Spitfire Mk.XVI BRITISH WWII FIGHTER 1/72 SCALE PLASTIC KIT

DUAL COMBO! #2117

intro In September 1941, a hitherto unknown German radial engine fighter appeared in the west european sky. The new airplane was superior to British fighters, most distressingly to the Spitfire Mk.V. The German design was soon recognized as the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A. The losses suffered by the RAF over western Europe rose rapidly and the crisis was serious enough that the RAF ceased the majority of daytime operations in November 1941. The next attempt to resume these types of sorties was made in March 1942. Loss rates remained unacceptably high and the RAF was forces to stop ops once again. All this was thanks to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A. The first response to the new German weapon was the Spitfire Mk.VIII, but the design changes were so complex that initiating timely production was not possible. In June 1942 a German pilot landed by mistake on a British airfield delivering a completely intact Fw 190 fighter into RAF hands. Comparative trials between the Focke-Wulf and Spitfire Mk.V began almost immediately. These mock encounters confirmed the situation over the front – the chances of a British fighter surviving an encounter with the Fw 190 were slim. The only British fighter aircraft deemed suitable to oppose them were the Spitfire Mk. VII and VIII powered by the Merlin 61 engine. As mentioned above these were some time away of being ready for series production. But there was another way of getting a powerful fighter quickly - by mating the Merlin 61, with its two-stage supercharger, with the fuselage of the Spitfire Mk.Vc. Two Mk.Vc airframes, AB196 and AB197, were selected for this purpose and were strengthened with modified longerons to accommodate the more powerful and heavier engine. The example was finished on February 26 and the second on March 27, 1942. Flight trials were succesful and the order for series production was issued almost immediately. Series production began in June 1942 and the first Mk.IXs found their way to No. 64 Squadron in July. Performance improved significantly in comparison to the Mk.V. A top speed of 409 mph at 28,000 feet was higher by 40mph, and the service ceiling rose from 36,200 to 43,000 feet. The Mk.IX could climb at 4,000 feet per minute. The RAF finally had a fighter aircraft capable of opposing the Fw 190 A. Three main versions of the Mk. IX were produced. The F.IX was powered by the Merlin 61 and was the only version on the assembly line in early 1943. The next version was the LF Mk.IX powered by the Merlin 66. This engine was designed to do its best at low altitudes. The third version, manufactured along with the LF, was the high-altitude HF Mk.IX with the Merlin 70. The majority of Mk.IXs manufactured were equipped with the so-called 'C' wing. Four 20 mm cannons or two 20 mm cannons and four .303 machine guns could be installed in the wings. From 1944 the strengthened 'E' wing was produced. Four .303 machine guns were replaced with two .50 heavy machine guns. Bomb racks for 250 lb bombs were fitted under each wing typically. The Mk.IX became the second most numerous version of the Spitfire with a total of 5653 examples being built. The Mk.IX began to replace the Mk.V from June 1942. Thanks to the new fighter, the RAF was ready to fight against the Luftwaffe over occupied Europe. Spitfire Mk.IXs served with the RAF to the end of war. In the postwar era, foreign air forces flew this version as well. Czechoslovak, Norwegian, Danish, and Canadian air forces operated numbers of Mk.IXs and they were not alone. Spitfires would find themselves in combat again. Czechoslovakia