This particular Spitfire has an interesting history. She started life as serial number TE 515 & was issued to No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, given the code D-UW.
She was then transferred to the newly formed Czechoslovak Air Force after the war before being sold to the Israeli Air Force, being given the Israeli serial 2058 (Black 58). After years of service in the middle east she was sold to Burma in 1955 along with 29 other Spitfires. The ferry flight from Israel to Burma in a story on its own. Once there she was given the Burmese number UB439.
I have been wanting to build this Spitfire for several years, ever since I got the Carpena decal sheet depicting the markings but my research hit a dead end regarding the sub variant and wing/tail type.
Fortunately I came across the above picture that clearly shows a Mk.IXe with clipped wings, broad cord rudder & fishtail exhausts. All very important to your Spitfire nuts like myself.
My chosen kit for this subject is the AZ 1/72 Spitfire IX and I finally get to use those Carpena decals.
It is also a good chance to break open my 'Joy Pack' which caused much hilarity in my household when it arrived for my last birthday. Here are the contents:
What you get for £20 is 3 complete AZ kits which is very good value when you see the quality of the parts. They are on a par with Hasegawa and blow the Airfix Mk.IX away.
Although I will reserve my final opinion until I have built one.
Here are the usual establishing shots:
Two sets of instructions as this kit has the parts to make anything from an ealy Mk.IXc through to a late Mk.IXe (only high back version).
and those decals:
The only remaining question I have about the build is the camouflage scheme. It is hard to tell from the image and the only text I can find about it refers to dark brown and green over light blue.
This did not follow the standard Spitfire pattern so I guess there is plenty of scope for artistic license.
These Spits were used exclusively in the ground attack role so I may fit bombs or rockets it time permits.
Anyway, hopefully it will end up looking something like this:
Unfortunately I am away on holiday for the first week of this GB so I might be pushed for time especially as I have never built this kit before.
I wonder if I could sneak the kit into my hand luggage? She will never know.
).
