Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.XVIII

 Next up, another Spitfire! 

This is one I’ve been waiting for the right moment to build as it has a bit of a story. 

Today would have been my father’s 90th birthday. He passed Christmas 2021 and while I was up at my parents’ Cumbria home doing that eldest brother thing, I got a call from Airfix’s Michael Clegg asking if he could use two of my Sea King helicopters in a spread he was working on for his Workbench blog.

See here: https://uk.airfix.com/community/blog-and-news/workbench/mitchells-masterpiece-inherits-griffon-power

This not only helped take our minds off the  reason why I had had to dash north but also introduced me to a fact about one of my favourite aircraft which I had not previously known. 

One of the last fighter versions of the Spitfire, the Mk.XVIII flew on “Operation Firedog” in Malaya during the 1950s Emergency just my father was out there with the British Army, or at least en route. 

At the time I was talking to Michael Clegg about the Sea Kings he kindly offered to send me an Airfix kit in return for using my models and story. I naturally suggested the Spitfire would be the perfect one considering its significance:  my father having served in Malaya at more or less the same time, and for it being unveiled in the same article as my Sea Kings. Anyway, despite many a friendly follow up on my part, nothing ever arrived from Michael and so, I was fortunate enough to have sufficient  Airfix flying hours to ensure I secured a kit before it sold out, and it’s been in my stash ever since. 

It now seems only right to mark this, my father’s 90th birthday, to finally build it. 

Development of the Spitfire F Mk.XVIII the 'Super Spitfire' was started towards the end of 1943 and the first Mk.XVIII Griffin 65 powered Spitfire was delivered to the RAF on 28 May 1945. 99 aircraft were completed for the fighter/bomber role with the provision for wing mounted bombs and rockets. 

One of the first tasks when building this kit  is to drill out holes for either bombs or rockets. Airfix’s painting instructions, state they were in Kuala Lumpur in 1947, but it wasn’t actually until the end of June 1948 that 60 Sqn provided a detachment of their Spitfires to the Taskforce at Kuala Lumpur, which was also the first time they used rockets too which is what I’ve gone for. More on their use in the Malayan Emergency later.

Some will hate my approach with the cockpit interior. Being so beautifully moulded it seems horrifying not to paint and weather every nook and bump. However, having built the Spitfire FR Mk.XIV last year with pilot installed, I know you can see nothing at all of that interior once it's all put together. So as my new mantra is, only paint what you can see I've fitted the pilot in his seat and added a little of putty to his arm joints ready for one of my favourite bits, the detail brush painting. 

Meanwhile, here’s how and when the first Spitfire to be delivered was reported. 

JANUARY 1947 (OPERATIONS)  F/O QUILTER

“There has been little flying on the Squadron this month, principally because of a shortage of aircraft.  On the 15th our first Spitfire Mk.XVIII was flown from Seletar by the Commanding Officer, Squadron Leader Constable Maxwell DFC, DFC but apart from this one Spitfire there has only been our Harvard and another Harvard obligingly loaned by 81 Squadron. 

Our home field, Tenah, only became serviceable for limited flying as recently as the 29th, of this month when our two aircraft were flown over from Seletar. The flying we had managed to do previously had entailed our making the tiresome journey to Seletar by road everyday, thereby shortening our airborne hours even further.

Next month, fortunately, holds brighter prospects as several more of our keenly awaited Spitfires are very near completion and the Tenah runways should become closer to full serviceability.”

I feel my building of of TP222 is one of the Spitfires keenly awaited though it is still some way off being completed 

The Cernak Incident, June 1943

 I’ve just completed this railway and aircraft diorama for one of my local WW2 airfield museums.

On the 4th June 1943 “ A” flight from the Czechoslovakian Squadron 313 based at RAF Culmhead (Formerly RAF Church Stanton ) was ordered to take off and undertake low flying practice that included “mock” attacks on trains travelling on the Plymouth to Bristol main railway line near Bradford upon Tone, 4 miles west of Taunton. 

