Some Spits

[Junkers88A1]

great work. but you must be pretty fed up with spits by now.. hehe
whats next ?

[antoni]

Originally Posted by Tinplate58

Terry Brown dated this photo Aug. 6 1943 when 316 would have been at Northolt as part of the Polish Wing; the squadron was converting back to Mk. Vbs from Mk. IXs (which they flew March 43-Sept. 43 ) .
The clean appearance is due to it's being waxed and polished as were others in the squadron; the small codes were typical of many Polish squadrons also on their later Mustangs.
The cleaning was to get a few more mph out of them at the low levels they were operating at especially as they were hardly a match for the FW190s though the clipped wings improved the rate of roll; BL479 had a Merlin 45 so presumably would be classed as an F.Vb rather than an LF.
This CBAF batch had the larger Rotol spinners but early windscreens.
Nick

No they were not converting back to Mk Vbs at Northolt. There were four squadrons in the Polish Wing. Three at Northolt and one resting at a backwater. Speke was often used. Only the ‘front line’ squadrons at Northolt had the best aircraft, the resting squadron used aircraft that were second rate. At the end of the rest period the squadron returned to Northolt and the next squadron due a rest left. This usually only involved a movement of personnel. Each squadron left behind its aircraft for the other squadron to use. On 12th September 1943 316 Squadron left Northolt for Acklington They left behind their Spitfire Mk IXs at Northolt and received Mk Vb and VCs at Acklington. These Mk Vs were never anywhere near Northolt!

[antoni]

Originally Posted by Airframes

Here you go Steve, the classic Charles Brown photo of BL479, of 316 (Polish) Sqn., R.A.F. Some captions put the pic as late 1943 or early 1944, although I do remember seeing a note in a book on Charles Brown's work, where the date was given as February 1944.
I'm afraid I haven't found the other shots yet, apart from a B&W version of the same pic, but to be honest, there's not a lot to show - the aircraft appears to be pristine, almost factory fresh, all over!
Two things to note; the doped patch on the rear fuselage, and the sliding canopy frame. Although it's possible that the patch is a gas detector panel, I don't think it is. It looks more like a repair patch or similar, possibly fabric, doped-on as a temporary measure?
The frame of the sliding canopy appears to be a much lighter colour, possibly grey primer, and I think this might be a replacement canopy, with the later, bulged hood. Until I find the other pics, of the port side, I'm unable to confirm whether the Polish red & white emblem was carried on the nose cowling panel, but I'm fairly sure it was.
It's always interested me that this kite has the later prop and 'pointed' spinner, but the early, externally armoured windscreen, and the smaller than 'regulation' code letters. When I eventually get around to building a Hasegawa 1/32nd scale Spit straight from the box, instead of converting to Mk1, MkIX and MkXIV, this is the one I'll be doing!

When the photograph was taken, BL479 was not with 316 Squadron. 316 Squadron were equipped with Spitfire Mk IXs. The squadron’s ORB ifrom that period is very well detailed recording all flights including non-operational ones. There is not a single entry for BL479. According to the Aircraft Movement Card BL479 was assigned to 308 Squadron.

The photograph was taken on 6th August 1943 by Charles Brown from Miles Master AZ380 piloted by F/O Stenton. At this time all Spitfires of the Wing HQ and Station HQ were also SZ coded. The pilot of BL479 was G/Cpt M.W.S.Robinson the station commander at Northolt. That explains its showroom finish and the lack of chessboards.

[Airframes]

Thanks very much Antoni, that has cleared up a lot of questions for me! I's always wondered why it carried the 316 codes, knowing that the Ssquadron had MkIX's at the time, apart from their 'rest' periods at Acklington and Woodvale, with the MkV's. Good stuff mate!

[Angels one-five]

Originally Posted by Junkers88A1

great work. but you must be pretty fed up with spits by now.. hehe
whats next ?

Academy Spit XIVe and an Italeri Spit VVI arrived from Hannants today... Looks like they'll be next in the line up!

[Miggers]

Can't fault Spits,very nice indeed.

I see you have Mr Blacker's manual too.

Mark

[Crimea_River]

Congrats on some fine work. Looking forward to more.

[diamant]

Hi Steve

Let me tell you that your Spitfires look fantastic. Very well done.

Cheers
Santiago

[dirkpitt289]

Those are some real nice spits. What is it about the Siptfire that everyone seems to make them in mass quantities at a time?

[Angels one-five]

Thanks guys. I have merged my latest two from their own threads into this one.

First the Italeri Mk XVI






And now the Academy FRXIVe:

[Vic Balshaw]

A couple of lovely clipped wing Spits

[Miggers]

Originally Posted by dirkpitt289

Those are some real nice spits. What is it about the Siptfire that everyone seems to make them in mass quantities at a time?

For the answer look at the PR.XIX.

It epitomises everything that Reginald Mitchell dreamed that the original Spit airframe would be: speed,power and drop-dead gorgeous looks.

John Romaine summed it up very easily,he says that Merlin Spits are beautiful to fly,but the Griffon Spit is an altogether different beast.

He says there are very,very,very few aeroplanes that tell you what they do best and the Griffon Spit is one of them.
From the instant the engine starts,you are left knowing that this aeroplane wants to hunt and kill it's opponents.
He also says that the Griffon Spit reinforces the fact that any Spitfire can read the pilot's mind,something that is extremely rare amongst any aircraft.

Mark