Laminar Flow Design | LFD32-010 Spitfire Vc conversion for Tamiya + Rivets

Reviewed by Iain Ogilvie

Introduction

Mk Vc and Vc (trop) (Types 349 and 352/6) - from Wikipedia:

As well as having most of the standard Mk V features this version had several important changes over the earlier Mk V, most of which were first tested on the Mk III. These included the re-stressed and strengthened fuselage structure and the new windscreen design, which was also used on some Vb Spitfires.

The Vc also introduced the Type C or "Universal" wing along with the revised main undercarriage; the tops of these wings featured large, bulged fairings to provide clearance for the ammunition feed motors of two Hispano cannon. Because two cannon were seldom fitted, these fairings were later reduced in size to more streamlined shapes. A larger oil cooler with a deeper, kinked air outlet was fitted underneath the port wing. In addition more armour plating was added, protecting the bottom of the pilot's seat and the wing ammunition boxes.

Above: Spitfire Vc launching from Wasp during Operation Bowery. This was part of the first contingent of Spitfires which were supplied to the RAF on Malta. A 60-gallon "slipper" type drop tank was mounted under the centre section and the top surfaces have been painted blue or blue/gray to help camouflage the Spitfire during the long flight across the Mediterranean.

The first Spitfire modified to carry bombs was a Malta-based Vc, EP201, which was able to carry one 250 lb (110 kg) bomb under each wing. In a note to the Air Ministry Air Vice Marshal Keith Park wrote "[w]e designed the bomb gear so that there was no loss of performance when the bombs were dropped. Unlike the Hurricane bomb gear our Spitfire throws away all external fittings with the exception of a steel rib which protrudes less than one inch from the wing."

The first Spitfire to be sent overseas in large numbers was the Mk Vc (trop). The majority of these were used by Allied squadrons in the Mediterranean theatre (including North Africa), Burma and in Australia with No. 1 Fighter Wing RAAF. The Vc initially suffered a high rate of mechanical failure in Australia, due to corrosion in engine cooling pipes that were unfilled and exposed to salt air, while being shipped from the UK.

Laminar Flow Designs Spitfire Mk.Vc Conversion

This brand new 3D Printed set from Laminar Flow has been much anticipated on the forums - and we're delighted to report that the set lives up to the already very high reputation of this brand!

The set, sensibly, takes the superlative Tamiya Mk.IXc kit as a basis - it already has the later windshield design applicable to the Vc and the Tamiya 'c' wing provides the best starting point for a Vc.

The set is also topical - with new decal sets available from Fantasy Printshop Euro Decals and Zotz Decals:

Laminar Flow Design have created a *very* comprehensive set, with 46 3D printed Parts comprising:

Short Merlin Nose (CB Factory Upper Cowling)
Classic lower cowling with short caburetor intake
Vokes lower cowling with Trop carburetor intake
Add-on optional Ice guard grill for both carb intake
Fishtail 3 stack exhausts
Rotol Spinner with Jablo wooden propeller blades
de Havilland CS Spinner with metal propeller blades
de Havilland Hydromatic Spinner with metal paddle propeller blades
Lower wing insert with round oil cooler (2 types of fairing: straight & trop exhaust)
Large Teardrop canon access panels
Outer 20mm canons (to be combiner with kit inner canons for a 4x 20mm arrangement)

Please note a few things with the following images: all have been adjusted to up the contrast so that you can see the detail - as a result the printed surfaces of the various components may look rougher than they are: the surface finish of all parts is of the highest order and will look perfect under a coat of primer.

Secondly - due to shortage of time on my part - there's a variation in colour hues in the photos due to differing lighting when the parts were photographed. Having most of last weekend without power due to storms here in the UK hasn't helped!

Thirdly, after receiving the set for review, Laminar Flow Designs have made some improvements to the shape of a number of items in the set and have sent out addendum sets to purchasers of the initial batch. I'll come back to that later - but as an indication of Mathieu's attention to detail, and great customer care, I think it speaks volumes and is worth discussing within this review.

I'll start with the initial package - beautifully printed parts that are printed within 'security cages' that should do a fine job of protecting everything in transit:

As an example of the finesse exhibited by these printed parts - take a look at those mesh grills!