During the training flight a GWR express train from Plymouth to Liverpool was spotted heading North to Taunton and so the flight decided to undertake a mock “attack” on the train. 

One of the pilots, F/O Jaroslav Cermak, was sweeping in to make his attack when unfortunately either due to Pilot error or mechanical failure he suddenly lost power and instead of pulling up over the train the aircraft lost speed and hit the roof of the second coach with his port wingtip. It crashed into the adjoining field killing the pilot instantly. 

I’m proud to say that this diorama can be seen today in the RAF display at the Upottery Airfield Visitor Centre, the same airfield the 101st Airborne Division’s “Band of Brothers” departed from on the morning of 6 June 1944.  

Spitfire Mk.VII

 I’m back after a bit of a break!

First on the bench is the Airfix Spitfire Mk XII which I’m building for the Jadlam Racing Models Group Build but why just one, I thought to myself! So I’m parallel building an another clipped wing Spitfire, the Mk XIV with the later teardrop canopy. 

More research will be done but in the meantime, this is what I know of the two Mks …

Mark XII - Fighter version based on the Mark V but fitted with the Griffon III engine with a single-stage supercharger. Built in moderate numbers as a low-altitude fighter, with clipped wings. Entered service in February 1943.

Mark XIV - Fighter version similar to the Mark VIII but fitted with the Griffon 61-series engine with two-stage supercharger. This variant entered service in February 1944. A fighter-reconnaissance version of the Mark XIV also appeared. The variant was built in large numbers and final production aircraft featured a cut-back rear fuselage and teardrop canopy.

I did a little more work on the interiors yesterday, spending what seemed an inordinate amount of time on the pilots. I’m usually OK at painting figures but for some reason I just couldn’t get the finish I wanted on these. However, as I’m not going for an open canopy I’m thinking you’ll not see too much of them anyway. 

I’m also unsure as to whether I should cut out the rear wheel bay only to fit a set of closed doors. Will it really be worth the effort for little visible difference? I think this moulding for this Mk.XII must also be used for the Mk.V which didn’t have the retractable undercarriage. the Mk.XIV kit already comes with this removed. 

Back on the Airfix Spitfire Mk.XII and I’ve managed to get my pilot thinned down sufficiently to fit in his cockpit! I don’t know what the Airfix team were on when they designed this kit back in 2011 but it’s falling well short of their current high standards.

You’ll notice that I’ve also had to fit the propeller. This is such a bad design point and one which has fortunately not been followed on my parallel build subject, the Mk.XIV. 

I like to paint the canopy in place and so this means taking a sharp knife and much patience to some masking tape. 

I think I’m about ready for adding some colour.

Oh how grateful I have been for a wet Sunday afternoon! Primed, camouflaged, invasion stripes and sky band masked and painted. Unfortunately while attempting to mask the spinner it came off in my hands!  So I will now end up, as all recommended, with having to fix it post the build but with the added annoyance of having the back plate rattling around within the aircraft.

Couldn’t resist getting started on the Spitfire MkXII decals and having already committed to the June 1944 variant its the EB-Z 41 Sqn markings that are required. 

I’m not however that happy with the colour match of those squadron markings. They seem far too bright. I would have expected something closer to Sky Type A or Belge Green as the Airfix colour scheme calls it. The 595 Sqn lettering for the second scheme are, however spot on. I’ve heard from others that their decals are the same correct colours, so I guess I’ve got a bad batch!

Oh well it is what it is. 

I’ve also, rather stupidly, not painted the yellow leading wing edges. Don’t know what I was thinking here, so I’m going to have to revisit this once I’ve given it a good covering of varnish, else those roundels are going to come off with the masking tape.

Other than that, it’s not the best Airfix Spitfire kit out there but I’m sort of liking it.

