Quickboost

1/48 Spitfire XIV Cowling & Exhausts For the Academy kit

Stock Number: QB48-229

Reviewed By  Paul Bradley, IPMS# 35554

MSRP: $7.50 Website: www.quickboost.net One of the biggest faults in many of the Academy late-marks Spitfire kits is the rather bulbous nose and too-large rocker cover fairings -- which completely ruin the lines of this famous aircraft. Quickboost’s new set goes some way towards correcting that issue, as well as replacing the kit’s terrible exhausts. The set has three parts in cleanly-molded grey resin: a new top cowling complete with correctly-sized rocker cover fairings, plus two sets of fishtail exhaust stubs. Using the set couldn’t be easier. Each kit fuselage half first needs to have its top cowling removed. This is done by cutting along panel lines with a razor saw. Actually, I cut mine slightly above the panel lines and then sanded back, but you get the idea. The resin cowling then slots neatly into place. There isn’t even the need to remove the pour stub from the part. This part exhibits much improved lines when compared to the kit, but I still think the nose is a little bulbous and perhaps the fault also encompasses the lower nose as well as the top.

As for the exhausts, they are a vast improvement on the spindly and distinctly under-nourished kit items and they have hollow ends too. These should look superb when painted. All in all, a useful set, but there are other problems with the kit that need correcting, so this is by no means a complete solution. Further research online is recommended. However, as it stands, this is a very nice set and very competitively priced too – it’s one I can recommend. My thanks to Quickboost for the review samples.