Malta Spitfire Mk V

[John1]

So it appears that a good Mk V is going to take some work.  Surprising no one has seen fit to release decent kit of this important version. 
 

On another note, reading the Osprey book, it mentioned that one pilot scored his last two kills in June of ‘43 while flying a Mk IX.  Unfortunately the book has no pictures of Malta-based Mk IX’s.  Any chance these later aircraft wore a “Malta-Finish”?   I’d love to build the Tamiya Mk.IX but really want something with an uncommon scheme.  

[Dpgsbody55]

1 hour ago, John1 said:

So it appears that a good Mk V is going to take some work.  Surprising no one has seen fit to release decent kit of this important version. 
 

On another note, reading the Osprey book, it mentioned that one pilot scored his last two kills in June of ‘43 while flying a Mk IX.  Unfortunately the book has no pictures of Malta-based Mk IX’s.  Any chance these later aircraft wore a “Malta-Finish”?   I’d love to build the Tamiya Mk.IX but really want something with an uncommon scheme.  

 

How about this?

 

 

On the subject of Malta Spitfires in relation to this thread, I've been digging through my books and the only thing I can find to explain this extra bulge is one of two things.  This mod appears only to affect the the Vc series, and is possibly explained by an increase in machine gun ammunition capacity that some Vc's were given, or extra clearance needed in the C wing for an attempt to improve gun heating.  Some Vc's were given modified gun heating with bigger ducts.  Both modifications would have affected the wing at the place where this bulge appears.  There is some mention of performance deterioration of 5mph due to the extra bulges, so this may mean that the modifications were not considered worthwhile long term, as tropicalised Spitfire Vc's had enough problems with performance thanks to that huge filter on the nose, which took up to 30mph off top speed.

 

However, I'm happy to be proved wrong if someone can provide more definitive proof.  This seems to apply only to some Malta Spitfires and could equally be some undocumented local modification.  However, I doubt that as Malta Spitfires tended to have a very short life thanks to the incessant bombing of the island which meant there were never enough planes, and many were cobbled together from bits of other damaged planes.

 

I'll keep reading, however.

 

Cheers,

Michael

[John1]

13 hours ago, Dpgsbody55 said:

 

How about this?

 

 

On the subject of Malta Spitfires in relation to this thread, I've been digging through my books and the only thing I can find to explain this extra bulge is one of two things.  This mod appears only to affect the the Vc series, and is possibly explained by an increase in machine gun ammunition capacity that some Vc's were given, or extra clearance needed in the C wing for an attempt to improve gun heating.  Some Vc's were given modified gun heating with bigger ducts.  Both modifications would have affected the wing at the place where this bulge appears.  There is some mention of performance deterioration of 5mph due to the extra bulges, so this may mean that the modifications were not considered worthwhile long term, as tropicalised Spitfire Vc's had enough problems with performance thanks to that huge filter on the nose, which took up to 30mph off top speed.

 

However, I'm happy to be proved wrong if someone can provide more definitive proof.  This seems to apply only to some Malta Spitfires and could equally be some undocumented local modification.  However, I doubt that as Malta Spitfires tended to have a very short life thanks to the incessant bombing of the island which meant there were never enough planes, and many were cobbled together from bits of other damaged planes.

 

I'll keep reading, however.

 

Cheers,

Michael

Thanks Michael.   Those Israeli Spits look pretty nice.  Still hoping to get some info on those IX’s on Malta regarding whether they might have been in a “Malta” scheme. 

[Dpgsbody55]

You're welcome.  They're in stock at Hannant just now.  I saw them as I was looking at a their site today in relation to a possible future project.

 

I've never heard of Spitfire IX's operating from Malta, as the siege would have been over by then.  All the books mention is the Spitfire V which was still in manufacture up until late 1944, I think.  Britain was supplying Spitfire Vc's in 1943 to Australia for the defense of Darwin, then Spitfire VIII's in early 1944 for the island hoping campaign that the RAAF was grudgingly allowed to join by MacArthur.  Spitfire IX's were supplied late in the desert campaign in the first part of 1943, so I suppose a few would have found their way to Malta, and probably painted in standard RAF desert colours too.  However, Spitfire VIII's also operated in North Africa late in that campaign, as well as the invasion of Sicily, so if you have any pictures, check them to see which marque you're looking at. 

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Wackyracer]

 

 

[PhilB]

As regards Mk IX spits operating from Malta, 249 Squadron started getting them in July/August 1943.

There is a pic of one in the book "249 at war" and they took part in bomber escorts with the Sicily/ Italian landings.

The usual black and white photo but it looks to be the standard desert scheme of Dark earth/Middle stone over azure blue with a red spinner.

They did still knock off the odd recon aircraft over Malta though but there was very little local action by then.

 

Another thing to consider is the USAAF Spitfires operated in North Africa and then on to Sicily/Italy.

They started receiving Mk IX's and VIII's whilst still in North Africa in the Spring of 1943.

Some good schemes there too.

Another good book for the US operating Spits:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Spitfire-Aces-World-Aircraft/dp/1846032024/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=9781846032028&qid=1603800156&s=books&sr=1-1

Edited October 27, 2020 by PhilB

[Kagemusha]

Here's one

 

 

Blurb

[seiran01]

Speaking of Malta Spitfires... I noticed on the 1/72 scale DK Decals sheet that one aircraft wears the middlestone/earth camo with only a partial overpainting of dark sea grey. I've never seen this three-colour paint scheme before and it seems very unique - has anyone seen a photo or read of this scheme before?  The marking profiles are at 

http://www.dkdecals.cz/72070_Malta_acesZS.jpg, it's profile #3, aircraft BR190, fuselage codes A 2.

 

 

 

[firefly7]

Thanks for posting those profiles Mike, it's exactly the info i was looking for. Now I'll just have to see about getting a Mk 5 tropical. Maybe 2, i love those profiles. 

Edited October 27, 2020 by firefly7
Added info.

[seiran01]

Cheers

I may do one from the Hobby Boss kit... I know it has "a few" issues with the shapes around the cockpit, not to mention buggered-up horizontal tailplanes, but I think I can make it work.  I did also notice that Real Model makes Vb and Vc conversions for the new tool Revell Mk.II which are tempting but neither give a tropical option.