The 'Messerspit' was a Mk V Spitfire which was captured by the Luftwaffe, and which subsequently had its Merlin engine replaced by a Daimler-Benz engine (as used in the Messerschmitt Bf109). The idea behind this experiment was to see what would happen when combining the superior handling of the Spitfire with the higher power of the Daimler-Benz engine.
Turns out there is a 1:72 model kit of this 'experimental' Spitfire! And so here is the fourth kit for the collection.
Last week was the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the Spitfire prototype, K5054, and, fittingly, there was a talk at Tangmere Aviation Museum about the replica of that aeroplane that they have on display (the original was destroyed in a crash a few years after it first flew, and subsequently scrapped). So back to Tangmere we went, following our latest visit just under a year ago.
We arrived well ahead of time, to give us some time to look around (they have so much on display; no way you can see all in one visit). And, specifically, we wanted to see the Rolls Royce Merlin engine that the museum acquired recently. Here it is!
But our main reason for visiting this time was the talk about the replica of K5054, how it came to be, and how it ended up at Tangmere. Whereas I had of course seen the replica aeroplane in previous visits, I knew next to nothing about its history.
The talk was given by Bill Williams, who was the manager of the project to create a replica of K5054.
How it all started in his garage, ...
... how none other than Jeffrey Quill offered advice and parts, ...
... finally resulting in the K5054 replica as it is on display in the Museum today!
Bill gave an excellent talk, very informative and knowlegeable (coming straight from the "horse's mouth", with him having been the project manager) as well as very entertaining, sprinkled with humour throughout.
After the talk, we had to pay homage to the K5054 replica, of course, and take some more pictures.
Third Spitfire kit, this time of a PR Mk XI.
Ever wondered what would happen if you put a Rolls Royce Merlin engine from a Spitfire into a car? Well, wonder no more, because someone insane enough to even think about it has actually done it ...
This insane individual is called John Dodd, and he fitted this monstrous car with a Rolls Royce grill, complete with 'Spirit of Ecstasy' hood ornament. As you might expect, Rolls Royce wasn't too happy with that, and dragged John Dodd to court. You can read more about what happened here.
Some years on, and the car is now in Britain, with a new owner, and officially registered as a Rolls Royce coupe. Happy to see that the ugly mustard yellow has been replaced with much more fitting grey tones!
Following my kit of a Spit in civil service, I picked up another kit to build, this time of a Tr.8 two-seater.
This blog post is about a rather unusual Spitfire. One which never flew, and basically never really existed ....
Curious? Read on!
The heavy metal band Iron Maiden brought out the single Aces High in 1984. The song is about the experience of an RAF pilot in the Battle of Britain, and the artwork of the single shows the band's mascots, Eddie the Head, in the cockpit of a Spitfire.
During live performances of the song, a large model of a Spitfire is often suspended over the podium.
Turns out there is a 1/72 model of this 'Aces High' Spitfire! Of course I had to add that one to my collection, even though it's a lot more expensive than the other models in the collection so far ...
Southampton being the 'home of the Spitfire', there are ambitious plans for creating a National Spitfire Monument in the city, visible from afar.
The 'Messerspit' was a Mk V Spitfire which was captured by the Luftwaffe, and which subsequently had its Merlin engine replaced by ...
