Spitfire XIV Bubbletop 'Far East Service' (2in1)

The Supermarine Type 379 Spitfire Mk.XIV was a British fighter developed during WWII. It was the most important of the Griffon-powered Spitfires, and the only one to see significant wartime service. Based on the Mk.VIII fuselage, the first development Mk.XIV flew early in 1943. Initially the aircraft were produced with high-back fuselage, but later cut-down rear fuselage with a teardrop canopy was introduced. It was a single-seat monoplane aircraft, of all metal construction, powered by a two-stage supercharged RR Griffon engine. Early aircraft used full-span C-type universal wing, with two 20mm cannons and four 0.303" (7.7mm) machine guns, while later production aircraft were fitted with the E wing mounting two 20mm cannons and two 0.5" (12.7mm) MGs. Fuselage fuel tank or up to 1000 lbs of bombs (500lb bomb in a FR role) could also be carried. Spitfire FR Mk.XIV and FR Mk.XIVE were fighter-reconnaissance versions with an oblique F.24 camera installed. Both variants had clipped wing tips for low-level use. Deliveries began in October 1943 and the production of Mark XIV variants totalled 957. A number of RAF units were operational in Europe up to the end of war, while introduction of Mk.XIVs into Far East theatre in June 1945 was too late for wartime use. However, the aircraft went on to serve in both regions postwar. In the late 1940s Spitfire F.XIV/FR.XIVs were also delivered to Belgium (a total of 132 a/c), India (20) and Thailand (30).

Colour schemes included in the kit:

1)   Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV (Type 379), RN218, White MS-F, No.273 Sq., Royal Air Force, Far East Air Force (FEAF), Tan Son Nhut airfield (Saigon), French Indo-China (Vietnam), December 1945

2)   Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV (Type 379), MV363, White N, No.11 Sq., Royal Air Force, Far East Air Force (FEAF), Seletar Air Base, Singapore, 1946

3)   Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV (Type 379), NH871, Black G, No.4 Sq., Royal Indian Air Force, British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF), Miho Air Base, Japan, May 1946 – July 1947

4)   Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIVE (Type 379), s/n U14-1/93 (ex-SM914), Black I, No.41 Sq., No.4 Wing, Royal Thai Air Force (Kong Thap Akat Thai), Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, 1951-55  

Two injection-moulded kits are supplied in this box and each kit contains 31 parts and one clear part (the cockpit canopy). A comprehensive decal sheet is included.