The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.I

The Supermarine Spitfire is arguably the most iconic British fighter aircraft in history. In 1940, it stood out as the highest-performing Allied aircraft, and during the Battle of Britain that summer, it became a powerful symbol of freedom, playing a crucial role in repelling German air raids. The Royal Air Force and other Allied forces used the Spitfire extensively before, during, and after World War II. Today, around 70 Spitfires remain airworthy worldwide, with many more preserved as static displays in aviation museums.

The Spitfire was conceived as a short-range, high-performance interceptor by Reginald J. Mitchell, who served as Chief Designer at Supermarine Aviation Works. Mitchell joined the company in 1916 when it was still known as Pemberton Billing Ltd., based in Woolston, Southampton. Shortly after World War I, the company rebranded to Supermarine Aviation Works and primarily focused on seaplane production, where they quickly built a reputation for excellence. Supermarine won multiple Schneider Trophy races and even set world airspeed records. Despite this success, the attention did not result in significant orders, so in 1928, Vickers Ltd. acquired a majority stake, making Supermarine a subsidiary of Vickers-Armstrong.

In 1930, after identifying limitations in the newly introduced RAF fighter, the Bristol Bulldog, the Air Staff issued Specification F.7/30. This called for a modern fighter with a 45% increase in speed, double the armament, and the capability to operate both day and night. Supermarine responded with the Type 224, an inverted gull-wing monoplane using the evaporatively cooled Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine. Unfortunately, the Type 224's top speed reached only 238 mph, with even poorer climb performance, taking eight minutes to reach 15,000 feet.

Six other companies also submitted designs for F.7/30, yet none fully met the specifications due to the limitations in aviation technology at the time. However, the introduction of monoplane concepts led the Air Ministry to realize that the requirements of F.7/30 would soon be outdated. As a result, they accepted a modified version of Gloster’s SS.19, which entered service as the Gloster Gladiator.

Meanwhile, Supermarine had already started developing a successor to the Type 224, called the Type 300. This new design featured retractable landing gear, a wingspan reduced by six feet, an enclosed cockpit, and was powered by the more robust Rolls-Royce PV XII V-12 Merlin engine. The airframe was also enhanced with an innovative elliptical wing and countersunk rivets, allowing for an exceptionally thin wing profile. The Air Ministry quickly responded by awarding Supermarine a £10,000 contract (Contract No. AM 362240/34) in December 1934 to build a prototype. This was soon followed in January 1935 by Specification F.37/34, specifically crafted around the new Type 300 design.

The Type 300 prototype was assigned the serial number K5054 and made its first appearance outdoors on the morning of March 5, 1936. It proved to be a highly capable aircraft, though not without flaws. In the months that followed, the prototype underwent extensive testing, with adjustments made to correct imperfections, install armament, and conduct weapon testing. Eventually, Flight Lieutenant Humphrey Edwardes-Jones piloted the aircraft for the RAF and provided a positive assessment. Just a week later, on June 3, 1936, the Air Staff placed an order for 310 Spitfires. This order was accompanied by Specification F.16/36, detailing the production model’s differences from the prototype. Key changes included an improved wing structure, increased fuel tank capacity, and modifications to the flaps.

Vickers initially estimated that production could begin 15 months from the order date, aiming for the first units to roll off the lines by October 1937. However, this proved overly optimistic. Supermarine was a relatively small company, and Vickers was already heavily committed to producing the new Wellington bombers. As a result, many Spitfire sub-assemblies had to be subcontracted, requiring careful planning and coordination.

Finally, the first production Spitfire was completed in May 1938. On May 15 of that year, test pilot Jeffrey Quill took it for its maiden flight, nearly 24 months after the initial order had been placed.

Versions & Service

The Spitfire entered service with aircraft K9789, delivered to No. 19 Squadron on August 4, 1938. By December of that year, the squadron was fully equipped with sixteen Spitfires. By the outbreak of war, Supermarine had delivered 306 airframes. Throughout the war, the Spitfire was used by numerous Allied nations across various theatres. It was instrumental in the Battle of Britain, with photo-reconnaissance versions capturing the first images of the German Freya and Würzburg radar systems. In the Mediterranean, the Spitfire helped defend Malta from heavy attacks and also served on the Eastern Front and in the Pacific theatre.

There were 24 marks of Spitfire, along with numerous sub-variants, including a two-seater trainer, the Seafire (a naval version modified for aircraft carrier operations), and Griffon-engine variants. The final version, the Mk 24, made its first flight on April 13, 1946, and in February 1948, the last production Spitfire rolled off the assembly line. In total, 20,351 Spitfires were built over 12 years.

No. 303 Squadron

The Tadeusz Kościuszko Warsaw Fighter Squadron, or No. 303 Squadron, was one of two Polish squadrons that fought in the Battle of Britain in 1940.

Formed in July 1940 in Blackpool, England, it became operational on August 31, flying Hawker Hurricanes. No. 303 Squadron achieved the highest number of enemy aircraft shot down among the 66 Allied fighter squadrons involved in the Battle of Britain. In January 1941, the squadron transitioned to Supermarine Spitfire Mk. I aircraft. Throughout the war, No. 303 Squadron participated in various missions, including Operation Overlord (the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944), using the Spitfire V LF at that time. It was the most successful Polish RAF squadron of World War II and was disbanded in December 1946.

The Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia, Eduard 1:48

I recently acquired the Eduard 1:48 ProfiPACK edition, which was released in 2020. The moulds date back to 2013, when this new tool was first introduced. Since then, it has been reissued numerous times—possibly around 60 or even 70 variants—featuring new parts, decals, and painting schemes. One notable reissue was under the AK Interactive brand, which offered the Spitfire Mk. IXc Late in 2016.

Upon examining the sprues in the box, it's clear that this is one of the newer models, showcasing sharp details and no visible parting lines, which is fantastic. Any injector pin marks present are cleverly placed where they won’t be seen after assembly. I only noticed a few parts with slight flash, which can be easily removed. There are minor sink marks on the exhausts, but these should be inconspicuous after painting without requiring any extra effort.

The transparent parts are thin and crystal clear, while the surface details—such as inspection hatches and panel lines—are finely rendered. The riveting is of excellent quality; it is subtle yet distinct, and interestingly, the fuselage sides feature both concave and convex rivet imitations!

Inside the standard Eduard box, we find eye-catching graphics on the front cover by Piotr Forkasiewicz. The kit includes five sprues of grey plastic parts and one sprue of clear parts, which offers a great selection of options, including both open and closed canopies. Additionally, there's a decal sheet with markings for seven different painting schemes, as well as a smaller sheet containing all the stencils. The assembly and painting instruction booklet provides color callouts for Gunze and Mission Models paints. As part of the ProfiPACK edition, we also receive a photo-etched (PE) set with parts for the cockpit and enhancements for the exterior surfaces, along with pre-cut masks for the canopy.

The Spitfire is one of the most iconic fighter aircraft of World War II, which is why I’m eager to get the most out of this model. I plan to showcase the Merlin engine, gun bays, open flaps, and the radio compartment. To achieve this, I’ll be using several aftermarket sets from Eduard. Here’s the full list of additions:

• Eduard Brassin Spitfire Mk.I Engine (648582)

• Eduard Brassin Spitfire Mk.I Gun Bays (648581)

• Eduard Brassin Spitfire Radio Compartment (648120)

• Eduard Brassin Spitfire Mk.I Essential (64868) (cockpit, exhausts, wheels, and undercarriage legs)

• Eduard Spitfire Mk.I Landing Flaps (481026)

• Eduard Spitfire Mk.I TFace Masks (EX709)

Opening up the engine, landing flaps, and other elements will certainly alter the graceful silhouette of this airframe, but it’s a deliberate choice. I also own the 1:32 Kotare Spitfire Mk.I early type, which I plan to use to depict an unaltered profile of the aircraft in the future.

For reference, I’ll be using the fantastic book from the Airframe & Miniature series by Richard A. Franks, published by Valiant Wings. It contains an invaluable wealth of information covering the aircraft’s history, design, production, variants, service, and much more. Additionally, there is a substantial chapter filled with stunning graphics dedicated to camouflage and markings.

The book also features a section on exemplary kits and a comprehensive list of all available aftermarket sets from the time of publication. The last two chapters are particularly valuable for modelers. The first includes graphics illustrating the differences between each mark, version, and variant of the airframe. The second chapter, which makes up a third of the book, is packed with numerous images and diagrams that provide detailed views of various subcomponents, many accompanied by informative captions that offer further context. This is an exceptional reference that I can wholeheartedly recommend to any modeler or enthusiast of this aircraft!

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia (late) X4828

In July 1941, No. 303 Squadron was relocated from RAF Northolt to RAF Speke. This move aimed to give the pilots a respite from combat after five months of continuous operations and to facilitate the training of new pilots joining the squadron. The pilots left behind their newer aircraft and were issued Spitfire Mk.Ia late models for training purposes. The armament of the Mk.Ia consisted of eight .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns mounted in the wings. The late version of the Mk.I was similar to the early models, with the following notable differences:

• A newer Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk. III engine

• A de Havilland three-blade, constant-speed metal propeller

• A thicker cover over the top of the two fuel tanks

• Metal-covered ailerons

• A simplified pitot tube

• IFF (Identification Friend or Foe) equipment

• A redesigned aerial mast

• A new "blown" canopy design

• A thick laminated bulletproof glass windscreen

The airframe I plan to replicate is the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia late, serial number X4828, which was flown by F/Lt Wojciech Kolaczkowski of No. 303 Squadron while stationed at RAF Speke in September 1941. Kolaczkowski later became the squadron leader from November 1941 to May 1942.

This aircraft showcases the newly introduced Day Fighter Scheme, mandated by HQ Fighter Command to take effect from August 16, 1941. Although the pilots were assigned older and more worn Mk.Ia aircraft, these were freshly repainted a month or two after their arrival at RAF Speke. The new scheme required RAF day fighters to be painted in Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces, with Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces. The fuselage band and spinner retained their Sky color.