DONE @p.3 +++ 1:72 Supermarine Spitfire F.Mk.XIVc, Royal Iraqi Air Force, 1948

[Dizzyfugu]

There's still my Sd.Kfz. 241 waiting for pix, but the next in line will be a "simple" Spitfire (the Academy kit, left over from a D-Day combo with a Typhoon that has already been bult as a Burmese post-WWII machine) in a whiffy livery and with minor cosmetic changes - I originally thought that it might fit into the upcoming Fifties GB, but it "takes place" a couple of years earlier, so it will pop up here.

Stay tuned. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Things move(d).  This is/was a rather spontaneous interim build, originally intended for the Fifties GB but the topic just fell out of the time frame. The Academy Spitfire kit was left over from a D-Day combo that contained a Hawker Typhoon, too, and I lacked an idea for the Spitfire for a long time) since I am not a big fan of the aircraft, at least what-if-inspiration-wise). However, when pondering about a potential operator from the very early pos-war period I remembered the Royal Iraqi Air Force and its later Hawker Hunters which retained their NATO-style camouflage (RAF green/grey) despite being primarily operated in a desert environment. This, on a Spitfire...?

From this idea the Academy Spitfire was built almost OOB. Because the kit offers them as an option and for the cool look, I gave the Spitfire four RPGs under each outer wing. The ventral drop tank was taken from a Special Hobby late Spitfire kit. The only other additions are the antenna mast and the non-standard DF loop antenna behind the cockpit, created from thin wire and mounted on a small, streamlined socket.


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting and markings:
The upper surfaces were painted in standard RAF WWII colors, Dark Green and Ocean Grey, using a mix of Humbrol 163 and 30 for a slightly more bluish WWII-style green and a mix of 106 and 145 for a lightened grey tone, respectively. As an individual contrast and paint scheme variation the undersides and the spinner were painted in RAF Azure Blue (Humbrol 157, lightened up with 47), more appropriate than the standard WWII Medium Sea Grey from the European theatre of operations. The cockpit interior became RAF cockpit green (Humbro,78) while the inside surfaces of the landing gear were painted in Medium Sea Grey (Humbrol 165), reflecting the original undersides' tone in former RAF service.


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Other markings were minimal. The Iraqi triangles were taken from a Balkan Models Su-25 sheet, because their green was rather pale, for more contrast to the surrounding camouflage. RIrAF fin flash was taken from a PM Model Hawker Fury two-seater (a.k.a. "Bagdad Fury"). The tactical code came from an Airfix Hawker Hunter (from an optional Kuwaiti machine). This looked O.K. but somewhat bleak, so I added more markings. I could not find any evidence for special ID markings on Iraqi aircraft during the Arab-Israel war, but to add an eye-catcher I gave the aircraft white ID bands on the wings and on the fuselage – inspired by markings carried by Egyptian aircraft (e. g. Spitfires) during the conflict, but somewhat simplified, without black trim. They were created from generic white decal sheet material.

After some soot stains around the gun ports and the exhausts, the model was sealed with matt acrylic varnish.


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Supermarine Type 379 "Spitfire" F Mk. XIVc; aircraft '٢١٢ (212)' of the Royal Iraqi Air Force (RIrAF, القوات الجوية الملكية العراقية) No. 7 Squadron; Kirkuk AB, deployed to Ma'an airfield (Jordania), 1948 (What-if/Academy kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Not spectacular, but it looks good! 

[Wardukw]

Damn that's looking nice ..ive got that same model Spitfire but in 48th ..still no ideas for mine ..getting a small pile of RAF planes now and your build will give me ideas I'll bet at some point 

[DogfighterZen]

Damn that's looking nice

Sure is! 

[comrade harps]

The white stripes really bring it together 

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you. Yes, it's a very simple project, but I wanted something "dry". But it looked so boring - despite the exotic green triangular markings - that the ID stripes were IMHO a necessary addition,. I think it was the right decision, though.

[NARSES2]

The white stripes really bring it together 

They really do, don't they   

[Dizzyfugu]

Nothing new here, unfortunately, Dramatic family affairs keep me busy almost 24/7 since last week. I am doing some construction as a distraction at the moment, but find no time and nerve for pics.

Pls. stay tuned.

[DogfighterZen]

Take it easy, Thomas. I hope it all ends well and soon for you and your loved ones.

[PR19_Kit]

DRAMATIC family affairs don't sound too good.

I hope they get sorted peacefully for you Thomas.

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you!

[kitbasher]

DRAMATIC family affairs don't sound too good.

I hope they get sorted peacefully for you Thomas.

Ditto, Dizzy

[Rheged]

DRAMATIC family affairs don't sound too good.

I hope they get sorted peacefully for you Thomas.

Ditto, Dizzy

And from me too.

[NARSES2]

Yup, take care Dizzy

[Gondor]

Ditto from me

Gondor