AIRA82015 - Airfix - 1/48 Specialist Spitfires Airfix Club LIMITED EDITION - WWHP113318

AIRA82015 - Airfix - 1/48 Specialist Spitfires Airfix Club LIMITED EDITION - WWHP113318

Preowned, Original seal, Mint

The Spitfire is remembered as a daylight interceptor and later a fighter bomber, but the Mk.Vb also took on specialist work. In the winter of 1941 and 1942, with renewed night raids on British cities expected, a number of Vbs were painted black and pressed into the night fighter role, directed onto bombers by searchlights. It did not go well: the narrow track undercarriage and heavy engine torque made even the takeoff difficult in darkness, accidents mounted, and the idea was dropped. Later in the war the Vb found a better niche as a high speed air sea rescue spotter, patrolling off the Suffolk coast to locate downed aircrew and radio their positions to Coastal Command or the Royal Navy. This is the Airfix Club limited edition boxing in 1/48, one model with two of those specialist schemes.

Box contents:

• 151 parts moulded in styrene
• Clear parts for canopy and glazing
• Detailed cockpit with pilot figure
• Landing gear, wheels, and gear doors
• Waterslide decal sheet with two options: Spitfire LF Mk.Vb AB981 MY-T, Air Sea Rescue, No. 278 Squadron, RAF Martlesham Heath, Suffolk 1944, and Spitfire Mk.Vb JU-H night fighter, No. 111 Squadron, RAF Debden, Essex, December 1941
• Illustrated multilingual assembly and painting instructions
• Finished model measures 195 mm long

This was an Airfix Club limited edition and was never available through general retail distribution.