Spitfire quickie: visible differences between Mk.IX and VIII?

[nmayhew]

hi,

 

I am aware of some of the differences in specification between Spitfires IX and VIII, but what are the main visible differences?

 

Would anyone be able to post some panel line drawings / profiles to illustrate them?

 

many thanks,

 

Nick

[CharlesMetz]

The carburettor intake and tailwheel differences are most obvious:

 

 

Mk. IXs also used "C" and "E" wings, of course.

 

I'm posting this scan under the standard "Fair Use" conditions, which I trust everyone here will respect.

 

Charles Metz

[LSP Dan]

I've got a sneaky feeling Dr. Metz can help with the drawings. The control surfaces on the wings were shorter on the Mk VII & Mk VIII, Some Mk VIIIs had extended hf wingtips. Another subtle difference the retractable tail wheel. Depending on the individual a/c the carburetors varied.

 

Okay, I see Charles jumped in while I was typing!!!!

[Edgar Brooks]

"Short" ailerons on the VIII; early VIIIs had extended wingtips (deleted on the production line 18-8-44); VIIIs only had "c" armament; retractable tailwheel on the VIII; no bulged upper cowling on the VIII (same with early IXs, of course.) Early VIIIs had downward red & green recognition lamps in the wings - deleted 1-5-43; it looks as though the VIII could have had 4-spoke wheels from the start, while the IX didn't get them until March 1944. I'm deeply suspicious of those drawings; the VIII had the tropical air intake fitted as standard. All the photos that I've found have the long intake, just like the later IXs. Also, there are no photos (that I've seen) of IXs with a "b" wing; this is a common mistake, caused by the early (unofficial) "a" & "b" designation for low-level, or high-altitude, rated engines in them. VIIIs got the narrow-blistered cannon bay covers only 3 weeks before the IXs got them(15-12-43 against 7-1-44,) and the extended-horn elevators were introduced for both Marks at the same time (13-9-43.)

Edgar

[nmayhew]

Dan, Charles, and Edgar thank you all kindly.

 

The PCM kit has both carb types so that's easily taken care of if i go down this road (not decided yet), and both the IX and the VIII (generally?) had C type wings if understand correctly - I am looking on the Spitfire Site as i type this...

 

however, are the control surfaces different as you say Dan? I couldn't find a record of this, of perhaps i am not looking at the right info

 

why are Spit wings so dastardly?!

 

the tail wheel was the obvious bit that i completely missed - am having trouble locating Paragon designs conversion that keeps coming up in my "googles"...

[LSP Dan]

Here's a couple of drawings to compare. Fair usage and all that....Note on the lower drawing the aileron is shorter towards the outer wing. Which also brings to light panel lines on the wings. Different full tanks on the leading edge.

[nmayhew]

cheers Dan

[Dave T Brown]

All production Mk VIII Spitfires had the later style (longer) carb air intake as it was developed for the Mk VIII and then fitted to later production Mk IX airframes. The side elevations featured earlier in this thread are incorrect about this point.

[Karatay]

Hello Nick,

the top drawing posted by C Metz is wrongly tittled: It represents, in fact, a late production MKKVII, NOT a MKVIII!

Cheers

Vasko