sold its Spitfire Mk.IXs to Israel in 1948 and these aircraft formed the backbone of the newly born Israeli air force in the fight against their Arab neighbours. úvodem V září 1941 se na evropské obloze objevil dosud neznámý německý stíhací letoun poháněný hvězdicovým motorem. Nová stíhačka měla nad britskými, zejména Spitfirem Mk.V, zřetelnou převahu. V německé konstrukci byl záhy rozpoznán Focke-Wulf Fw 190A. Ztráty RAF nad západní Evropou začaly rychle narůstat až to té míry, že britské letectvo muselo v listopadu 1941 zastavit většinu denních operací nad evropským kontinentem. Pokus o spuštění tohoto typu bojových letů byl uskutečněn v březnu 1942. Počty ztrát však byly opět neúnosné, což opět vedlo k jejich zastavení. Vše díky Focke-Wulfům Fw 190A. Prvním pokusem o odpověď na novou německou zbraň se stal Spitfire Mk.VIII, avšak komplexní přístup ke změnám konstrukce letounu způsobil, že nebylo možné jej dostat do sériové výroby v dostatečně blízkém časovém horizontu. V červnu 1942 přistál jeden z německých pilotů omylem na britském letišti a předal tak do britských rukou nepoškozený Fw 190 A. Srovnávací zkoušky Focke-Wulfu a Spitfiru Mk.V začaly téměř neprodleně. Cvičné souboje plně potvrdily situaci na frontě – šance britské stíhačky přestát setkání s Fw 190 bez úhony nebyly vysoké. Jediné britské stíhačky schopné postavit se plnohodnotně německému typy byly Spitfiry Mk.VII a Mk.VIII poháněné motorem Merlin 61. Jak však bylo poznamenáno výše, nedalo se čekat, že v dohledné době dospějí do fáze sériové výroby. Byla zde však ještě jedna cesta, jak získat dostatečně výkonnou stíhačku, zabudovat Merlin 61 s dvoustupňovým kompresorem do základního draku Spitfiru Mk.V. Pro tento experiment byly vyčleněny dva draky, AB196 a AB197. Prošly zpevněním, aby mohl být zastavěn výkonnější a těžší motor. První z nich byl dokončen 26. února, druhý pak 27. března 1942. Letové testy proběhly natolik úspěšně, že byla objednána sériová výroba. Ta se plně rozběhla v červnu 1942 a první Mk.IX se u bojové jednotky, 64. squadrony, objevily v červenci. V porovnání s Mk.V se výkony znatelně zvýšily. Maximální rychlost byla v 28.000 stopách vyšší o 40 mph, operační dostup se zvýšil z 36.200 na 43.000 stop. Mk.IX mohl stoupat rychlostí 4000 stop za minutu. RAF tedy konečně dostalo stíhačku, kterou mohlo směle postavit proti Fw 190 A. Vyráběny byly tři hlavní verze Mk.IX. Verze F Mk.IX byla poháněna motorem Merlin 61 a z montážní linky sjížděla až do počátku roku 1943. Na ni navázaly LF Mk.IX poháněná motorem Merlin 66 a určená k operacím v nižších výškách, a HF Mk.IX s motorem Merlin 70 konstruovaným naopak pro výškové lety. Většina Mk.IX byla vyrobena s křídlem typu C. V něm mohla být instalována výzbroj složená ze čtyř kanonů ráže 20 mm nebo ze dvou kanonů ráže 20 mm a čtyř kulometů ráže 0,303 palce. V roce 1944 se objevilo zpevněné křídlo typu E. Čtveřice 0,303 kulometů byla nahrazena dvojicí kulometů ráže 0,50 palce. Pod každou polovinou křídla byly standardně namontovány závěsníky pro 250lb pumy. Verze Mk.IX se stala druhou nejpočetnější verzí Spitfiru s 5653 vyrobenými kusy. Mk.IX začaly nahrazovat Mk.V v červnu 1942. Díky nové stíhačce byla RAF opět schopná bojovat proti Luftwaffe nad okupovanou Evropou. Ve své výzbroji si typ ponechala až do konce války. Po ukončení bojů se verze dostala i do výzbroje dalších letectev. Československé, norské, dánské, kanadské a další letectva používala desítky Mk.IX. Spitfiry Mk.IX se však do bojů dostaly i v této době. Československo prodalo své Spitfiry v roce 1948 do Izraele, kde se v bojích s arabskými sousedy staly páteřním typem nově vznikajících izraelských vzdušných sil. 2117 - NAV1 ATTENTION UPOZORNĚNÍ ACHTUNG ATTENTION

