Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants)
- World War Two
- Royal Air Force (RAF)
- Spitfire Mk 21 - By early 1942, spitfire powered by the new two-stage supercharged Griffon 61 engine need a stronger airframe and wings. The wings were not the same elliptical shape as previous Spitfires. Mk 21 armament was four 20mm Hispano II cannon with 150 rpg.
- Spitfire Mk 21 became operational on No.91 Squadron in January 1945. The squadron had little opportunity to engage the Luftwaffe before the war ended but scored a rare success on 26 April 1945, when two Spitfire Mk 21 sunk a German midget submarine. 120 were built.
- Spitfire Mk 22 - Mk 22 was identical to Spitfire Mk 21 except for the cut-back rear fuselage, with the tear-drop canopy, and a more powerful 24 volt electrical system in place of the 12 volt system of all earlier Spitfires. Most of the Mk 22s were built with enlarged tail surfaces. The Mk 22 was used by only one regular RAF unit, No.73 Squadron based on Malta. And by 12 squadrons of Royal Auxiliary Air Force until March 1951. The Mk 22 was also used at Flying refresher schools. In May 1955, remaining F.22s were were sold to Southern Rhodesian, Egyptian and Syrian Air Forces.
- Spitfire Mk 24 - Mk 24 is the final Spitfire variant, was similar to Spitfire Mk 22 except that it had an increased fuel capacity (with two fuel tanks of 150 L each installed in the rear fuselage). Modifications were made to the trim tab gearings to improve the handling. The F Mk 24 achieved a maximum speed of 454 mph (731 km/h) and could reach an altitude of 30,000 ft (9,100 m) in eight minutes (the most advanced piston-engined fighters of the 1950s). Armament was 4 × short-barrelled Mk.5 20 mm Hispano cannon. Mk 24 can be used as a fighter-bomber, carrying 1 × 500 lb & 2 × 250 lb bombs, with rocket-projectile launch rails (late production). 81 were built (27 were converted from Mk 22).
- The last Mk 24 was delivered to No.80 Squadron (the only one regular RAF unit using Mk.24), No.80 Squadron continued its patrol and reconnaissance duties in Germany, until it relocated to Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong, in July 1949. During the Chinese Civil War, No.80 Squadron (Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force)'s main duty was to defend Hong Kong from perceived Communist threats until 1955.
marking:- Spitfire F Mk.24 - No. 80 Squadron, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force, Kai Tak, Hong Kong, 1955.
- Spitfire F Mk.22 - No. 607 (County of Durham) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, RAF Ouston, England.
en
![Tamiya Spray Color AS-22 Dark Earth (RAF, W.W.II) [Flat]](images/tiny/TAMAS22.jpg){kind=small}
![Tamiya Spray Color AS-30 Dark Green 2 (RAF, W.W.II) [Semi-Gloss]](images/tiny/TAMAS30.gif){kind=small}
![Tamiya Spray Color AS-31 Ocean Gray 2 (RAF, W.W.II) [Semi-Gloss]](images/tiny/TAMAS31.gif){kind=small}
![Tamiya Spray Color AS-32 Medium Sea Gray 2 (RAF, W.W.II) [Semi-Gloss]](images/tiny/TAMAS32.gif){kind=small}
My First Kit
Starter Package
Aircraft
Armour
Ship
Car; Motorcycle & Train
Earth & Culture
Sci-Fi
Paints & Tools
Rigging; Wire; Chain & Tubing
Decal
Display & Storage
Book & DVD
Board Game
Jigsaw Puzzles
Finished Kit
