Supermarine Spitfire XIX

History
The Spitfire Mk XIX was the Griffon powered reconnaissance variant of the whole range of Spitfires. It was unarmed aircraft having also an unarmoured clear view canopy, a whip antenna, oblique camera behind the pilot and two vertical cameras. It had cabin pressure intake below port exhaust on most. The type also carried extra fuel in internal tanks and was equipped with a pressurised cockpit. These allowed safe reconnaissance missions over enemy positions particularly towards the end of the war.

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The kit
This is all new-tooled Airfix kit (No A02017), moulded in light grey styrene with parts featuring nice recessed panel lines. Cockpit interior was nicely represented. Pavla detail sets further improved items for the interior detail. Pavla resin kit 72-085 contained detail side panels while Pavla set 72-111 had a clear cockpit canopy vac-form type, a new resin propeller and spinner, wheels, intake scoop, deeper intake ducting, new engine exhaust manifold with bore in each pipe. I found these sets very useful and certainly made best use of them to produce a more detailed model. 

Airfix kit caters for a decal option of an RAF and a Swedish AF aircraft. I completed mine as PR XIX (Type 380) of 815 Squadron RAF based in Malaysia circa April 1954. 75 aircraft of this type were delivered from 27.11.44 till 18.5.45. I completed my model in standard PR camouflage at the time comprising medium grey upper surfaces and PRU blue lower wings and lower fuselage using Compucolor brand.

Final result was a delightful unique variant of the Spitfire, yet another version of the Spitfire family.

Carmel J Attard

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