INSTRUCTION SIGNS INSTR. SYMBOLY INSTRUKTION SINNBILDEN SYMBOLES

OPTIONAL BEND OPEN HOLE SYMETRICAL ASSEMBLY REMOVE REVERSE SIDE APPLY EDUARD MASK VOLBA OHNOUT VYVRTAT OTVOR SYMETRICKÁ MONTÁŽ ODŘÍZNOUT OTOČIT AND PAINT POUŽÍT EDUARD MASK NABARVIT

PARTS DÍLY TEILE PIECES

PLASTIC PARTS A> 2 pcs. B> 2 pcs. C> 2 pcs. D> 2 pcs. E> 2 pcs. 70120 A 70120 B 70120 C 70120 D 70120 E

I> J> 70120 I 70120 J

PE - PHOTO ETCHED DETAIL PARTS eduard

COLOURS BARVY FARBEN PEINTURE

GSi Creos (GUNZE) AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR AQUEOUS Mr.COLOR H 94 C138 CLEAR GREEN H 3 C3 FLAT RED C361 DARK GREEN H 4 C4 YELLOW C362 OCEAN GRAY H 11 C62 FLAT WHITE C363 MEDIUM SEA GRAY H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN H 33 C81 RUSSET C368 SKY H 51 C11 LIGHT GULL GRAY C370 AZURE BLUE H 52 C12 OLIVE DRAB Mr.METAL COLOR H 77 C137 TIRE BLACK MC214 DARK IRON H 90 C47 CLEAR RED MC218 ALUMINIUM 2 A43

A44 A42

- 0,8 mm for bomb rack

I34 (J34)

for ext. fuel tank - 0,8 mm I33 (J33) (parts B12 or B15)

for ext. fuel tank - 0,8 mm (subassembly I)

- 0,8 mm I35 (J35) for bomb rack A45 A47

A46

A48

A C364 PE1 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN PE17

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN B40

H 33 C81 RUSSET B3

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK B52 H 33 B4 C81 RUSSET MARKINGS F ; G ; H HIGHBACK C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN H 33 C81 B RUSSET OPTIONAL: PE8 decal 70 B49

PE8 H 12 C33 C364 FLAT BLACK AIRCRAFT PE30 GRAY-GREEN

C364 PE25 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN PE28 PE26 PE28

C364 PE29 A34 AIRCRAFT C364 GRAY-GREEN AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN B47 PE20

B41 C364 B53 B39 B41 PE15 PE14 AIRCRAFT B39 GRAY-GREEN

MC218 C364 ALUMINIUM A29 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN C364 AIRCRAFT H 12 GRAY-GREEN H 12 A34 C33 C33 FLAT BLACK FLAT BLACK MC218 ALUMINIUM H 12 C33 C364 B6 B6 FLAT BLACK AIRCRAFT PE23 GRAY-GREEN

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN 3 H 12 C33 C FLAT BLACK B38

H 51 C11 A38 LIGHT GULL GRAY

step 2 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

C364 AIRCRAFT A C1 GRAY-GREEN

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK C364 AIRCRAFT step 1 GRAY-GREEN D PE16

H 12 C364 AIRCRAFT C33 GRAY-GREEN FLAT BLACK

MC218 ALUMINIUM

C364 B2 H 12 AIRCRAFT C364 GRAY-GREEN AIRCRAFT C33 GRAY-GREEN FLAT BLACK

A39

H 12 A18 C33 FLAT BLACK

I32 PE11

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN PE12 H 12 C33 PE10 FLAT BLACK I32 PE27 MC218 ALUMINIUM

C364 AIRCRAFT B37 FOR CLOSED GRAY-GREEN CANOPY ONLY

I10 MC218 A32 ALUMINIUM H 12 I31 C33 FLAT BLACK D

I31

B9 I32 B8

A6 I31 I9

MC218 ALUMINIUM C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN PE7 4 BUBBLETOP MARKINGS A ; B ; C ; D ; E

C364 PE1 AIRCRAFT A GRAY-GREEN

C364 PE33 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN B40

MC218 ALUMINIUM

H 33 H 12 A34 C81 C33 RUSSET FLAT BLACK PE32 MC218 A34 ALUMINIUM B3 H 12 C33 PE25 FLAT BLACK H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN B52 H 33 B4 C81 RUSSET

