discussion Airfix 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IXe

[flyjoe180]

Airfix's little Mk.IX is a basic kit, but builds up easily and looks like a Spitfire on completion. It's a bit basic inside though, so I added new cockpit parts from Spitfire Mk.XIX spare parts. Apart from that, it was painted using Mr Color lacquers, Ammo acrylics, and Tamiya panel liners. The squadron codes come from Xtradecal's D-Day 70th anniversary sheet.

This Spitfire is ML407, which survived the war to become the two-seat 'Grace Spitfire', which flies on today.

IML407 was flown by Flying Officer Johnnie Houlton of 485 (NZ) Squadron on D-Day. Houlton was credited with shooting down the first German aircraft on D-Day, a Ju 88. You can find out more about Johnnie Houlton and ML407 in this link https://johnniehoulton.info/index.html

Here is the Spitfire:




Build thread here: https://www.scalemodelling.co.uk/threads/airfix-1-72-supermarine-spitfire-ixe.1276184/

 

[flyjoe180]

Here is a diagram drawn by Johnnie Houlton, showing the action on 6th June 1944 during which he destroyed a Ju88, the first German aeroplane shot down that day.

 

[flyjoe180]

There are photos of ML407 online, wearing these markings during the 2014 70th anniversary. Interesting that it has the machine gun patches, as the outboard .303 machine guns were removed on the original and their ejection ports covered.

 

[Steven000]

That's a lovely finish Joe, especially in this scale well done

 

[flyjoe180]

That's a lovely finish Joe, especially in this scale well done

Thank you Steven. It was an enjoyable little build in tandem with the bigger Spitfire

 

[Geoffers]

Very good work Joe it looks great, I really like the diagram too

Geoff.

 

[papa 695]

Fantastic work Joe