• Mikkel's well-illustrated feature in Camouflage & Markings is entitled Danish Presentation Spitfires and traces three Spitfires Mk. Vb flown by the Danes in No. 234 Squadron during 1942.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

• Tonight I present a new Camouflage & Markings feature. Spitfire PR Mk. XIX - Cold War Warrior depicts some interesting post-war recconaissance Spitfires and their stories. Colour artwork for this article has been kindly provided by Hannants and originates from their recent Xtradecal sheet.
  
  
• We also have a new book review for today - Foreign Planes in the Service of the Luftwaffe by Jean-Louis Roba.

I have a great deal of email to catch up with, so that's all for now. Enjoy!

Labels: reference, reviews, site updates

• Tonight I'm pleased to present the full Photo Report from PMS UK Scale Modelworld 2009. It is an extensive 6-part feature from this prime modelling event, featuring many of the aircraft models in the competition area. The 400+ photos have been organized in slide shows for convenient viewing.
  
  
• I have also spotted a beautiful scratchbuilt Hawker Tempest model at the show, a creation which fully deserves separate attention - see the Fabulous Tempest!
  
  
• A new colour profile in the Camouflage and Markings section is that of a Spitfire predecessor - Supermarine Type 224. Submitted and described by Graham Ward.
  
  
• We also have an addition to our Art & Memorabilia gallery: Lethal Dance, a new airbrushed piece by Herman Veltorp.
  


• Last but not least, a review of a new line of 1/72 Spitfire kits from the Czech Republic. AZ Models 1/72 Spitfire Mk. I, examined by Magnus Fridsell.

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates

• A new addition in Scale Modelling is a beautiful 1/32 creation by Hans-Pater Tschanz of Switzerland: D-Day Spitfire Mk. V
  
  
• In Camouflage & Markings, we have also a new study of Spitfires in Greek post-war service, researched and illustrated by Ioannis Mansolas. Enjoy.
  

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates

• The Very High-Flying Prince is a story of the record high-altitude fighter of the war and the extraordinary pilot who flew it. By Martin Waligorski.
  
  
• Nils Mathisrud presents Spitfire Mk. V - The Norwegians, a pair of colourful Spitfire Mk. V markings presented here courtesy of Vingtor Decals.

Enjoy.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

Click on the image to enlarge

Labels: reference, webmaster

• A new addition in Camouflage and Markings is the article written with the indispensable help of Bjørnar Norås and Nils Mathisrud from Norway. A Question of Foreign Markings tells the full story behind one of the most unusual markings to be seen on a Spitfire in the closing months of World War II - PV181 of the Norwegian ace W/Cdr Rolf Arne Berg.
  
  
• We have also an interesting, if unusual new addition in our Art & Memorabilia gallery. Mecha Spitfire is one of those attractive Japanese toy-robot-anime-comic mashups. Have a look.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

• Supermarine Spitfire Variants - Single-Stage Merlin-Powered  is the title of this two-part illustrated guide which goes through all marks of the first line of Spitfire development, from the Mk. I to Mk. VI fighter variants, and from the Mk. I PR Type A to PR Mk. XIII photo-reconnaissance versions. By Jeff Webb, illustrated by various archive photographs.
  

Labels: reference, site updates

Labels: reference, site updates

Click on the image to enlarge

Labels: reference, webmaster

• Johnnie Johnson's Spitfire - Revisited provides detailed analysis of EN398, W/Cdr Johnnie Johnson's personal aircraft.

Labels: reference, site updates

• A new addition in Camouflage & Markings is Greycap's Personal Spitfire - a portrait of JE-J, probably the most famous Spitfire IX of them all, W/Cdr Johnnie Johnson's personal mount.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

A new photo gallery has been added to the site today.

• Shuttleworth Collection's AR501 is a collection of photographs depicting the Spitfire LF Mk. VC, AR501 NN-A, operated by the Shuttleworth Trust and a popular focal point of the collection's air displays at Old Warden. The images, which show both the aircraft and its various details, have been kindly provided by Mark Mills.
  

Labels: reference, site updates, warbirds

• The Variants and Technology section was enhanced with two important reference features. A two-part Concise Guide To Spitfire Wing Types provides an overview of of the basic wing types of the Spitfire and the differences between them. Inherently related to Spitfire wing design is also The Hispano Cannon, the weapon which gave the aircraft the punch and a characteristic element of its silhouette.
  
  
• Four new colour profiles added during the month in Camouflage & Markings were NH550, in Royal Norwegian Service accompanied by another Norwegian Reconnaissance Spitfire, EP706 - The Malta Defender Spitfire Mk. Vc and "Bogle" Bodie and his Spitfire Mk. I, X4321.
  
  This adds up to six new reference articles, a good record indeed, with no less than three additional features currently waiting to be published.
  
  
• The pace in the History Articles section was rather more leisurely, with two articles added. Independent Air Force - Tracing the Origins of the RAF, an essay by Brett Holman and A Lifetime of Aviation, another essay by Martin Waligorski.
  
  This month I will be adding much more in this section, with five-part coverage of the 1941 Circus offensive as a main theme.
  