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN C364 B53 PE15 AIRCRAFT H 33 GRAY-GREEN C81 RUSSET

B OPTIONAL: C decal 70 PE17 PE8 H 12 B43 B45 C33 FLAT BLACK

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN C364 PE36 AIRCRAFT A30 PE31 GRAY-GREEN C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN

C364 AIRCRAFT B6 GRAY-GREEN B6 B47

PE8 B49 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK C364 C AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN PE28 PE31 A38 PE29

step 2 H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN C364 PE20 AIRCRAFT A C1 GRAY-GREEN

H 12 C33 FLAT BLACK C364 AIRCRAFT step 1 GRAY-GREEN

H 12 C364 AIRCRAFT C33 GRAY-GREEN FLAT BLACK

PE14

H 12 C364 AIRCRAFT C33 GRAY-GREEN FLAT BLACK

A39

MC218 ALUMINIUM

H 12 A18 C33 FLAT BLACK

C364 B2 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN

5 BUBBLETOP C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN MARKINGS A ; B ; C ; D ; E J32 PE11 PE12 J32

H 12 MC218 PE26 C33 PE10 ALUMINIUM FLAT BLACK C364 C364 AIRCRAFT AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN GRAY-GREEN

H 12 PE13 PE30 C33 FLAT BLACK D J10

J31

B9 B8 J31

MC218 ALUMINIUM C364 AIRCRAFT A6 GRAY-GREEN J9 PE7

I3 HIGHBACK B21 MARKINGS F ; G ; H

C364 AIRCRAFT B21 GRAY-GREEN

B37

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN A16 J3 BUBBLETOP MARKINGS A ; B ; C ; D ; E

J31

PE21

PE16 C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN

J31 6 D19 - MARKINGS D19 D , F , H ONLY

C7 I12 (J12) E29 H 94 C138 CLEAR GREEN

E30

D20 - MARKINGS D20 D , F , H ONLY

I11 (J11) C6 H 90 C47 CLEAR RED

I13 (J13) H 77 C137 TIRE BLACK E28 MC218 A13 ALUMINIUM

UNDERSURFACE COLOR

E27

E PE21 (70124), PE23 (70126)

UNDERSURFACE I16 (J16) COLOR I34 (J34) PE18 B51 UNDERSURFACE COLOR B35

UNDERSURFACE COLOR B50 PE19

UNDERSURFACE COLOR I15 (J15) B48 UNDERSURFACE COLOR B35 MC218 PE18 ALUMINIUM PE2 UNDERSURFACE PE19 COLOR MC218 ALUMINIUM PE3 B46

MC218 I15, I16 (J15, J16) ALUMINIUM

MC218 ALUMINIUM PE5

PE4 MC218 ALUMINIUM

7 A25 A2 A23 A1

H 77 A2 C137 A1 TIRE BLACK B10 MC218 UNDERSURFACE ALUMINIUM COLOR A23 H 77 A25 C137 UNDERSURFACE TIRE BLACK COLOR

PE24 (70124), PE24 (70124), MC218 MC218 PE27 (70126) ALUMINIUM PE27 (70126) MC218 ALUMINIUM B7 ALUMINIUM B27 B20 B20 B28

B16 B16

2 pcs.

