Spitfire F/FR XIVc/e Conversion
for Airfix Spitfire Mk.VIII kit

Laminar Flow Design, 1/24 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Laminar Flow Design is a company from Belgium that produces a range of 3d printed aircraft conversions and accessories.

To date these have been 1/32 scale conversions for the Tamiya 1/24 scale Spitfire Mk.IX and VIII kits, and a 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.XIV based on the Eduard Spitfire Mk.VIII.

Laminar Flow has now tackled their biggest project - a 1/24 scale Spitfire F/FR XIVc/e conversion for Airfix Spitfire Mk.VIII kit

The conversion is delivered in a stout cardboard box packed securely.

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The set comprises 131 grey 3d printed resin parts, 4 self-adhesive, die-cut masking sheets for three subjects and detailed instructions. This represents double the number of resin parts that were included in Laminar Flow's debut 1/32 scale Spitfire Mk.XIV conversion - big in every way!

The parts are enclosed in six resin printing cages.

The instructions advise the modeller to cut the four pillars at the base of each cage, then work inward as required. It is also recommended that a razor saw or a new scalpel blade should be used to free the parts.

I used a combination of a sprue cutter and a new hobby knife blade to remove the cage and then separate all the individual parts.

Once the parts have been freed, you can appreciate the quality of this conversion.

Surface textures are as at least as good as the Airfix kit. External surfaces feature panel lines, rivets, fasteners, rib tape on fabric surfaces and more, all crisply and evenly recessed.

The jewel in the crown is the big, one-piece nose. This captures the bulky lines of the Griffon powerplant beautifully.

The instructions suggest that the outside surfaces may require Surfacer and some sanding. However, striations and other printing artefacts are almost non-existent. Any marginal benefit of further surface preparation will be countered by the risk of damaging the lovely fine surface textures.

Other resin parts include a replacement propeller ssembly with six blades (one spare), two styles of fin and rudder - larger and evern more large; individual exhaust stacks with perfectly hollowed-out ends; new wing radiators with fine face detail inside the housings; camera, lenses and PR hatches; resin templates for positioning, scribing and cutting new hatches and fuselage windows for the cameras.

E Wing panels, barrels and bulges are also provided.

The instructions are clearly laid out and include text and photographic assembly steps.

Fuselage and tail cuts will be fast and easy as they all fall on natural panel lines. In fact, with the kit engine parts not used, basic assembly will arguably be easier by using this conversion!

Attention to detail abounds.

A detailed cockpit upgrade is included with a replacement instrument panel, throttle, fuse box, undercarriage retraction assembly, throttle quadrant and more.

For FR Spitfires, three hatches need to be installed. This will be done with the assistance of three resin templates. This will be probably the most challenging aspect of assembly, but the resin templates will make the task as manageable as possible. Just drill multiple hole along the inside guides of the templates and clean-up with a sharp hobby blade.

Markings for three aircraft are offered on the four self-adhesive die-cut vinyl masking sheets.

If you have always longed for a high-quality 1/24 scale high-back Spitfire Mk.XIVc/e, Laminar Flow Design has now answered your prayers.

This is a very high quality product with surface textures equalling the Airfix donor kit. The design is clever and allows for assembly with a minimum of surgery to the Airfix 1/24 scale Spitfire Mk.VIII.

Fitting the resin conversion parts looks like it will be relatively straightforward too.

This is an excellent conversion. I look forward to working on mine.

Thanks to Laminar Flow Design for the sample

Text and Images Copyright © 2025 by Brett Green
Page Created 1 July, 2025
Last updated 1 July, 2025

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