alt-92 Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Legend* has it that in 1944 a small group of daring men flew a specialised version of the Mk.IX prepared for operations in the High North of Canada. These Spitfires were sent there to patrol the Arctic area, in search of U-boats hiding out or supplying weather stations for the Kriegsmarine. Painted white, with extra oil heaters, electric cabin heating and numerous other measures to help deal with the extreme cold, these aircraft became known as Arctic Patrol/Fighters: APR.IX. Very little documentation exists, mostly for reasons of security. Spitfire APR.IX, serial MK914 as flown during the spring of 1944. The cowling was replaced after the electric heater failed and burned a hole in the original one. *) Yes of course it's a bit of fun, the sharp-eyed among you will undoubtedly make the link due to the code letters and serial. This build was inspired by being bored, and done over a week's time after reading this well-written and very thorougly prepared backstory. Code letters and serials courtesy of leftover Kitsworld and XtraDecal sheets, painted in VMA white & Azure blue (spinner). 42 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky210 Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Great to see a sense of humour on this important day in the calendar still exists despite the c19 situation great build and story 😏 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nev Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Very good, I love it - the kit and the backstory 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luka Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Good one! Plot twist; in a couple of weeks someone actually produces these documents from some dusty old archive. 🙃 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc72 Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Very cool! There seems to be a diagreement among researchers whether the Arctic Spitfires had the standard or the pointed rudder. I liked the names of Commander Gelécul and Kapitänleutnant von Mannheim-Dampfwalze! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Doc72 said: Very cool! There seems to be a diagreement among researchers whether the Arctic Spitfires had the standard or the pointed rudder. I liked the names of Commander Gelécul and Kapitänleutnant von Mannheim-Dampfwalze! It certainly opens up possibilities for a 'real' mod. Adding snow chains to the wheels, other bits 'n bobs, a diorama with polar bears... 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 Super build and whif, looks great in this camouflage ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc72 Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 The Canadians actually did put a FR.XIV on skis. No April Fool's! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl V Posted April 1, 2020 Share Posted April 1, 2020 As an enthusiast for the more obscure aspects of Newfoundland aviation history (which pretty well includes all of them) I truly appreciated this delightful model. We should be grateful to the merry men and maidens of Vintage Wings for this fascinating and informative narrative. I also enthusiastically appreciate the dating of this post which is obviously timed to coincide with the 71st anniversary of Confederation – an event for which I confess that I retain a certain degree of ambivalence. As a Newfoundlander exiled for nearly 6 decades in Ottawa (and, I must admit, with the presence of such institutions as the Archives etc. there are worst places for exile), I wonder would you consider initiating an exchange of correspondence? If you do, feel free to PM me. If not, I imagine the world will still go on. Carl V. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col Walter E Kurtz Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 On 01/04/2020 at 11:32, alt-92 said: Legend* has it that in 1944 a small group of daring men flew a specialised version of the Mk.IX prepared for operations in the High North of Canada. These Spitfires were sent there to patrol the Arctic area, in search of U-boats hiding out or supplying weather stations for the Kriegsmarine. Painted white, with extra oil heaters, electric cabin heating and numerous other measures to help deal with the extreme cold, these aircraft became known as Arctic Patrol/Fighters: APR.IX. Very little documentation exists, mostly for reasons of security. Spitfire APR.IX, serial MK914 as flown during the spring of 1944. The cowling was replaced after the electric heater failed and burned a hole in the original one. *) Yes of course it's a bit of fun, the sharp-eyed among you will undoubtedly make the link due to the code letters and serial. This build was inspired by being bored, and done over a week's time after reading this well-written and very thorougly prepared backstory. Code letters and serials courtesy of leftover Kitsworld and XtraDecal sheets, painted in VMA white & Azure blue (spinner). I really like this build. So unusual and a great story. Well Done! My hat is doffed to you Sir! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted August 24, 2020 Share Posted August 24, 2020 Nice build and story! Reading it on Aug.24, I really do not see any change in news compared to the original post date... Probably in alternative facts speech it would be called Spitice though... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opus999 Posted August 25, 2020 Share Posted August 25, 2020 This is terrific... both the build and the story! Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyOD Posted September 30, 2020 Share Posted September 30, 2020 Late to this party, but you totally had me. Great build. I reckon the idea of a "completely made up scenario" GB has legs. I suppose they're also know as "what ifs". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Looks fantastic! The all-over light grey seems to enhance the pure beauty of a Spitfire. 👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wulfman Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Wovely white whif ! Wulfman 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 Sorry I missed this the first time, what a cracking WIF and Backround , I have to say amazing work on both, some cracking names in the back round too. Brilliant Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occa Posted October 1, 2020 Share Posted October 1, 2020 That's a super build of a highly extraordinary subject. Edit: But the story isn't made up despite the April's fool warning on top of the link or ? That'd be a lot of effort just for a joke ... PS: OK obviously it is a fake news laced with truth lol, it's still a nice whif. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt-92 Posted October 1, 2020 Author Share Posted October 1, 2020 2 hours ago, occa said: But the story isn't made up despite the April's fool warning on top of the link or ? That'd be a lot of effort just for a joke ... You should see their backcatalogue of April Fools articles Their writers are exceptionally good in making a credible story while interspersing enough hints (I mean - those names! ). Well worth bookmarking, there's plenty of other really good articles on there. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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