UNDERSURFACE PE22 (70124), COLOR PE24 (70126)

B16 C3

UNDERSURFACE COLOR B16 UNDERSURFACE COLOR

UNDERSURFACE COLOR UNDERSURFACE COLOR MC214 DARK IRON B31

PE9

B32 MC214 DARK IRON

F HIGHBACK F BUBBLETOP G H MARKINGS F ; G ; H MARKINGS A ; B ; C ; D ; E C15 B11 B13 B14 PE13 C2 C13 C9 C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN

C364 AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN C364 AIRCRAFT H 12 GRAY-GREEN C33 FLAT BLACK C364 decal 14 ? 15 PE32 (70124), AIRCRAFT GRAY-GREEN C364 C5 AIRCRAFT (70120) GRAY-GREEN PE35 (70126) PE22 8 I J K 2 pcs. A9 A28 A17 A5

A11

A7 A14 A28 HIGHBACK

MARKINGS F ; G ; H A19 F A36 C13 A20

A21 C12 G C5

A37

B14 - open canopy & open door B13 - open canopy & closed door

B14 H

MC214 DARK IRON A12

B13 H A35

I A35

MC214 A12 DARK IRON

F C2

G C5

B11 H B11 - closed canopy & closed door

9 BUBBLETOP C9 F MARKINGS A ; B ; C ; D ; E G C5

A37

B14 - open canopy & open door B13 - open canopy & closed door

B14 H

MC214 DARK IRON A12

B13 H

A35

I A35

MC214 A12 DARK IRON

C9 F

G C5

B11 H

B11 - closed canopy & closed door

C12

C13

C5 C5 10 B24 FWD K

H 52 C12 OLIVE DRAB J B18 B17 K

UNDERSURFACE COLOR B24 UNDERSURFACE MC218 COLOR ALUMINIUM H 52 A49 C12 OLIVE DRAB A31 UNDERSURFACE COLOR B18

PE6 UNDERSURFACE B17 COLOR A49

PE31 (70124), PE34 (70126)

UNDERSURFACE COLOR

- 0,3 mm

B12

UNDERSURFACE COLOR B15

11 A TB900, No. 349 Squadron, Wunstorf, Germany, summer 1945

TB900 was built by Vickers Armstrong at Castle Bromwich and given the name Winston Churchill in honour of the Prime Minister. It was used operationally by No. 127 Squadron from April 15, 1945. It subsequently was taken on strength by No. 349 Squadron on April 26, 1945. It became the personal mount of S/Ldr. Raymond Lallemand, the CO of No. 349 Squadron. TB900 was stripped of its paint to become one of two overall silver painted "presentation" aircraft of the squadron in May, 1946 but crashed shortly after the repaint.

H4 MEDIUM H12 YELLOW SKY OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK C4 C368 SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 12 B TD341, No. 443 Squadron, Uetersen airfield, Germany, August 1945

No. 443 Squadron RCAF had a Hornet painted in the unit crest along with the motto 'Our Sting is Death'. The colors on the spinner thus corresponded with the name of the unit. The squadron flew Spitfire Mk.XVIs and stayed in Uetersen until its disbandment on May 15, 1946. The Sky band on the tail was overpainted with camouflage colors.

H4 MEDIUM H12 YELLOW OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK C4 SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 13 C TB675, No. 485 Squadron (RNZAF), W/O M. Lind, Fassberg, Germany, summer 1945

No. 485 Squadron was the first New Zealand squadron formed from graduates of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan during World War II and was estabilished on March 1, 1941 at RAF Driffield in Yorkshire. In the whole time of the World War II was equiped with various version of Spitfire and was officially disbanded on August 26, 1945 in Germany. Rongotea was a home town of W/O Murray Lind and the silver fern shield was a copy of a tin „Silver Fern“ tobacco, which was popular with New Zealand pilots.

H4 H3 H11 YELLOW RED WHITE C4 C3 C62 MEDIUM H12 OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 14 D SL721, Flown by AVM Sir James Robb, 1948

SL721 was delivered to No. 8 Maintenance Unit on August 27, 1945. It was subsequently flown by the Fighter Command Communication Squadron at Northolt Air Base. In February, 1948, it was operated by Metropolitan Communications Squadron. It served as the personal aircraft of AVM Sir James Robb, a WWI fighter ace with seven kills to his credit. The unusual PRU Blue camouflage was adorned with the Air Vice Marshall´s pennant and three stars. This Spitfire is currently preserved and was flown during the Reno Air Race. One of its pilots was Canadian Jerry Billing.

