Jungle Spitfire on the prowl

Welcome to this latest edition of our Workbench blog and all the news, updates and modelling exclusives from the fascinating world of Airfix.

As we are always striving to make the blog experience of our loyal Workbench audience as enjoyable as possible, whilst at the same time helping to keep the Airfix website an interesting place to visit for millions of people, this latest edition of our blog adopts a slightly different format to what has ever gone before. In an attempt to make our updates a little clearer and easier to access from a wider web-search perspective, the two updates we have for you this time will be split into separate blog posts, bringing you the same selection of update exclusives, just giving each their own individual web presence.

The subject of our first project update post marks the release of the new Supermarine Spitfire F.XVIII modified tooling kit in 1/48th scale we have been following recently, as we bring you a series of images featuring a built sample model from this kit, getting us all a little excited at the prospect of adding this Griffon powered beast to our summer build schedules. We will be providing a final overview of our blog dealings with this beautiful new kit, as we welcome this post war incarnation of arguably the world’s most famous fighting aeroplane to the current Airfix range.

We will be following this up with a second blog post for this weekend, where this time, we will be featuring the latest update from our new 1/35th scale Austin K2/Y Ambulance tooling and a closer look at the scheme finish options which will accompany the initial release of this much anticipated addition to the range. More on that a little later, but for now, it’s all about Spitfires - just the way we like it!

New tricks for R. J. Mitchell’s aviation marvel

An exclusive first look at a built sample model of the recently released 1/48th scale Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.XVIII kit, a model which represents one of the later incarnations of this most famous fighting aeroplane.

For many people, the aviation legacy of the Supermarine Spitfire is unmatched by any other aircraft type, with this classic fighting aeroplane being as familiar to people today as it was during the dark days of the Second World War. In constant production throughout WWII and continually developed to maintain its position at the forefront of fighter aircraft capability, the Spitfire changed quite markedly during its service career, whilst always retaining the graceful, sweeping lines which makes this such a beautiful aircraft to look at, but one which was bred for aerial combat and domination of the skies.

As the Spitfire is such an important subject for Airfix and indeed the wider modelling world, many of the blogs produced over the past seven years have included Spitfire related content, including how the Vickers Supermarine Aviation Company were continually striving to produce the ‘ultimate’ Spitfire, by endowing the existing Spitfire airframe with ever greater power and more offensive armament, not to mention better pilot visibility and increased range. Of course, the term ‘Ultimate Spitfire’ will always be a subjective one amongst modellers and aircraft enthusiasts, as it would be easy to argue that several different variants of this magnificent aircraft could be considered for such an accolade. From the prototype aircraft which first took to the air on 5th March 1936 and gave birth to this aviation legend, through to the Mk.IX which proved to be the most effective stop-gap fighter ever to see Royal Air Force service, most could claim to be significant Spitfire developments in one way or another, however, it is generally regarded that it was the adoption of the Rolls Royce Griffon engine as the Spitfire’s powerplant that brought this aviation icon into ‘ultimate’ territory.

An interesting profile comparison between an early Rolls Royce Merlin powered Spitfire and a post war Griffon powered development of the same aircraft. Although both stunningly beautiful, the lower F Mk.XVIII machine possesses a much more aggressive appearance. 

As we prepare to welcome our new 1/48th scale Spitfire F Mk.XVIII into stock, it is interesting to note that in this scale, we currently have Spitfire kits available covering everything from the Mark 1a right through to the F Mk.XVIII and unusually, models of Rolls Royce Griffon powered Spitfires actually outnumber those which are representations of fighters powered by the more famous (and more numerous) Merlin engine variants. Proving the old modelling adage that you can never have too many Spitfire’s in your stash, our latest addition to this ever popular range is a real stunner and presents the Spitfire in post war Griffon powered guise, a Spitfire which was given new capabilities and asked to perform a task for which Supermarine designers at their drawing boards in Southampton would never have envisaged back in the 1930s, that of jungle ground attack aircraft.