Well that varnish went down very nicely yesterday afternoon so I set to work on adding those yellow leading edges this morning and DISASTER! 

The yellow went on beautifully but when carefully removing the sparingly applied masking tape I pulled up a thin layer of acrylic varnish, like pealing back skin, revealing the matte paint beneath. With this varnish layer came much of the clean yellow edges I’d just painted and half of both upper wing roundels! 

I’ve trimmed back and tidied the loose layers and completely removed both roundels. I can probably find spare roundels in my stash but I’m beginning to think this build is doomed.

New set of XtraDecals roundels applied (not as good as the Airfix originals but better than nothing) and some odds and ends black lines applied to replace those lost in the masking tape versus varnish debacle.

From a distance and after I’ve added a little light weathering, I’m hoping it will all blend together OK

That's my Jadlam Racing Models Spitfire XII done, I'm calling it a day. It's been quite a journey.

I was going to have it flying side by side with the Mk.XIV that I kicked off at the same time, but that one, to me, is looking much more presentable such that I'm now thinking of going for an undercarriage down and open canopy format.

So, I dug out a Messerschmitt Bf 109, built earlier this year as part of the Dogfight Double with the Mk.Vb. As I had originally finished this with wheels and flaps down, I had a bit of work to return it to flight mode but now, using the old stand, I have my Spitfire Mk.XII in a close dogfight with an old Bf 109E, it hasn't got a chance!

Anyway, it’s done. Fortunately, thanks to Jadlam’s event, it didn’t cost much and I have to admit to strangely enjoying the challenge and all the chat with fellow scale modellers also participating in the group build. It’s not going to win any prizes but I think I should still be receiving a money off voucher

D-Day Spitfire Mk.Vc

A bit of 1:72 scale fun with an Airfix Spitfire MkVc and Modelu figures.

Here ground crew quickly apply D-Day invasion stripes to a Spitfire which tomorrow, 6th June 1944 will be engaged across the Normandy coast directing naval gunfire against stubborn enemy positions. 

Spitfire Mk.Vb Tropical

Next on the bench is my first ever 1:48 scale aircraft build, the Airfix Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb & Messerschmitt Bf109E Dogfight Doubles and my entry in the first ever Seaton Scale Modellers’ Group Build - Devon Art Supplies Airfix Starter & Gift Set Build. I have around 6 weeks to complete this pair before we display our completed Group Builds in a dedicated display area at our local scale model store Devon Art Supplies.  

Airfix Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb

Meet my RAF Malta pilot. He’s so excited to have just taken delivery of his Spitfire Mk.Vb cockpit and now can’t wait for me to fit some wings! 

I don’t normally have opportunity to do a hints and tips piece as social media is awash with them already, but here goes. In the spirit of my local model group build, I thought I’d use the Humbrol acrylic paints supplied with the Airfix Starter and Gift sets.

The challenge many will know with the paint post Airfix supplies with its kits is that they often show signs of drying up during the time they’ve sat in Airfix’s warehouse or on our shops’ shelves. This kit is no exception with the paint in many of the tubs having a consistency more akin to putty. So out came the H2O and by adding a little water and carefully stirring with a cocktail stick I was able to return it to the consistency of cream for brush painting and, with a bit more water, milk for airbrushing. 

I charged the airbrush with a very thinned pipette applied amount of paint which over a coat of primer gave a surprisingly good finish. All ready for the decals which will hopefully be less challenging!

Now time to let that Decalfix do its work.

I’m no expert in weathering but I do enjoy experimenting. Today I dug out the oils and gave the panel lines a little attention. I think the results to the naked eye are better than I’ve been able to capture in pictures but hopefully you get the idea of the effect.

 

My 1943 Seige of Malta Spitfire Mk.Vb X.J is ready for takeoff and I couldn't resist adding a Merlin soundtrack to complete the picture.

