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Last update:
06/14/2009
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIV |
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Scale 1:33 |
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Author: Evgeniy Polovinnik |
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File Size: 13.1Mb |
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Please take a look at
Our Offer page before placing an
order. |
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Spitfire Mk XIVc
610 Squadron RAF, Squadron Leader R.
Newbery
April 1944
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Price $10.00 |
Model # 039_1 |
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Spitfire Mk XIVc "Channel Picket-III"
Unit X
9 confirmed V-1 kills
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Price $10.00 |
Model # 039_2 |
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Spitfire Mk XIVe
17 Squadron RAF, Squadron Leader J.
Laisy
Autumn 1945
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| Price $10.00 |
Model # 039_3 |
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If ordering a CD, please
add $5.75
for Shipping & Handling. One charge per order. |
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Technical data: |
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Length |
9.96 m |
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Span |
11.23 m |
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Engine |
Rolls Royce Griffon 65, 2,050hp |
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Max Speed |
721 km/h |
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Armament |
2 x 20mm, 2 x
0.50cal, 2 x 250kg or 1 x 500kg bomb
2 x 20mm, 4 x 0.33cal, 2x 250kg or 1 x
500kg bomb
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Crew |
1 |
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The first Griffon powered Spitfires suffered
poor high altitude performance due to having only a single stage
supercharged engine. By 1943 Rolls-Royce engineers had put together a
new Griffon engine, the 61 series, with a two-stage supercharger. In the
end it was a slightly modified engine, the 65 series, which was used in
the Mk XIV. The resulting aircraft was as great an improvement over the
Mk IX as the Mk IX had been over the Mk V. Although initially based
on the Mk VIII airframe, common improvements made in aircraft produced
later included the cut-back fuselage and tear-drop canopies, and the
E-Type wing with improved armament.
As the next major
step in the Spitfire's evolution, the Mk XIV's Griffon engine produced
2,050 HP at altitude. It could climb to 20,000 ft. in less than seven
minutes and its top speed which was achieved at 26,000 ft. was 448 mph.
F Mk XIVs had an 85 Imperial Gallon main tank and a 12.75 Imp. Gal. fuel
tank in each leading edge wing tank. Unfortunately, the fighter's
maximum range was just a little over 450 miles on internal fuel since
the new Griffon engine consumed much more fuel per hour than the
original Merlin engine of earlier variants. By late 1944, Spitfire XIVs
were fitted with 75 Imp. Gal. in a rear fuselage fuel tank. Mk XIVs with
"tear-drop" canopies had 64 Imp. Gal. and the FR Mk XIV (the armed
reconnaissance version), with its tear drop–shaped canopy and port
fuselage camera, had an additional rear fuel tank with 33 Imp. Gal. As a
result, F Mk XIVs had a range that was increased effectively to over 600
miles on internal fuel while the FR Mk XIV had a marginal increase in
range. A 90 Imp. Gal. drop tank was often fitted to these Griffon
Spitfires to give even more range.
The first test
of the aircraft was in intercepting V1 flying bombs, with the Mk XIV
was the most successful of all Spitfire marks in this role. The new
Griffon engine—to the surprise of a few test pilots—rotated
anti-clockwise when seen from behind, unlike the Merlin engines which
spun their propellers in the opposite direction. This caused a mirrored
split stream effect which could sway the aircraft strongly to the right.
Fortunately, pilots became used to this feature and later, the Mk XIV
was used by the 2nd Tactical Air Force as their main high-altitude air
superiority fighter in northern Europe. In total, 957 Mk XIVs were
built, over 400 of which were FR Mk XIVs. After the war, second hand Mk
XIVs were exported to a number of foreign air forces; 132 went to the
Royal Belgian Air Force, 70 went to the Royal Indian Air Force and 30 of
its reconnaissance variant went to the Royal Thai Air Force. (Wikipedia)
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Model built and photographed by the author, used with
permission. |
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