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My 'What If' scenario is: Paint a standard Spitfire XIV to look like an unarmed PRU aircraft, and fly decoy missions at high altitude. Build thread here According to the WHIF scenario in my head I want to build the best looking (well, as a highback kit bought off the shelf) Spitfire XIV in my favourite colour (PRU blue) with standard elliptical wings and cannons. There is nothing more aggressive looking to my taste, at this time. I think the exercise was worthwhile, and I hope you agree? If not, I'd still like to hear your thoughts too, as this tends to enhance knowledge on these topics. The excuse to build this Firstly, I've envisaged the aircraft operating with RAF Second Tactical air force 2TAF. To counter PRU losses due to fighter intercepts, 2TAF has agreed to take some of the pressure off PRU colleagues and assign 2 unmodified Spit XIVs (for one month only) to fly decoy PRU flight missions to find and engage enemy fighters sent up to engage PRU spitfires. The hope is the enemy would adapt tactics to become cautious every time they encounter a PRU Spit, and therefore stem the current loss rate (I read the average life span of a PRU Spit was 14 missions at one point). Both Spits would be temporarily painted PRU blue and fly solo missions with a footprint near-enough to a high flying PRU mission, once within German radar range. Fuel range limitations of standard XIV This information was presented by knowledgeables in my WIP thread, for which I'm grateful as this 'setback' added contextual background. However, the revelation also meant I had to rethink my original scenario. I didn't want anything as practical as drop tanks on this model! Standard fuel range of XIV is listed as over 400 miles according to Wikipedia, which as 'everyone knows' can be a semi-reliable source. This range should do for operations over Western Germany, taking off from Belgium. The XIV range limitation really focuses the timing of my one month trial to 'not before' mid-September 1944. Use of Advanced Landing Grounds in Belgium From September 1944 my scenario becomes viable with the standard XIV, and no drop tanks. Advanced Landing Grounds are now established in Belgium. Close enough to the German industrial Ruhr valley and I'm guessing other typical PRU flyovers. Most likely, the ALG named A-74 Florennes in Western Belgium could have been quite an attractive regular ALG for these missions. However, this is also a guess because I wasn't successful in tracking down information about RAF activity from the mainland Europe ALGs. American historical details are plentiful, with unit names and aircraft types operated. Equivalent research down to unit level for the RAF doesn't seem to be available? Happy for anyone on the forum to jump in here with their own research on ALGs. Taking off from Florennes airfield with full internal fuel should allow the Spit time to climb to a 'just-high-enough-to look-realistic' altitude - certainly over 30,000ft - taking say between 10 and 15 minutes all the time flying over Belgium, before appearing in range of enemy radar screens still known to be functional at this time in the war, was my thinking. Maybe to assist, RAF 2TAF could target Wurzberg radar sites close to the border, but obviously how far are we heading into this scenario? 🤨 Cockpit un-pressurized? Ideally, I thought the standard XIV would need to be modified to feature a pressurized cockpit typical of PRU variants. However, back to reality briefly, I couldn't make any of the 3 beautiful vac-formed canopies I ordered to fit my model. I literally had to bin that concept 😳 In retrospect, it's fanciful to imagine there would be enough time and resources available to overcome the inevitable British bureaucracy standing in the way of modifying two existing XIV aircraft in the field, during wartime! Especially as the assignment was short term in nature and wouldn't be a major consideration of the RAF 2TAF in this period. Long story short long story short - my - WHIF - standard Spitfire XIV painted PRU blue, fully armed, no cameras. Hope you find the result worthy of interest or debate. A dive into history on a specific mission-type is never wasted' and generated great contributions on the WIP thread, so thank you for those contributions. The knowledge - or even just added insight - gained will come in useful on future projects. Most of the build decisions I made along the way can be found on the WIP thread. I've used the only high back XIV kit off the shelf, from Academy in 1/48. Not very accurate in some aspects obviously. It's my second one and both are well-engineered and fall together brilliantly. I used AM exhaust stubs, AM cannons (the longest ones for maximum shock value 👽) and PE belts. Edit: and the lovely AM Props and spinner I hope this 'Ready for Inspection' and story has stimulated the grey matter. I'll certainly be thinking about creating more monotone Spits in the future. Thanks for looking in WP