Supermarine
Spitfire Mk VIII
During
late September of 1941 reports were coming into the Royal Air Force of
a radial engined fighter which was outperforming the Spitfire Mk V, this
new fighter was the Focke Wulf Fw 190 or 'Buthcer Bird'.
The RAF had to react quickly and in doing so realised that the lateset development of the Spitfire, the Mk VII could be modified for low altitude work to meet the threat of the Fw 190.
This new Spitfire was designated the Spitfire Mk VIII and was produced in three versions; fighter, high altitude and low altitude fighter bomber. Armed with two 20mm Hispano cannons and four 0.303" Brownings the Mk VIII was powered by the latest Rolls Royce Merlin engine now with a two stage supercharger for more power driving a four blade propellor.
Outwardly the Spitfire Mk VIII differed little from the later Mk IX which was produced in greater numbers one tell tale feature of the Mk VIII was its retractable tailwheel.
Of the 1,658 Spitfire Mk VIIIs issued to thirty squadrons the majority were sent to the Middle and Far East where they were operated by the Royal Australian Air Force.
The RAF had to react quickly and in doing so realised that the lateset development of the Spitfire, the Mk VII could be modified for low altitude work to meet the threat of the Fw 190.
This new Spitfire was designated the Spitfire Mk VIII and was produced in three versions; fighter, high altitude and low altitude fighter bomber. Armed with two 20mm Hispano cannons and four 0.303" Brownings the Mk VIII was powered by the latest Rolls Royce Merlin engine now with a two stage supercharger for more power driving a four blade propellor.
Outwardly the Spitfire Mk VIII differed little from the later Mk IX which was produced in greater numbers one tell tale feature of the Mk VIII was its retractable tailwheel.
Of the 1,658 Spitfire Mk VIIIs issued to thirty squadrons the majority were sent to the Middle and Far East where they were operated by the Royal Australian Air Force.
Scale 1:72 Wingspan 6.25" (156 mm) Base size 7.67" (195 mm) square (No. 5)
Weight not including base 8.5 ozs (232 grams)
