SPITFIRE MK5 AND MK5B

[dieselweasel]

Hi gents

Please can anyone point me in the direction as to where I can find out the differences between these two marks of Spitfire.

A neighbour has asked me to build him a Mk5, can only find kits of Mk5B.

Thanks for your time.

ATB

Jim

[stever219]

The Mk. V was the initial production of the sub-type and retained the same eight 0.303 inch Browning machine gun armament of the Mk. Ia.  The Mk. Vb intruduced a mix of 2 x 20mm Hispano cannon replacing four of the Brownings in the inboard positions but retaining the four outboard Brownings each side.

As the Spitfire evolved other changes were introduced which did not result in a change in Mark number, e.g. at some point in the Mk. V/Vb/Vc programme the ailerons were changed from the original fabric-skinned versions to alloy-skinned but no designation resulted.

Does your neighbour have a specific example in mind?  If so it might be possible to find images of it, or at least from the same unit at around the same time, that you can work from.  There's a wealth of knowledge around this forum, especially the "All the Spitfire questions you wanted to ask" threads.

[Chuck1945]

As Stever219, said the initial Spitfire V (also known as the Spitfire Va) retained the 8 gun armament, the Vb had two 20mm cannon and four .303 machine guns. It is quite possible the request for a ‘Spitfire V’ was simply a generic request for a Spitfire, the most commonly photographed (because the number produced) were the Vb and Vc.

[Troy Smith]

2 hours ago, dieselweasel said:

A neighbour has asked me to build him a Mk5, can only find kits of Mk5B.

Scale? 

You may wish to ask for clarification, as IIRC the Mk.V was the most produced Spitfire variant with around 5,000 made,   with 3 wing types and numerous other details.

 

You maybe able to simplify your request by asking which one(s) they want,  and then asking about the ones requested specifically,  rather than a general query. 

Scale will get you an idea of what kits are available.  

Eduard now do a very comprehensive range of Mk.V kits in 1/48th scale BTW

 

One small point, the British started using arabic numerals in 1947 or so, prior to that mark numbers were always in Roman numerals,  hence Mk.V. not Mk.5

 

HTH

 

 

 

[PatG]

72nd scale is less well served at the moment pending Eduard releasing early version Spitfires, at some point next year I think.

 

Airfix do/did a Va and a Vc which are well worth considering, the former being boxed as a IIa/Va, and Tamiya do a Vb which has its faults but is probably the best Vb out there at the moment as the KP versions lack a certain finesse.

 

The V as mentioned was the most produced marque of Spitfire where as the most produced 'type' was the IX/XVI which were essentially the same aircraft as far as Supermarine were concerned, the only difference being who produced the engine, RR for the IX and Packard for the XVI.

 

HTH.

 

Pat.

Edited November 4 by PatG
extra info

[dieselweasel]

Afternoon Gents.

Thank you for the information, my neighbour has requested a model in 1/48th or bigger if there is such a kit. Thank you @troy smith for the info on the Eduard kits will go and have a look.

Thank you again everyone.

ATB

Jim (Dieselweasel).

[Troy Smith]

11 minutes ago, dieselweasel said:

my neighbour has requested a model in 1/48th or bigger if there is such a kit.

There are, Airfix did a rebox with modifications of the Spitfire Mk.I as a Vb, but it's a very old kit and needs some TLC and a wings spar

Hasegawa did a 32 Vb in the late 70's,  IIRC it's reasonable shape wise but has raised panel lines

Hobby Boss do a 32nd Vb

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hobbyboss-83205-spitfire-mkvb--101438

 

it has issues, I can't recall exactly but a search will bring them up,   but AFAIK like most HB products, accuracy aside

it assembles well and if your neighbour just wants a "A Spitfire V"  and you to build it,  this could be the answer

plus right now it is on offer at Creative Models,£33.59 posted.

http://www.creativemodels.co.uk/hobbyboss_132_spitfire_mk_vb-p-21016.html

Note the decals are likely to be the wrong colour and not very accurate either,  but replacements out there.    It really depends on what they want, and how effort you want to put in?

 

If he does want a really accurate model though, Eduard is the way to go. 

 

Might be worth mentioning for a very impressive and accurate Spitfire the Airfix 1/24th Mk Ix and now Mk VIII.

 

HTH

 

 

 

 

[spitfire]

Troy is right the Hobbyboss kit has issues but it is a really nice build, I have built two of them and enjoyed the builds, some AM was needed to correct some silly mistakes that they made when designing the kit but most people would not notice them.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[dieselweasel]

Evening Gents

Many thanks to @troy smith and Spitfire for their information and time, have spoken to my neighbour, he used to work on the Blackpool Spitfire, I think it's registration number was W3442. I know nothing more about the aircraft other than what he has told me. He has left the scale of the model to me, will probably check Eduard again and also the Hobby Boss 1/24th scale as mentioned by @Troy Smith.

Thanks again.

ATB

Jim

[Troy Smith]

15 minutes ago, dieselweasel said:

W3442

W3442 Vb 1834 EA M45 FF 2-7-41 6MU 3-7-41 611Sq 14-7-41 Shot down by Bf109 while escorting Blenheims to Mazingarbe 27-9-41 Sgt GT Evans (RCAF) PoW

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/p012.html

 

15 minutes ago, dieselweasel said:

he used to work on the Blackpool Spitfire

Ah, OK, looks to be a replica as you can see W3442 was shot down in Sep 41....

 

found this

 

I'm not sure what the connection to Blackpool is, possibly a presentation Spitfire?

 

I've not found any images of the real aircraft,  you might want to start a new thread if you want more, or change the title of this one.

 

HTH

 

The markings above would be before August 1941,  after that they got repainted.

[Orso]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=o4iVlVpK_ZE

Seems to be an ex. gate guard Mk.IX rebuilt as a Mk.Vb

Edited November 6 by Orso

[alt-92]

On 11/4/2024 at 9:22 PM, Troy Smith said:

I'm not sure what the connection to Blackpool is, possibly a presentation Spitfire?

 

611 Sqn was based at RAF Speke (now Liverpool Airport), currently at Woodvale. 
So it has a regional link, and the campaign to restore a Spit is local to one of Blackpool's municipality.

 

If the target is a model of the replica plane, then doing the codes and serial in masks is an option.

Certainly ArmyCast has masks for Codes and serials in 1/48 so that may be one, Maketar do 1/32,  or use generic code/serial sheets.

[dieselweasel]

Thanks again guys for all the information, I'm leaning towards a 1/48th scale Spitfire especially as the are markings available.

Many thanks again

ATB

Jim

[Graham Boak]

The connection is to the small aircraft museum at Bl;ackpool Airport.  There is a replica of this aircraft mounted on a pylon up the Ribble estuary at Fairhaven Lake.   (if not this one then very very similar!)

 

PS. 12 exhausts does not necessarily mean a Mk.IX, but was only seen on the Mk.V later on.  Possibly as an indication of a Merlin 55.