Portamus

Hi there chaps, Have not checked in to this thread for quite some time... Regarding the SHFs flown by the SAAF, I wish we could positively identify the long winged Spitfire. I have gathered up a number of pics of the SHFs but, to be honest the only one I am interested in, is MA504. With regard to the pics I posted of the SHF, I am starting to believe that the aircraft is not MA504, as it does have the extended wing tips, where as various shots of MA504 show her to have a normal set of wing tips. There may some reposted shots... This aircraft may have the extended wing tips, but we cannot see its serial number These two shots are of the same aircraft, at different angles, interesting is the lack of weapons on the nearest machine, MH946 This aircraft appears to have no weapons, but the serial does no appear to be MH946 I am fairly certain that we have photos of all four of the modified SHF Spitfires here, however it is quite difficult (at least to my eyes), to see which one, if any had extended wing tips.... Any thoughts?

Many thanks for your reply Gentlemen, Edgar, I would like to know your opinion as to if the configuration of this Spitfire would be similar to a Mk VIII that I believe my grandfather flew... JF274 VIII 3660 EA M61 FF 24-11-42 First prod VIII Hand Sqdn Hullavington 29-11-42 AST 21-6-43 VAWD 9-11-43 wts and CG load 82MU 11-5-44 Argyll 1-6-44 Casablanca 13-6-44 MedAAF 21-6-45 SOC 27-3-47 I have used his logbooks, as well as squadron diary records (kindly provided to me by a 145 Sqn historian). The serial JF274 appeared in a number of places, where my grandfather flew sorties in ZX-V. Being the first production Mk VIII, I am aware that it would have had several things in common with the Mk VII, including the extending wing tips? If so, would it be safe to assume that JF274 and JF294 would be very similar in their configurations? Here are two scans from photographs I found in his logbook/briefcase just after he passed away... One is of a Spitfire Mk VIII, that he flew with 145 Sqn RAF in Italy, And secondly... one of an SHF Spitfire IX, when he was with 9 Sqn SAAF. I believe this aircraft may be MA504

Hi there guys, Long time reader, second or third time poster.... This one is aimed for Edgar's attention... We dont have alot of Spitfires in South Africa anymore, and the one we do have is a Mk VIII. I managed to get around the bird during a visit to the Saxonwold musuem recently.. and I would like your opinion on the accuracy of the cockpit/interior colors/etc to use as a reference for an upcoming VIII build. Now I'm not 100% sure what work, if any has been done to the Spitfire. I know that the other museum aircraft (including a 2 seater, 262 nightfighter, and an Fw190A-6... have both had some work done). So here are the pics.. Radio compartment Cockpit area What are your thoughts/views on the above? Many thanks in advance! Portamus

Hi there Nice build of MA 504. My grandfather flew this very aircraft when it was with 9 Sqn SAAF. There were a total of 4 Spitfires modified to this standard as a way to counter German high altitude recon aircraft. I believe the one aircraft was stripped of everything but its weapons (with a very, very limited number of rounds), while the other aircraft was stripped of everything but its radio. The pair then took off and were vectored onto the incoming German recce bird. I have had plans to build a model of this very aircraft myself, and have spent hours looking for pics of it... and I found a fresh one in my grandfather's briefcase (lots of ww2 pics). I have managed to gather 12 odd pictures of the 4 Spitfires in total. Please do not take this as criticism, but MA 504 did not have the extended wing tips. I have a side on photograph taken of MA 504, and from the shadow its wing casts in the ground, it has the standard wing tips. Where did you get your decals from?? Keep building!

Greetings chaps... having just read through the majority of this thread.. I am sure I will find my answers here! I am looking to build a particular set of Spitfires that my grandfather flew, firstly in 9 Sqn SAAF, and then later on in 145 Sqn RAF. In 9 Sqn, he flew MA 504... Which I am aware of being one of the specially modified SHFs. He always spoke fondly of this machine, and always regretted having lost the photographs he had of it. Needless to say, when he passed on, I inherited his logbooks, and a briefcase of his personal effects, including a pic of MA 504. I have been on the Spitfire site, and traced as much as I could of the aircraft, that it was build as an IX (T) tropical filter, and that its was built at CB. I am fairly certain it had the later narrow type of cannon blisters. Pictures show for certain that it had the early type rudder, but I am not 100% certain that it had the early type elevator config. The scanned pic that I have, may indicate that it had the later type elevators... a very similar configuration to the Spitfire VIII that is preserved at the South African Military museum. I have just managed to find an Eduard Spitfire IXc (late), by pure luck. With my limited resources/knowledge I would assume that this kit would provide a good base for representing MA 504? The second Spitfire I would like to build, would be a VIII he flew in 145 Sqn. ZX-V... which I believe may have been JF 274. I have managed to get hold of some copies of 145 Sqn war diary, and matching the sorties in his logbook has lead me to this belief. According to the Spitfire serial site, it was the first production VIII... which leads me further to believe that it may have had the extended wingtips. My grandfather often spoke a Spitty that he flew with 'beautiful extended wingtips'... he made a few remarks in his logbook about his beloved ZX-V. Would the aircraft have appeared in a scheme similar to this VIII? http://www.asisbiz.com/il2/Spitfire/LFVIII-RAF-145Sqn-ZX.html I have 2 scans here of his sitting in a Spitfire about to go and fly, and then of him on take off.. apologies for the large pics. Can anyone confirm a little more about these Spitfires? I am patiently waiting for Eduard to release a VIII in 48... and will most likely borrow the extended wingtips from my ICM kit, if indeed his favored VIII was JF 274, and that it did have extended wing tips. Thanks in advance! Aristide