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The Mallock Spitfire 22: SR46, ex PK350


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Hello All,

Spitfire 22 PK350 was produced by Supermarine in 1945. Sold to Rhodesia on March 25th, 1951, re-numbered SR64. Struck off charge ca. 1956, became gate guardian at New Sarum AFB outside Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) Bought by Jack Mallock, a South African-born Rhodesian bush pilot,WW2 Spitfire pilot, gun-runner and sanctions-buster who flew in World War II and in various legal and illegal roles around Africa and the Middle East, SR64 was restored to flight on March 29th,1980. Lost March 26th, 1982, when Mallock and SR64 flew into a thunderstorm.

This model is based on the 1/48 Airfix Spitfire 22, with the following modifications:

Spinner profile corrected, as kit one was too bulbous, IMHO.

Griffon bulges filed to match those of the PR.19 kit.

Carb intake and exhausts drilled out.

Radiators corrected to be perpendicular to wing underside.

Trim tab details added to wing underside (missing from kit).

Rudder tab split and offset.

Canopy taken from the new Mk. 18 kit (alternative part)

Alclad High Speed silver finish.

Rocket launching stubs added to match photos on the web.

Rhodesian Air Force bands from an unnamed decal sheet.

Spit22_07

 

Spit22_08

 

Spit22_09

 

Spit22_10

Thanks for looking.

 

TW

 

Edited by Tony Whittingham
photos didnt show up at first.
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7 hours ago, Gary Brantley said:

Very nice work Tony!  :clap2: And I also enjoyed the history of the plane and pilot; what a farewell, eh? 👍  Flying off into a thunderstorm...a romantic end to a romantic and adventurous life

Not sure that was his last thoughts though 🤣

 

Lovely build and interesting background :)
 

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Nice model and an interesting back story. I can testify to the ferocity of those African thunderstorms. I  was in Zim last year flying  around  during the rainy season. I witnessed a nasty one,fortunately  from the ground  but it nearly  took the roof of the hangar off.

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A very,very nice model of that particular Spitfire Sir.

One remembers the unfortunate demise of this beautiful aeroplane and it's pilot/restorer,Mr Malloch.

 

If one remembers correctly,it was alluded that the Rhodesian Airforce never actually sold the aircraft,but Mr Malloch "persuaded"

them that it would be good to get it flying again and that he was the man to do the job.

He never received any financial support for the restoration from the Airforce,funding came from Mr Malloch himself and his aviation

company.

It was rumoured that the Rhodesian Airforce decided that they wanted it back and to fly it themselves and had communicated their

intentions to Mr Malloch as such.

The belief at the time  was that Mr Malloch knew about the storm and had deliberately flown the aircraft into it to stop the Airforce

taking it back.

Whether that is the truth or not,of course,will never be known.

What is known is that Mr Malloch was certainly most unhappy about the situation with the Spitfire and the Airforce.

One remembers the documentary,"Pursuit of a Dream".

The air to air footage,again,if one remembers correctly,was shot from a two seat De Havilland Vampire trainer,

the pilot followed the Spitfire into the storm and was very lucky to recover back to base,the aircraft had

been badly damaged.

 

David.

 

 

Edited by DaveWilko
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