From: "Steve Bamford ARC" To: "RJ en Ellie Willekens" References: <000001c41889$13471bf0$b796ccd4@cp195803a> Subject: Re: USAAF Spitfire Mk.VIII Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2004 09:42:57 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0061_01C41960.11EB3AC0" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0061_01C41960.11EB3AC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi Robert, Thanks for sending in your Spitfire article. It is a very nicely done = US Spitfire. I'll e-mail you when your article goes on ARC. Steve Bamford Aircraft Resource Center http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com =20 Live like there is no tomorrow; Love like you've never been hurt. Work like you don't need the money. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's Heaven on Earth. ----- Original Message -----=20 From: RJ en Ellie Willekens=20 To: Bamford, Steve=20 Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 10:43 AM Subject: USAAF Spitfire Mk.VIII Gallery Template #06 1/48 Spitfire Mk.VIII by Robert-Jan Willekens -------------------- Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg = here=20 =20 This Spitfire Mk.VIII "Fargo Express" of the 308th Fighter Squadron, = 31st Fighter Group, 15th Air Force was flown by Captain Leland P. = Molland. The base was Castel Volturno, early 1944, Italy. The 31st was = equipped with three squadrons of Spitfires; the 308th were flying = "hand-me-down" Mk. VIIIs donated by the RAF and RCAF in 1943. These = aircraft were from the Mediterranean Theatre, and were fully British = aircraft. Because the need was great for new fighters to replace their = ageing Mk.V(trop) Spitfires, the USAAF gladly accepted these aircraft = pending the delivery of the P-51 Mustangs which were promised to the = 31st. The Spitfires' RAF markings were overpainted, obliterating various = stencilmarks and wing lines and the US "Stars and Bars" were applied. = Each squadron carried a distinctive wingtip band, the 308th's being = yellow. Click on images below to see larger images =20 Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 03.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 03.jpg=20 Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 04.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 04.jpg=20 =20 This Ukranian ICM model is finished in Extracolour paints: Dark Earth = and Middle Stone, with Azure Blue undersurfaces. The topside colours = were toned down by adding some grey, in order to achieve a sun-bleached = appearance. The HL-K markings coming from an old MSAP set are the = correct ones, some other "Fargo Express" decalsheets carried the codes = HL-X. See the colour photographs in Ventura Publications superb Spitfire = book concerning the Spitfire in USAAF service. The white spots on the = cowlings are safety marks for the positions of the Dzus fasteners on the = cowlings. (Danger Zone Unless Secure) The spinner is in Red; the Theatre = colour for the MTO. Note the dark reddish-brown wheels; I've no idea = whether this is some sort of primer or protective paint. The afore = mentioned colour photos distinctly show this colour! =20 Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg = here=20 =20 A total of 1.658 Mk.VIII Spitfires were produced, among them 160 HF = versions with the pointed (removable) wingtips and the Merlin 70 engine. = Six Mk.VIII's were used as Mk.XIV prototypes. A ditinguishing feature of = this Mark were the short-span ailerons which were also used on the = Mk.VII. Many Mk.VIII's also had the large-chord rudder. Also apparent of = this Mark is the retractable tail-wheel with its two small doors.=20 Many desert Mk.VIII 's had the "slipper tanks" fitted in order to = increase the plane's range without too much performance loss. Armament = consisted of four 0.303 Browning machine guns and two 20mm Hispano = cannons in the wings. Click on images below to see larger images =20 Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 05.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 05.jpg=20 Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo = 06.jpg here. Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized = version of photo 06.jpg=20 =20 Photos and text =A9 2003 by "your name goes here" ------=_NextPart_000_0061_01C41960.11EB3AC0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi Robert,
Thanks for sending in=20 your Spitfire article.  It is a very nicely done US=20 Spitfire.  I'll e-mail you when your article goes on = ARC.
Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourc= ecenter.com
 
Live=20 like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work = like you=20 don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like = nobody's=20 listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 RJ = en Ellie=20 Willekens
To: Bamford, Steve
Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2004 = 10:43=20 AM
Subject: USAAF Spitfire = Mk.VIII

Gallery = Template=20 #06

1/48 = Spitfire=20 Mk.VIII

by Robert-Jan Willekens
--------------------

Steve Bamford=20 will insert full=20 sized version of photo 01.jpg here =
=20

This = Spitfire Mk.VIII=20 "Fargo Express" of the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, = 15th Air=20 Force was flown by Captain Leland P. Molland. The base was Castel = Volturno, early 1944, Italy. The 31st was equipped with three = squadrons of=20 Spitfires; the 308th were flying "hand-me-down" Mk. VIIIs donated by = the RAF=20 and RCAF in 1943. These aircraft were from the Mediterranean Theatre, = and were=20 fully British aircraft. Because the need was great for new fighters to = replace=20 their ageing Mk.V(trop) Spitfires, the USAAF gladly accepted these = aircraft=20 pending the delivery of the P-51 Mustangs which were promised to the = 31st. The=20 Spitfires' RAF markings were overpainted, obliterating various = stencilmarks=20 and wing lines and the US "Stars and Bars" were applied. Each = squadron=20 carried a distinctive wingtip band, the 308th's being = yellow.

Click on images=20 below to see larger images

Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of=20 photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg=20

 Steve Bamford will insert a = click-able=20 smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg=20

This Ukranian ICM model = is finished=20 in Extracolour paints: Dark Earth and Middle Stone, with Azure Blue=20 undersurfaces. The topside colours were toned down by adding some = grey, in=20 order to achieve a sun-bleached appearance. The HL-K markings coming = from an=20 old MSAP set are the correct ones, some other "Fargo = Express"=20 decalsheets carried the codes HL-X. See the colour photographs in = Ventura=20 Publications superb Spitfire book concerning the Spitfire in USAAF = service.=20 The white spots on the cowlings are safety marks for the positions of = the Dzus=20 fasteners on the cowlings. (Danger Zone Unless Secure) The spinner is = in Red;=20 the Theatre colour for the MTO. Note the dark reddish-brown wheels; = I've no=20 idea whether this is some sort of primer or protective paint. The = afore=20 mentioned colour photos distinctly show this colour!

 =20
Steve Bamford=20 will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here =
=20

A total of 1.658 = Mk.VIII Spitfires=20 were produced, among them 160 HF versions with the pointed (removable) = wingtips and the Merlin 70 engine. Six Mk.VIII's were used as Mk.XIV=20 prototypes. A ditinguishing feature of this Mark were the short-span = ailerons=20 which were also used on the Mk.VII. Many Mk.VIII's also had the = large-chord=20 rudder. Also apparent of this Mark is the retractable tail-wheel with = its two=20 small doors.

Many desert Mk.VIII 's = had the=20 "slipper tanks" fitted in order to increase the plane's range without = too much=20 performance loss. Armament consisted of four 0.303 Browning machine = guns and=20 two 20mm Hispano cannons in the wings.

Click on images=20 below to see larger images

Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller = version of=20 photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg=20

 Steve Bamford will insert a = click-able=20 smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo = will bring=20 up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg=20

Photos = and text =A9 2003=20 by "your name goes=20 here"

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