As you read this latest blog, we expect this latest Spitfire kit to be in stock and ready to be shipped from our warehouse and to mark the occasion, this final project update features a series of images which show a built sample from the final test frames from this tooling, expertly finished in the lead scheme option included with this kit by our product designer Paramjit Sembhi. Representing a particularly aggressive looking variant of the famous Spitfire, let’s take a final look at the details behind this particular scheme option.

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.XVIII TP222/B, RAF No.60 Squadron, Air Command Far East, Royal Air Force Kuala Lumpur, British Malaya, 1947.

Produced to support the release of our latest Spitfire kit, this stunning artwork shows this post war variant of the Spitfire fighting above the jungles of Malaya, something the design team at Supermarine back in the 1930s would not have anticipated their new fighter having to do.

Arriving just too late to see combat during the Second World War, the first F Mk.XVIII Spitfire was delivered to the limited facilities at Supermarine’s High Post aerodrome near Salisbury on 8th June 1945, a site they used for limited production and experimental flying activities. From there, the aircraft was sent to nearby Boscombe Down and the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment where it underwent official flight trials prior to squadron acceptance. Due to the timing of delivery and the end of the war in Europe, many of these new and extremely powerful Spitfires would go straight into storage following delivery and when finally issued to squadrons, would serve mainly with Nos 32 and 208 Squadrons in the Middle East and Nos 11, 28, 60 and 81 Squadrons in the Far East.

RAF No.60 Squadron served throughout the Second World War in the Far Eastern Theatre, initially as a Blenheim equipped strike unit based in Singapore and later re-equipping with ground attack configured Hawker Hurricanes. In 1946, the squadron transferred back to Singapore where pilots underwent conversion to the powerful Spitfire F Mk.XVIII, aircraft which they would go on to use successfully in a ground attack role during the Malayan Emergency. This conflict saw RAF units playing a fulsome role in combined Commonwealth actions attempting to quell the guerrilla activities of the Communist backed Malayan National Liberation Army. Using the extended range and new ground attack capabilities of this latest incarnation of the famous Spitfire, the unit’s aircraft would loiter high above the jungle, waiting to unleash a withering barrage of rocket and cannon fire on enemy positions, once in receipt of targeting instructions from Commonwealth troops engaged on the ground. With Britain now in the jet age, these ‘ultimate Spitfires’ were ultimately to be replaced by de Havilland Vampire jets by the end of 1951, leaving the situation in Malaya to rumble on for a further eight years of conflict, but with the growl of the Griffon replaced by the whine of a Goblin.

This next series of images starts with a look at the additional frame of parts this latest kit includes, which allows the rocket firing Malayan Emergency Spitfire F Mk.XVIII to be modelled, followed by built sample images from the said kit.

No.60 Squadron would have the ultimate distinction of flying both the first and last Spitfire Mk.XVIII fighters in the Far East. Their first aircraft arrived at Seletar in crates and were assembled and test flown from this important RAF station in short order, before providing the unit with a significant offensive upgrade. During the Malayan Emergency, the squadron’s Spitfires would sport distinctive yellow and black stripes on the front of their engine cowlings, positioned just behind the spinner, which aided with recognition when operation over jungle terrain. The last sortie carried out by a 60 Squadron Spitfire F Mk.XVIII took place on New Year’s Day 1951, just prior to the unit fully converting to the de Havilland Vampire jet.

Possessing blistering performance, the Spitfire F Mk.XVIII was a wonderful aircraft to fly, but definitely needed treating with the utmost respect. With the tremendous power generated by its Rolls Royce Griffon engine and the torque the massive five bladed Rotol propeller induced, even when applying full opposite rudder, a pilot would find it almost impossible to keep the fighter on a forward facing track if using maximum power during take-off. Once in the air however, it was a fast and responsive aircraft which was described as having few (if any) vices and as this variant of Britain’s famous piston engined fighter featured a clever automatic throttle and boost setting controller, the pilot was effectively able to sit back and almost let the aircraft fly itself, whilst he waited for his latest targeting information to be transmitted.

