And another spitfire question!

[Antoine]

Hi there!

For my PR collection, I've received last week Italeri's mk IX, which can be build as an FR. IX.

However, the only difference with other IX in the box is only the port hatch for the camera.

I was nearly sure that these aircraft were fitted with complete PR.Id/PR.IV ventral camera ports.

So, I'm wrong?

And by the way, is there any other minor (or major?) differences?

Feel free to give an helping hand.

Thanks!

Edited August 23, 2009 by Antoine

[Test Graham]

FR aircraft were normally intended for low-level work, and hence would not carry vertical cameras. I believe this was not true for 40 SAAF's Spitfires in Italy, but hadn't seen it said about Western European front aircraft. Here, Spitfires with the vertical cameras were usually included in the PR marks and operated by the PR, not by tactical units at the front line.

[Antoine]

Thanks Graham,

It seems that I have some difficulties to differentiate between converted F.IX to PR.IX and FR.IX.

And with this, I also saw on Classic warbirds Merlin PR spits a pic of an FR.IX taken in France at Bayeux airfield (A12), where something resembling a camera port can be seen under the aircraft, at the exact place where it should be.

But the pics (Of good quality otherwise) is a little bit blurred at this place.

And there's another pic of a spit from 318 (polish) sqn, LW°L, mark not defined (Pic taken from close-up on the port side, showing only the zone between the pit and the roundel), with a mechanic working on the camera port, with a rack at his side with two F24 camera in it, stowed vertically.

The caption said that it is an FR spit, in the Med.

Edited August 23, 2009 by Antoine

[Antoine]

[Jim Kiker]

Hi Antoine,

I have an interest in PR aircraft and PR Spits as well. I have the Classic Airframes book and I took a look at the picture you mentioned. I believe the protrusion you see under the belly of that FR IX is not part of the camera fit but is instead a beam approach warning fairing. This fairing is a small ovoid shape with a thin, short, stiff antenna wire pointing out the back, parallel to the line of the lower fuselage (and it's hard to spot on most war-time pictures in my experience).

I do not think that there were any standard-fit Spitfire cameras/lense extensions that hung down into the slipstream, which this picture represents. Rather, you normally see a slightly raised panel or a raised lip with the camera ports recessed into the fuselage a bit. This was done to keep the well-known Merlin oil stream off the lenses.

As far as I know, the FR IX's were fitted with the side oblique camera only and they were used for relatively low altitude work, so there would be little use for vertical cameras in this mode of operations.

I did MK416 out of the Hasegawa Mk IX, lengthened the fuselage, and did the PRU Pink fairly pale and it looks a treat, plus it's even easier to do with your kit. How about some pics as you go?

Cheers, Jim

[Colin S-K]

Hi there!

For my PR collection, I've received last week Italeri's mk IX, which can be build as an FR. IX.

However, the only difference with other IX in the box is only the port hatch for the camera.

I was nearly sure that these aircraft were fitted with complete PR.Id/PR.IV ventral camera ports.

So, I'm wrong?

And by the way, is there any other minor (or major?) differences?

Feel free to give an helping hand.

Thanks!

Antoine,

Have to agree with main train of thought here, F IX converted to FR IX had only oblique camera, pointing to port. No need for vertical cameras as they were only used for low level tactical photography and it left the aircraft unchanged in handling terms from the F IX, hence no special handling changes for the pilots, who could go from one version to the other without concern.

They were mainly operated by 16 Sqn, which operated a flight of Pink painted aircraft, (Pink aircraft being used for Dawn and Dusk Recce, when the sky often took on a Pink hue), FR IX's and normal scheme F IX/FR IX. the same sort of idea as the Mustang's of 2 Sqn.

Having said that, some other differences are apparent from some photos. At least one Pink FR IX carried a drop tank.

If you want to do something different, the Canadian 414 Sqn flew FR IX's with the camera port on the starboard side in usual colour scheme.

Hope this helps.....

Feel free to email me, quite happy to share all the photos/drawings I have.

decalbank@googlemail.com

Colin

[Antoine]

Hi Antoine,

I have an interest in PR aircraft and PR Spits as well. I have the Classic Airframes book and I took a look at the picture you mentioned. I believe the protrusion you see under the belly of that FR IX is not part of the camera fit but is instead a beam approach warning fairing. This fairing is a small ovoid shape with a thin, short, stiff antenna wire pointing out the back, parallel to the line of the lower fuselage (and it's hard to spot on most war-time pictures in my experience).

I do not think that there were any standard-fit Spitfire cameras/lense extensions that hung down into the slipstream, which this picture represents. Rather, you normally see a slightly raised panel or a raised lip with the camera ports recessed into the fuselage a bit. This was done to keep the well-known Merlin oil stream off the lenses.

As far as I know, the FR IX's were fitted with the side oblique camera only and they were used for relatively low altitude work, so there would be little use for vertical cameras in this mode of operations.

I did MK416 out of the Hasegawa Mk IX, lengthened the fuselage, and did the PRU Pink fairly pale and it looks a treat, plus it's even easier to do with your kit. How about some pics as you go?

Cheers, Jim

Hi Jim, you're certainly right about this all.

For the pics on the go, you'll have to wait though, as I'm just back from a PR.Ic build, so another PR will have to wait a bit!

But anyway keep faith, as I've both italeri's FR.IX, and an FR. XIV from academy, plus conversions for a PR.ID, PR.IF and PR.IG.

Having said that, some other differences are apparent from some photos. At least one Pink FR IX carried a drop tank.

Hello Colin, I've got pics of FR.IX with the tank in the Classic book, and there's no reason for all FR.IX not to be able to carry it.

Should be a good subject, PRU pink FR.IX, with DDay markings, and a drop tank.