Spitfire VB, EP641 X-J was flown by 21 year old Royal Canadian Air Force Plt Offr Sandy Harold Kendall Goodyear J/16701 of 229 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Having survived the 1942 siege of Malta, Goodyear was killed in action when the squadron went on the offensive, flying sweeps over Sicily on 15th February 1943 

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The Kit

Brand: Airfix

Title: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb & Messerschmitt Bf109E Dogfight Doubles 

Number: A50160

Scale: 1:48

Type: Full kit

Released: 2014 New decals

Spitfire TR.8

In July last year, I picked up a couple of AZ Spitfires at the North Somerset Scale Model Show. I quickly learned, after building the first, that AZ models are an acquired taste, so at least I knew what I was letting myself in for when I picked this rare Spitfire TR.8/9 out of my stash last week.

Rather than go for the 3 options in the box, I decided to finish this kit in the colours of IAC-163, one of 6 two seater Spitfires flown by the Irish Air Corps in the 1950s. 

Interestingly, when this Spitfire was ‘demobbed’ in 1968, it went on to appear in the film “The Battle of Britain”. Then after a spell in the US, it returned to the UK in 2019 to join three other 2 seater IAC Spitfires at ‘Fly a Spitfire’ based at Biggin Hill. 

I love a model’s backstory probably as much as building them

Spitfire HF Mk VI

Finished a ‘simple build’ today of the 1:72 scale AZ Model Spitfire HF Mk VI which was one of the bargain kits I picked up at last Sunday’s show. I was in need of something simple to pass the time while I considered what after market bits, if any, to acquire for a Lancaster I also have on the workbench. 

This is the very unusual, long winged high altitude Spitfire, which I finished in the colours of P/O C.B.Brown’s aircraft of 616 Squadron, RAF Kingscliffe, May 1942. 

In building this kit, I made 3 frustrating mistakes … 

1. Attempting to hand paint acrylics in a heatwave!

2. Not researching a better kit to meet my ‘simple build’ criteria, as this was really quite painful!

3. Choosing to buy this kit in the first place!

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc

My Airfix Spitfire Mk.Vc is complete. 

 

I bought 3 of these Airfix starter kits for a Christmas family group build and we finally managed to get together this week to have a go at them. 

The Supermarine Factory

They are lovely to construct, with most parts fitting nicely together; a very important requirement for any new modeller. The highlights were the canopy which needed no glue and the shadow stand. The only issues I would warn folk of, and feed back to the Airfix team, were: l the propeller fitting is too tight causing 2/3 builds to end with a slack prop! The paints supplied were awful with 2/3 builds needing new paints (I just ditched the supplied stuff which had dried out and went with some Hataka paint I use in my airbrush); the transfers were nicely printed but having to be positioned over raised wing mouldings (lovely detail) needed decal softener for them to sit properly. 

Needed replacement paints and decal softener  

So highly recommended for first time modellers (with the above caveats) and very enjoyable for me to get out the brushes and put down the air brush for the first time in years!

The new Spitfires take to the air

Airfix have provided decals with this kit for Spitfire Mk Vc AB174 RF-Q flown by Plt Off Antoni (Toni) Glowacki, No 303 'Polish' Sqn, August 1942. Toni was notable for shooting down five German aircraft on 24 August 1940 during the Battle of Britain, flying his then ‘lucky Hurricane’ SD-A (VZ124) to become one of only three pilots to gain Ace-in-a-day status during the battle. On 7 November 1941, along with other Polish pilots who had been attached to RAF squadrons, Głowacki was transferred to No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron where he flew Supermarine Spitfire RF-Q (AB174). On 27 April and 19 August 1942, Głowacki had two probables over Dieppe, claiming Focke Wulf Fw 190s. He also shared in the downing of a Heinkel He 111.

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The Kit:

Brand: Airfix

Title: Starter Set Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc

Number: A55001

Scale: 1:72

Type: Full kit

Released: 2020 | Initial release - new tool