Griffon Spitfire

(Grabs tin hat)
Controversial I know but…

Come on folks it’s only a Sptifire…

(Dons tin hat and runs)

You’re all wrong.

The most beautiful Spitfire is K9834/N17, the High Speed Spit, in her original configuration..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/1-N17-01-001.jpg
http://base13.glasnet.ru/text/ap/spit-i/8-3.jpg

However, no Spitfire can ever really be called ugly, even despite the efforts of a few.

http://www.unrealaircraft.com/hybrid/images/Hdbspit_1.jpeg

Fascinating to hear more about the rebuild of Alan Lurie’s machine . How the American’s lost her to Brazil is beyond me! She really belonged at Dayton.

The pity was that when David Price acquired the the Barnett/Lurie machine he had it liveried in the ‘Johnnie Johnson’ markings rather than its original USAAF North African and up into Italy scheme(s).

Now if only we could find a period shot of her… that is MA793 for all US posters and lurkers reaching for dad’s/granddad’s photo album… from October 1943 to May 1944. 🙂

Mark

Fascinating to hear more about the rebuild of Alan Lurie’s machine . How the American’s lost her to Brazil is beyond me! She really belonged at dayton.

I bet in some part of the world there is a XII tail unit flying somewhere – I guess we will have to wait a while for the rest!

David

The Mk XII tail unit sent out from the UK to South Africa for the airworthy restoration of MA793 had been partially sectioned for educational purposes and in the event was not used.

The majority of this tail unit was later incorporated in to the static reconstruction of ML255 as part of the trade to Portugal for the Beaufighter.

Note the early ‘non extended horn balance’ in this shot used on the Mk V and the fixed tail wheel Mk XII’s and not used on the late Mk IXs sold to South Africa post WWII.

Mark

I bet in some part of the world there is a XII tail unit flying somewhere – I guess we will have to wait a while for the rest!

The MkXII is a MkV with a comedy nose!

You bet your sweet bippy I could. Been modeling Spitfires for fifty years and I reckon I must have done them all. Always have to force myself when it comes to the MkXII though. :

… I meant overall length not profile.

…yep I too made the first Airfix Spitfire 1:72 in the mid 1950’s moving latterly on to the larger scale Mk XII…at approx. 1:1

…comedy nose indeed. 🙂

Mark

Spitfire record

Have any of you knowledgeable guys out there got access to Air Force Records, I believe a Spitfire seriel no vn307, a mark24 of 80 squadron created one, unfortunatly I am not sure what it was but would sure love to find out. Thanks in anticipation. 🙂

Nah! The tropical filter looks good on the V. The XII has a nose too short for a proper Griffon and too long for a Merlin, it’s kind of halfway. The tail is too small for the nose, and the four blader looks all wrong on a Griffon. It has the pointy rudder in combination with clipped wings, and the asymetric radiator is too small for a Griffin Spit. Out of the whole Spitfire family, which I otherwise love without exception let me say, the MkXII is the one they should have locked in the atic and fed on bread and water. Back to the foxhole. :rolleyes:

To he who is without a clue 🙂

Tell me again how this is an ugly bird?

Dan
Defender of the XII everywhere!

Personal favorite is the lowback Mk XIV. No clue why. I’m just in love with it.

Mark 12: You know you want to…..

On a sad day, reading this thread, particlularly Daz’s last post, has raised my spirits.

…and in due course this will come to pass.

Mark: are you able to provide us with any enlightenment as to progress towards this eagerly awaited day?

Woody

Being flown by Ray Hanna?

p.s. What in heaven’s name is a Spitfire doing below 10,000ft :confused:

Being flown by Ray Hanna?

🙂 We need more people with such a great sense of humour on this forum. Almost had me believing him for a minute there….

With user name like yours I should have expected agreement. The MkXII is a MkV with a comedy nose!

..could you tell the difference from 50ft?

You bet your sweet bippy I could. Been modeling Spitfires for fifty years and I reckon I must have done them all. Always have to force myself when it comes to the MkXII though. It’s like it needs a paper bag over it’s head. :rolleyes:

p.s. What in heaven’s name is a Spitfire doing below 10,000ft :confused:

Intriguing….

…and in due course this will come to pass.

I for one will look forward to it….

Nah! The tropical filter looks good on the V. The XII has a nose too short for a proper Griffon and too long for a Merlin, it’s kind of halfway. The tail is too small for the nose, and the four blader looks all wrong on a Griffon. It has the pointy rudder in combination with clipped wings, and the asymetric radiator is too small for a Griffin Spit. Out of the whole Spitfire family, which I otherwise love without exception let me say, the MkXII is the one they should have locked in the atic and fed on bread and water. Back to the foxhole. :rolleyes:

…but it came first!

…and is a short nose Griffon Mk XII longer than a long nose Merlin Mk VIII/IX/XI/XVI fitted with the broad chord rudder?

…and if so could you tell the difference from 50ft?

🙂

Mark

PS and it will out perform any Spitfire below 10,000 feet.

…and in due course this will come to pass.

Nah! The tropical filter looks good on the V. The XII has a nose too short for a proper Griffon and too long for a Merlin, it’s kind of halfway. The tail is too small for the nose, and the four blader looks all wrong on a Griffon. It has the pointy rudder in combination with clipped wings, and the asymetric radiator is too small for a Griffin Spit. Out of the whole Spitfire family, which I otherwise love without exception let me say, the MkXII is the one they should have locked in the atic and fed on bread and water. Back to the foxhole. :rolleyes:

🙂 We need more people with such a great sense of humour on this forum. Almost had me believing him for a minute there….

You think so? I would have said the desert filter-fitted Spit Vs.

Nah! The tropical filter looks good on the V. The XII has a nose too short for a proper Griffon and too long for a Merlin, it’s kind of halfway. The tail is too small for the nose, and the four blader looks all wrong on a Griffon. It has the pointy rudder in combination with clipped wings, and the asymetric radiator is too small for a Griffin Spit. Out of the whole Spitfire family, which I otherwise love without exception let me say, the MkXII is the one they should have locked in the atic and fed on bread and water. Back to the foxhole. :rolleyes:

Don’t you think a tailhook and folding wings might improve their looks?

I agree with you there. Or a pair of floats.