Revell 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk.22/24
This kit is the ex-Matchbox kit an includes markings for 3 different RAF aircraft.
The Spitfire was without question the best known British World War II fighter. It was subject to continual further development throughout the war years, which was reflected in a range of improvements to the airframe, engine and armament. This ultimately led to a range with larger and more powerful Griffon engines.
The Spitfire Mk. XVIII was the last variant to go into service before the end of the Second World War. This was shortly followed by the last production variants, the Mk. 22 and 24 that were identical apart from different electrical systems.
The Spitfire Mk. 22 was used in the late forties by 73 Squadron of the Middle East Air Force in Malta and between 1946 and 1951 by 12 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Spitfire F.24 only served with RAF 80 Squadron. In 1949 the unit from the RAF base at Gütersloh in Germany was moved to Kai Tak in Hong Kong. The armament consisted of four 20 mm Hispano cannon and up to 454 kg of bombs or rockets could be carried beneath the wings. The Spitfire Mk. 22 and 24 were both powered by a Griffon 61 engine with a capacity of 2,050 hp and reached a maximum speed of 726 km/h.