Airfix 1/24th Spitfire VIII

By Michael Pattison

Here is my latest model, and the only model I've been able to complete this year, started on January 2nd. It is the Airfix Spitfire Mk.VIII which I've finished as RAAF 457 Squadron Leader Bruce Watson's mount based on Morotai Island in what is now Indonesia.

Twenty-six-year-old Squadron Leader Bruce Watson DFC joined the RAAF in December 1940, doing his basic training 8EFTS at Narrandera NSW, graduating there then transferring to RCAF training by May 1941. In August 1941, Sergeant Pilot Watson made his way to England now as a Pilot Officer and served with 32 Squadron RAF flying Hurricanes where he was awarded the DFC for his work flying against flak ships, E boats and coastal defenses. In April 1942, now as a Flying Officer, he went home to the RAAF posted to 75 Sqdn flying Kittyhawks. Two months later he was at Milne Bay repelling the Japanese in their failed attempt at invading Port Moresby again attacking barges, light tanks, ammunition dumps and ground vehicles for which he received another citation. The squadron withdrew to Horn Island at the end of that battle, then to Cairns where he was acting CO for a short time. By February 1943, he was posted to No.2 OTU at Mildura in Victoria for about 20 months where he was promoted to Flight Lieutenant, then a short spell at RAAF staff school. November 1944, now a Squadron leader, he takes on the role of CO of 457 Squadron then based at Sattler near Darwin as part of the newly formed 80 Wing. Soon the squadron moved forward to Morotai then Labuan where again Watson received another citation for his determination and courage during what was again a dangerous ground attack role. The well-liked and respected Squadron Leader returned to Sydney on 23rd November 1945 and received his discharge papers two weeks later. He played golf to a high level well into his eighties and still had a taste for speed when he and a friend were stopped by a policeman on the Hume Highway, between Sydney and Melbourne, doing 180kph. They were let off with a caution, probably because the policeman was so surprised at the sight of two octogenarians doing such speeds in a Porsche Boxter.

I used some aftermarket addons to help and modify the kit as Airfix got the cockpit wrong, simply carrying over that of the Mk.IX. The Mk.VIII was a strengthened and refined airframe built around the two stage Merlin 60 series engine. Mk.II, Mk.V and Mk.IX were all derivatives of the original Mk.I airframe which was at the limits of its capabilities when the Merlin 60 series was fitted. One of the many changes made was a totally revamped electrical system, which meant changes to the cockpit layout on the left side of the cockpit not reflected in this kit by Airfix. Thankfully, Peter at Airscale developed the necessary modification set to correct that issue. These are the total aftermarket mods used in this build.

You can refer to my construction thread in the Work in Progress forum for more detailed pictures of the build, which I won't reproduce here. The pictures of the finished model are built to represent A58-606 as it was when based on Morotai airfield from March 1945 and later Labuan.

The model sports the enlarged shark mouth used on later aircraft.

This was a very enjoyable build and I can highly recommend the Airfix Spitfires. They are highly detailed and relatively easy to build, but if you're doing the Mk.VIII I'd also recommend the Airscale modification set and other enhancements to make the model as realistic as possible.

My thanks to all those who joined in my WIP thread. Questions and comments always welcomed.

Airfix 1/24th Spitfire VIII

By Michael Pattison

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