Bombs, many aviation enthusiasts regard the Spitfire Mark XIV as one of the most beautiful fighter airplanes ever designed.

Tulisan diatas adalah preview Spitfire yang tertulis di halaman depan panduan kit Academy 1/72 Spitfire MK.XIVc. Kit ini saya beli dari http://www.777modelkitshop.com dengan harga 99 ribu, saya lihat di http://www.hobbyeasy.com harganya 60 ribuan (wow lumayan jauh harganya, plus ongkos kirim mungkin harga jatuhnya sama). Kit Academy cukup mudah untuk dirakit, fiting bagus tidak memerlukan dempul. Kit ini saya cat dengan Tamiya Spray Can (cat kaleng semprot) beli dari plaskit.net. Harga cat ini lumayan mahal, 1 kaleng harganya 70 ribuan. Sesuai dengan harganya hasilnyapun juga bagus dan halus. Camo saya buat menggunakan masking tape dikombinasi dengan kertas (menghemat masking tape).