Although clearly of limited use during the Malayan Emergency, this version of the Spitfire was also said to be a superb aerobatic performer, with ample power to spare even at altitudes above 40,000 feet, attributes which helped it live up to its ‘Super Spitfire’ billing. This particular machine was the subject of some fascinating and unusually clear photographs where it was involved in a ground handling prop strike incident with a Bristol Beaufighter whilst operating during the Malayan Emergency. It is seen wearing the distinctive markings featured in this exact scheme option, but with damaged wing and propeller blades, looks as if it wouldn’t be bothering the Communist rebels for some time to come. TP222 was built at the Aldermaston factory in late 1945 and delivered to the RAF at No.39 Maintenance Unit Colerne during February 1946. She is logged as being scrapped just a few short years later on 10th November 1950, but only after her active service in the Far East.

Following the end of the Second World War, RAF No.60 Squadron moved to Singapore in advance of conversion to operating the Griffon powered Supermarine Spitfire F.XVIII, one of the most powerful variants of this famous fighter and one which possessed increased ground attack capabilities. Not long after conversion, hostilities between an armed Communist guerrilla force in Malaya and European settlers living and based there brought about the declaration of a national emergency situation, with British and Commonwealth forces tasked with dealing with the insurrection. Initially, the only RAF units available to assist with these operations were the Spitfires of Nos.28 and 60 Squadrons, relocating from their base in Singapore to operate from Kuala Lumpur and eventually to smaller airfields near to where the fighting was taking place. They would later be joined by Beaufighters which possessed even greater hitting power and greater loiter capabilities.

More built kit goodness, this latest release will help to tell the development story of the famous Spitfire in kit form, producing this stunning 1/48th scale representation of Britain’s most famous fighting aeroplane.

In the initial phases, these air operations proved to be both challenging and relatively ineffective, as the areas they were tasked with targeting were covered by thick jungle vegetation and mist clouds, something which allowed the guerrillas to operated with relative impunity. Indeed, the Spitfire attacks could only take place following receipt of ground intelligence and attack coordinates, but often when the strikes were eventually undertaken, this highly mobile enemy force had often moved to a new jungle position. These early setbacks were quickly addressed by attaching Air Liaison officers with units fighting on the ground, giving these forces the opportunity to call in air strikes in advance of taking suspected enemy positions, with the power of the Royal Air Force eventually proving decisive in this struggle. Throughout much of their time supporting this emergency, No.60 Squadron would always have four serviceable aircraft and four pilots ready to respond to support requests on a rolling basis.

With the situation in Malaya dragging on for over ten years, these Jungle Spitfires would later give way to the jet powered types which followed it into service, heralding the beginning of the end of this most famous aircraft in Royal Air Force service. This statement is not entirely true, as the Spitfire continues to represent the RAF as part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, where the Flight’s Spitfires share the same airfield as Britain’s current air defence fighter, the Eurofighter Typhoon. It could therefore be argued that this most famous fighting aeroplane is still representing the royal Air Force, if only in a ceremonial and recruitment capacity.

Marking the final stages of Spitfire fighter development, this beautiful jungle Spitfire is available now and helps to preserve the ongoing legacy of this magnificent aeroplane in a scale modelling sense, representing one of the final fighting variants of the Spitfire in Royal Air Force service.

Please use this link to see our official unboxing video.

As ever, we are always keen to hear your views on all things Airfix and particularly our blog, so if you would like to drop us a line, please use this workbench@airfix.com link. All our social media sites can be accessed by clicking the respective link icons at the foot of this page, or by heading to the Airfix homepage. Other useful links are:

Airfix Workbench Forum

Main Workbench blog hub

Airfix website

Please join us for more Airfix updates next week and thank you for your support.

Airfix Workbench Team