Introduction

Did you already buy an Airfix 1/48 kit of a late mark Spitfire/Seafire? If not, you might want to reconsider – as of this writing it is certainly one of the most excellent Airfix kits ever! For all those who have it, here is a walk-around of a Mk 24. Spitfire F Mk 24 was a last land-based fighter variant of the Spitfire. Very similar to Mk 22, this variant could also carry rocket projectiles and introduced some minor changes to equipment and installations. Only 54 Mk 24s were produced between 1945 and 1947. Only no. 80 Fighter Squadron RAF used the type in substantial number, first as a part of occupation force in Germany and later in the Far East.

Mk 24 was also similar in many ways to the subsequent last Seafire variants – Mk 46 and FR 47.

The pictures below have been taken at the Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon, England.

General view of the Spitfire F Mk 24 in Hendon.

The exposed Rolls-Royce Griffon engine is shown here. The engine mount is simple and elegant, a real improvement in engineering compared to the Merlin-engined Spitfires!

Looking below the aircraft’s nose, you can see a large air intake and two deep radiator baths typical for all Griffon-engined Spits. A circular hole in the starboard wing root is the camera port.

This is the top of the cowling. All Griffon-powered Spitfire variants had these distinctive two bulges on it.

The wheels wells of this late mark Spitfire where fully enclosed by these outer covers. Note that the covers are bulged, as the strengthened undercarriage couldn’t fit into the thin wing of the fighter.

Another interesting feature of this picture is the wheel well interior – the area everybody just love to detail, uh?

This photo shows the undercarriage leg and main wheel. The main legs where locked at the different angle than that of the earlier Spitfire marks, and the attached covers had different shape.

Two neatly faired Hispano 20mm cannon barrels protrude form the wing leading edge. Strangely, the two barrels on this example are of different color, maybe one of them is a mock-up.

Examining the wing further. Here are all the many blisters on the top surface of the wing. The two leftmost ones house the ammunition drums for Hispano cannon. The large flat one in the middle gives room for the undercarriage wheels. The small flat one at the right is believed to serve the undercarriage leg folding gear.

Note also the walkway inboard marking and the quite prominent panel lines, surely owing to the weathered condition of the aircraft.

The bubble canopy hood.

The F Mk 24 was fitted with the large Spiteful-type tail, which can been seen here. Of note is a double trim tab and a relatively small retractable tail wheel.