What Mk?

[xFLAMESx]

Hey guys, who knows what Mk these two beauties are?




Ozzy - keep quiet for a while

Thanx. Carl

[Rifleman]

......first one is a MK IXc
........second one is a Mk Vc

[Felix/FFDS]

Both are Spitfires L.F. Mk IXc ?

[ozzy72]

Okay I won't say anything, but I can even tell you who owns them

[HawkerTempest5]

The first one is LF MkIXc MK732 of the Dutch Spitfire Flight. It is a real D-Day veteran, serving with 485 (New Zealand) squadron and sharing the second JU88 destroyed on D-DAy with ML407.
The second is LF IXe ML417, formally of the Fighter Collection based at Duxford. It served with 195 (Canadian) Squadron at Kenley in 1944 and has a 109 and one shared to its credit. It is currently flying in the US.

[xFLAMESx]

It looks like Tempest5 knows his stuff !
(Looks like there might be a challenger to Ozzy's crown)
Alright Oz, was he right about their history?

Thanx. Carl

[Rifleman]

My info on the second one was erroneous and ammemded now......in my haste, I read something wrong

[ozzy72]

Don't mess with Roger (Hawker) he knows more about warbirds than even I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only just about whip him on Merlin engined Spits, he is a Griffon-man, but otherwise the guy is God on warbirds

Mark

[xFLAMESx]

At least I know where to look for any info on Spit's

OH OH OH OH - I now have ALMOST every Merlin-Engined Spitfire in CFS.
Just thought i'd tell ya

Thanx. Carl

[Woodlouse2002]

I'm going to make an arse of myself now by pointing out that the second Spit appears to have a Griffon engine and a MkXIV tail.

I'm not saying that Tempest is wrong, but can someone explain why this is?

[Hagar]

They're both Merlins. If you check out the prop blades they're both the same rotation - clockwise as viewed from the cockpit. The Griffon rotates in the opposite direction.

You're right about the fin & rudder though.

[C]

Yep, both merlins, I don't now how the second pic looks like a Griffon at all. Some IXs and XVIs had the "pointy" rudder fitted, in fact I think all XVIs did (HT5 may verify this dubious assumption of mine). I believe it was first fitted to the Mk VIII or VII. It's considerably smaller in chord to the broad chord (and also pointy) rudder of the XIV, XVII, XVIII and XIX etc blah blah onwards.

I believe the BBMFs IX MK356 has just been refitted with a pointy one similiar to ML417 to replace the rounded one (such as on MK732), and being in the same sqn markings as ML417 (as 21-V) now looks almost identical. Shame they'e on opposite sides of the atlantic now...

Charlie

[HawkerTempest5]

The pointed tail was fitted to most later MkIXs all MkVIIIs and most MkXVIs. The Griffon engined MkXII had a MkVIII tail and rudder (being based upon either a MkV-fixed tail wheel models, or a MkVIII-retractable tail wheel models) but all other production Griffon Spits had a much larger fin and rudder fitted.
You can always spot a Griffon spit by the shape of the nose. It is much longer with a much bigger prop spinner and two very large rocker cover bulges running along the top of the exhaust stack. All but the MkXII and MkXV had a five bladed rotol or six bladed contra prop.

I believe the BBMFs IX MK356 has just been refitted with a pointy one similiar to ML417 to replace the rounded one (such as on MK732), and being in the same sqn markings as ML417 (as 21-V) now looks almost identical. Shame they'e on opposite sides of the atlantic now...

Charlie

That's right Charlie pal, they replaced the standard rudder with one from the two MkXVIs that BBMF have stashed away in the back of the hanger. I saw both these "21" Spits side by side at Duxford a few years back and it is a shame that TFC decided to sell it on. The UK Spitfire population gets a bit smaller every year and I hear rumors that at least one more will be crossing the pond this year. Very sad

[HawkerTempest5]

These should give you an idea about rudders and noses

Three types of tails. Left forground is the standard rudder, behind is the pointed rudder and on the right the larger fin and rudder as fitted to Griffon types.

Noses. On the left is the Griffon nose of a MkXIV and on the right a Merlin nose on a MkV. The MkIX had a longer nose to take the twin stage super charger but the profile is about the same. You can clearly see (even on my very dusty old model ) the larger nose and rocker cover bulges on the Griffon nose.
Hope that helps.

[Felix/FFDS]

Late production Mk. IX were also made with the cutdown fuselage and teardrop canopy, like the Mk. XVI (Mk. IX with the US Packard-Merlin 266)