  
• Images added to the Historic Photographs section were: a portrait of Sqn/Ldr Jiří Maňák,
  photos of RAB Spitfire of W/Cdr Berg, UZ-Z of No. 306 Squadron, Northolt, Spitfire Mk. VII in the United States, launch of Operation Bowery and K5054 prototype prior to her maiden flight.
  


• The Video Section grew with just about as many videos, including the footage of Mark Hanna leading Spitfire formation display, Spitfire in IL2, Best of Chino's contraprop Spitfire Mk. XIX and Public debut of Seafire Mk. XVII SX336.
  
  
• The new Gallery Section, established at the beginning of the month, grew up rapidly and is already offering several hundred quality images. Collections added this month were: Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser, images from Old Warden 2007, The Joy of Flight Testing the Spitfire Mk. V BL628, Seafire Mk.XVII SX336, 90th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force, April 2008 celebration flypast over London, BBMF 50th Anniversary, 2007 and finally Ronnie Olsthoorn Photo Gallery with many beautiful Spitfire images.
  
  I'm happy that the technology behind the galleries worked out. Image collections I have been receiving from our visitors since last autumn can now finally be posted online and I will continue to do so during the months to come.
  
  
• Modellers have proven to be eager and knowledgeable supporters of this site. Their interest was demonstrated last month through a collection of 1/72 Spitfire Models by Tim Prosser , Spitfire in Saigon, a tribute to the Memory of A/C Paul Webb, Tamiya Spitfire Mk. V backdated to Mk. Ib, Kenley Wings beer-carrying Spitfire and another Malta Spitfire Mk. V.
  


• Another group which keeps giving this site a "push" are aviation artists; many new great pieces can be enjoyed in the Art & Memorabilia gallery and Pavel Rampír has been spoiling us with an entire series of drawings. Enjoy A portrait of Clive Caldwell, Spitfire Mk. VIII in Italy, "The Last", Chasing the V-1, "The CO's Query", Typhoon trouble, Beware of the low-flying Mosquitos, "Se va la Primera". For collectors, there was also a set of RAF 90th Anniversary poststamps.
  

Summarizing, it is apparent that April was one of the most fruitful months on the Spitfire Site so far. It is fantastic, and showed up well through the editorial workload - I had a hard time coping with all the material I've been receiving. I'd like to direct a warm thank you to everyone who contributed their work and material to make it happen. My apologies to those few who are still waiting to get their contributions published - none has been forgotten and they will appear online as soon as I can possibly manage.

The RAF Anniversary Festival will continue for some time to come, so please keep the articles and photos coming.

In the meantime, I'm into some serious programming trying to establish a discussion forum for all of us Spitfire buffs. I'll keep you posted.

Labels: history, modelling, reference, site updates, videos, warbirds, webmaster

• Preparing yesterday's addition in the Variants & Technology section about the Spitfire wing types, I noticed that I could fairly easily add another short pictorial about the Spitfire's main armament, the Hispano Cannon - so I here it is.
  
  
• Also, I have added another excellent profile artwork of Olve Dybvig, showing NH550 in Royal Norwegian Service. Post-war Norwegian fighter units retained living connection with their wartime history and the RAF.

I'm happy to see that contributions from the readers keep flowing in, but we'd like to see even more, so don't hesitate!

Labels: history, reference, site updates

• A new addition in the Variants & Technology section is a two-part Concise Guide To Spitfire Wing Types. A well-researched piece of writing by Jeff Web coupled with digitized copies of old maintenance manuals creates a commendable piece of reference. Highly recommended to modellers!
  
  
  
• Our Video collection has been enriched with three new clips:
  
  
  
  • Mark Hanna leads Spitfire formation display
  
  
  • Spitfire in IL2
  
  
  • Best of Chino's contraprop Spitfire Mk. XIX



• Last but not least, "Se va la Primera" a fantastic new painting by Vladimir Urbanek, in the new addition in Art & Memorabilia gallery.

Keep them coming!

Labels: reference, site updates, videos, warbirds

• The story of Norwegian Reconnaissance Spitfires is described and exemplified by the colour artwork kindly submitted by Olve Dybvig.

Labels: history, reference, site updates

• Two new additions in the Camouflage & Markings section are colour profiles of EP706 - The Malta Defender and Battle of Britain Spitfire Mk. I, X4321.
  
  
• In the Video section, we have a new clip showing the recently restored Seafire Mk. XVII SX336.
  
  
• We have also two new Spitfire models for your viewing pleasure today: Kenley Wings by Hans-Peter Tschanz and Malta Spitfire Mk. V by Charlie Wall.
  

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates, videos

• If you're interested in RAF history of the World War II period, you should have heard about Sutton harness. But what exactly was the Sutton harness, and how did it work? Olav Hungnes provides an explanation in his article The Sutton Harness on the Spitfire.

Labels: reference, site updates

• Entitled Spitfire Mk. IX, XI and XVI - Variants Much Varied, Olav's three-part feature analyses all the bumps, blisters and other modifications introduced to the Spitfire Mk. IX/XVI during its long production run.
  


• It's been a while we had a new model on these pages, so I'm pleased to announce the excellent 1/32 Spitfire Mk.II conversion submitted by Swiss modeller Hans-Peter Tschanz.
  

Labels: modelling, reference, site updates