50% + 50% H4 H12 YELLOW BLACK PRU BLUE C4 C33 C370 C363 eduard 15 TD240, Flown by S/Ldr. Boleslaw Kaczmarek, CO of No. 302 Squadron, Varrelsbuch Air Field, E Germany, summer 1945

This aircraft was formerly flown by G/C Gabszewicz, the CO of No. 131 Wing. The boxing dog was his personal artwork. In the middle of June, 1945, the aircraft was inherited by S/Ldr. Boleslaw Kaczmarek, the CO of No. 302 Squadron and Gabszewicz´s personal emblem was retained on the aircraft, with the female name Janetka being added. Note the squadron badge below the windscreen.

H4 YELLOW C4

MEDIUM H12 OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 16 RR227, Flown by S/Ldr. Otto Smik, CO of No. 127 Squadron, Grimbergen Airfield, Belgium, F November 1944

Otto Smik was given command of No. 127 Squadron on November 13, 1944 and became the last of three Czechoslovak pilots who commanded British squadrons in WWII. He was killed by AA fire during an attack on a railway station in Zwolle, Belgium on November 28, 1945. He was credited with eleven kills and three V-1s destroyed at the time of his death. He flew Spitfire RR227 on that fateful flight (old theories stated RR229). The appearance of this aircraft is not photographically documented but research conducted by Czech historians suggests that the fuselage code was 9N*B (or R) and the squadron leader´s pennant was painted below the windscreen. Smik used to paint his score on his aircraft and the presence of the Czechoslovak roundel can´t be excluded as well. The red-white spinner appeared on the aircraft of one of No. 127 squadron leaders in October, 1944.

H4 H3 H11 YELLOW RED WHITE C4 C3 C62 MEDIUM H12 SKY OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK C368 SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 17 TB634, No. 421 Squadron (RCAF), P/O A. F. McIntosh, B.90 Airfield Petit Brogel, Belgium, G March 1945

No. 421 Squadron was the last RCAF fighter squadron to be formed in the United Kingdom during World War II. Was formed at RAF Digby in April 1942 and received Spitfire Mk.V. In preparation to the D-Day was assigned to the 2nd TAF and on June 16, 1944 was along with other squadrons of the 127th Wing the first to be moved to Normandy. During December 1944 the squadron received Spitfire Mk.XVIs. Squadron badge was the Indian head and below the windscreen is a nickname of P/O Mc Intosh, „Tanky“. It was not usual to see fighter plane with different upperwing roundels, in this case on the port wing large and on starboard wing a small underwing size roundel.

H4 YELLOW C4

MEDIUM H12 OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 18 H TB752, Flown by S/Ldr. Henry Zary, CO of No. 403 Squadron, Belgium, April 1945

Henry Zary joined the RCAF in 1941 and served in Africa and Europe. He ended the war as Commanding Officer of No. 403 Squadron. Zary achieved five kills, the last of them on April 21, 1945 in the cockpit of this Spitfire.

H4 YELLOW C4

MEDIUM H12 OCEAN GRAY DARK GREEN BLACK SEA GRAY C363 C362 C361 C33 eduard 19 Spitfire Mk.XVI STENCILING POSITIONS

20 ? 39 10 12 ? 13 38 ? ? 25 18 36 ? 7 2 26

18 7 6 35 22 40

34 31? 32

52 3 1 11 ONLY FOR WING WITH BULGE 53

ONLY FOR WING WITH BULGE 43 40 53 16?17 40

33 40 35 51 47 52 42 40 54

31 40 40 44 29 29 46 34 51 54 33

40 29 40 29

22 40

49 22

54 54 50 35 37 24 21 48

41 41 5 4 27 ? 8 23 30 ? 45 28 ? 9 18

40 22 18