And the three sets of prop blades (relevant spinners shown above) - you'll have spares for other projects. Also note the additional spare blades, just in case!

In addition - an optional rivet pack is available that will add the raised rivet details over the rear fuselage that are not found on the later Mk.IX, and are therefore not a feature of the Tamiya donor kit, which features representation of flush rivets - albeit as very useful dimples that will ease the process here!

This will, undoubtedly, be a lot of work - but with care and patience (and maybe a wee dram to calm the nerves) it should all be doable.

It's worth noting that Supermarine Mod 848, dated 12-01-43, introduced flush riveting to the fuselage on all marks. Morgan and Shacklady 'Spitfire The History' - P171.

2 rivet 'pallets' with 2100 rivets
1 Hex to drill bit adapter

I think my 'weapon of choice' here will be a small pin vise, rather than motor drill.

Corrected Parts

As mentioned above, shortly after release it was noted that a few shapes could be improved - and it didn't take long for Mathieu at Laminar Flow Design to react.

From the Laminar Flow Designs Facebook Page:

1/32 Spitfire Vc update.

A good mate, with an incredible sense of form appreciation, came back recently with 2 concerns on the short Merlin nose.

He thought the printer has deformed the shape, as he examined previously the 3d renders not noticing it.

I have been staring at the cad, printed samples for days and never came near myself.

However there are two glitches in the nose model I cannot live with. So I spend the last 2 days correcting my mistakes. Have a look at the renders for the problem itself.

What does that mean practically:

For the ongoing orders: I have delayed shipping a few days until I am able to offer the corrected nose.

For the shipped orders: expect a correction shipped to you within a few days. I’ll get in touch individually for tracking numbers.

If you have a build in progress already (well you are fast!) just wait for the new nose to pop up to proceed to assembly.

Corrected part and shipping is free of charge.

All new sets will include the corrected parts as standard - but Mathieu notes that, on further investigation, the original Volkes Filter lower cowling is actually the more correct. Over to Mathieu again:

One note about the carb intake fairings:

I have revised the rear fairing on both the classic and Vokes intake. At the rearmost junction with the wing.

Have done the classic intake first, based on pictures. Which is I think much improved.

I have then updated the Vokes in the same philosophy. Reference material isn’t abundant on the area, so I thought I would have been the same. However after further analysis, it appears the first iteration is more accurate.

I have reverted back since to design one for the set.

So in short:

Classic carb intake, use the revised.
Vokes carb intake, use the revised front part, and the original rear fairing.

The revised parts package supplied to early purchasers:

Instructions

Clear instructions are provided to help the modeller identify the components provided, and make the necessary modifications to the Tamiya lower wing moulding:

And for the rivet set:

Trial Fit

Whilst I don't have the time at present to make a start on this conversion, I thought it worth removing the cowling, prop mounting and Volkes Filter lower cowling from their supports and take a quick look at how these components fit together - and how the cowling fits to the fuselage of the Tamiya kit.

For those unfamiliar with 3D printed resin components - the material can be brittle, so take your time removing components from their supports. For the main cowling I used a sharp razor saw to cut through the supports - at least 1mm ahead if the front edge of the cowling - followed by carefully trimming and sanding back to the front edge.

Apart from clean up of support attachment points, there has been no adjustment of parts - the component fit illustrated below is *exactly* as it comes in the set - including the fit to the Tamiya fuselage halves. Simply superb!

A look at the two forum builds linked below will confirm other modellers have experienced the same quality of fit - including to the modified wing lower section.

Current Forum Builds

Whilst this set has only been available for a few weeks, we already have a number of builds over on the forums:

Conclusion

Having dipped a toe into 3D CAD Modelling and 3D printing myself - I'm absolutely in awe of both the accuracy of design and the fidelity of printing exhibited by this set. It highlights perfectly were 3D Design and Printing is taking the accessory market at the moment - exciting times for us modellers.

Very highly recommended.

The set is available Laminar Flow Design.

We've previously reviewed two other sets from Laminar Flow Designs:

My thanks to Mathieu of Laminar Flow Design for the opportunity to review this set.

Iain