Spitfire prototype and the Hythe works

Ninety years ago last month, Supermarine Type 300, the prototype aeroplane that would result in the Spitfire, flew for the first time. I've always kept an eye out for a 1:72 model of Type 300, but without much luck ... Until recently: good things come to those who wait!

The model is actually a metal kit rather than one made from plastic, and has very few parts to assemble.

The Spitfire prototype was originally unpainted, and later painted the well-known light-blue, as seen in models on the roundabout near Southampton Airport, Solent Sky, the full-size replica at Tangmere and the mural in the foyer of the Holiday Inn. So I decided not to paint my model and keep it 'bare metal'.

And here is a picture of the actual prototype in flight, sporting its light-blue livery.

Going off on a slight tangent, in the 1930s, Supermarine owned the Hythe works, across the water from Woolston. This is the place where work on flying boats as well as the initial work on Type 300 took place. 

The Hythe works were closed and sold when the Woolston works started up, but the main building, with its distinctive 'saw tooth' roof, is still standing on the site. 

Time to drive over to that site to take some pictures of where the Spitfire was conceived!

The slipway used for the flying boats is also still there!

And this is standing at the top of the slipway, looking across the water to where the Woolston works used to be (the Itchen bridge of course didn't exist then) ...