Airfix Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV 1:48 Plastic Model Airplane Kit A05135

Description

Airfix Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV 1:48 Plastic Model Airplane Kit A05135
Note: Painting & gluing is required.  Paint and glue are not included.
Continuing the wartime development of the famous Supermarine
Spitfire, the Mk.XIV saw the classic shape of Mitchell’s celebrated
fighter paired with the awesome power of the new Rolls Royce Griffon
engine. The resultant aircraft was superb and one of the RAF’s most
capable fighters of WWII, proving particularly successful when employed
against the V-1 flying bomb attacks which Germany launched against
southern Britain, from the summer of 1944.
The adoption of the Rolls-Royce Griffon engine provided the Spitfire
with a significant increase in performance, but not without presenting
Supermarine designers and pilots converting to the aircraft with a few
challenges. Installation of the new engine in the existing Spitfire
airframe required a redesign of both the front and rear sections of the
aircraft and the use of a distinctive five bladed Rotol propeller.
Pilots used to flying Merlin engined versions of the aircraft would find
the Griffon turned in the propeller in the opposite direction and
whilst the earlier aircraft tended to veer to the left on take-off, the
Griffon powered machines would veer in the opposite direction – if the
pilot forgot and applied their usual corrective inputs, their first
flight could be a particularly short and uncomfortable one.
As the only British fighter type to remain in production throughout
WWII, the Spitfire was constantly developed to ensure it remained at the
forefront of fighter performance, with the Griffon powered aircraft
being around 80 mph faster than the original Mk.I machines. With the
purr of the early Merlin engines replaced by the throaty growl of the
mighty Griffon, these later developments appear to be much more capable
versions of the fighter than the classic early Spitfires, even though
they are basically a development of them.
The Griffin powered Spitfire Mk.XIV possessed greater performance
than that of the thoroughbred Mk.IX and therefore was superior to both
the Luftwaffe’s Focke Wulf Fw 190 and the latest versions of the
Messerschmitt Bf 109. Taking part in air operations in support of and in
the months following the D-Day landings, the Mk.XIV was used
extensively by the 2nd Tactical Air Force, equipping all 20 of the
Spitfire Squadrons that operated from the continent in the months
between D-Day and VE-Day. Employed predominantly in an armed
reconnaissance role, these fearsome fighters would search for targets
behind German lines, attempting to disrupt both their retreat and their
ability to send reinforcements to the current front line. Their speed
also made them an ideal aircraft to help counter the growing Doodlebug
threat endured by southern Britain in the months following Operation
Overlord and the D-Day landings.
Combine Shipping:
Domestic:
We will happily combine shipping.  On small parts it is the highest shipping plus $1 for each additional item.  On parts
orders of $50 or more shipping is $5.99.
If you use the Ebay shopping cart you will receive the correct combine shipping rate.
International:
We
will happily combine shipping.  On small parts it is the highest
shipping plus $2 for each additional item.  For combine shipping on
international orders please purchase the items without the Ebay shopping
cart, but don’t pay until we send an adjusted invoice.
Please contact us about combine shipping on larger items.
International Shipping:
WE SHIP INTERNATIONAL
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via USPS First Class Mail or Priority Mail International. 
International shipments generally take 2-4 Weeks, but can take up to 6
weeks with customs delays.  Please be patient.
WE DO NOT FALSIFY CUSTOMS FORMS, BUYERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CUSTOMS FEES, DUTIES, AND TAXES.
I
AM SORRY WE DO NOT SHIP TO ITALY, BRAZIL, AND AFRICA (EXCEPT FOR SOUTH
AFRICA) NOT ALL ITEMS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.