{"product_id":"spitfire-lf-ixe-with-soviet-pilots-ground-personnel","title":"Spitfire LF.IXe with Soviet Pilots \u0026 Ground Personnel","description":"\u003cp\u003eICM 1\/48\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cb\u003eSupermarine Spitfire\u003c\/b\u003e is a British single-seat \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fighter_aircraft\" title=\"Fighter aircraft\"\u003efighter aircraft\u003c\/a\u003e that was used by the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_Air_Force\" title=\"Royal Air Force\"\u003eRoyal Air Force\u003c\/a\u003e and other \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Allies_of_World_War_II\" title=\"Allies of World War II\"\u003eAllied\u003c\/a\u003e countries before, during, and after \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/World_War_II\" title=\"World War II\"\u003eWorld War II\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the \u003cbr\u003ewar. The Spitfire remains popular among enthusiasts. Around \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/List_of_surviving_Supermarine_Spitfires\" title=\"List of surviving Supermarine Spitfires\"\u003e70 remain airworthy\u003c\/a\u003e, and many more are static exhibits in aviation museums throughout the world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Spitfire was a short-range, high-performance \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Interceptor_aircraft\" title=\"Interceptor aircraft\"\u003einterceptor aircraft\u003c\/a\u003e designed by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/R._J._Mitchell\" title=\"R. J. Mitchell\"\u003eR. J. Mitchell\u003c\/a\u003e, chief designer at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supermarine\" title=\"Supermarine\"\u003eSupermarine\u003c\/a\u003e Aviation Works, which operated as a subsidiary of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Vickers-Armstrong\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"Vickers-Armstrong\"\u003eVickers-Armstrong\u003c\/a\u003e from 1928. Mitchell modified the Spitfire's distinctive \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Elliptical_wing\" title=\"Elliptical wing\"\u003eelliptical wing\u003c\/a\u003e (designed by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Beverley_Shenstone\" title=\"Beverley Shenstone\"\u003eBeverley Shenstone\u003c\/a\u003e)\u003cbr\u003e with innovative sunken rivets to have the thinnest possible \u003cbr\u003ecross-section, achieving a potential top speed greater than that of \u003cbr\u003eseveral contemporary fighter aircraft, including the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hawker_Hurricane\" title=\"Hawker Hurricane\"\u003eHawker Hurricane\u003c\/a\u003e. Mitchell continued to refine the design until his death in 1937, whereupon his colleague \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Joseph_Smith_(aircraft_designer)\" title=\"Joseph Smith (aircraft designer)\"\u003eJoseph Smith\u003c\/a\u003e took over as chief designer. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"A_type\"\u003eIX\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eAlthough the Mk IX's airframe did not have the aerodynamic and strength \u003cbr\u003eimprovements, or the modified control surfaces of the Mk VII and VIII, \u003cbr\u003ethe Mk IX still proved to be an effective counter to the Focke-Wulf Fw \u003cbr\u003e190.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eIn September 1942, the \"High Altitude Flight\" was set up at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RAF_Northolt\" title=\"RAF Northolt\"\u003eRAF Northolt\u003c\/a\u003e to counter the threat of the high altitude \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Junkers_Ju_86\" title=\"Junkers Ju 86\"\u003eJunkers Ju 86 R\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e bombers. Two Spitfire Mk IXs converted from Vcs were stripped of \u003cbr\u003earmour, the .303 Brownings and other equipment and repainted in a \u003cbr\u003elightweight PRU blue finish. One of them \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supermarine_Spitfire_operational_history#The_high-altitude_bombers\" title=\"Supermarine Spitfire operational history\"\u003eintercepted a Ju 86R at over 40,000 feet (12,000 m)\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eProduction of the Mk IX finished at Supermarine in June 1943, \u003cbr\u003ewith production continuing exclusively at the Castle Bromwich factory. \u003cbr\u003eSeveral major and large numbers of minor improvements were progressively\u003cbr\u003e introduced to Mk IXs, some of which were used on other Spitfire \u003cbr\u003evariants. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eProduction of the LF Mk IXs, frequently referred to as the Spitfire Mk \u003cbr\u003eIXb, initially ran in parallel with the Merlin 63 powered Marks. This \u003cbr\u003eversion first became operational in March 1943 with the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/RAF_Biggin_Hill\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"RAF Biggin Hill\"\u003eBiggin Hill\u003c\/a\u003e Wing, comprised at the time of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/No._611_Squadron_RAF\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"No. 611 Squadron RAF\"\u003e611\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/No._341_Squadron_RAF\" title=\"No. 341 Squadron RAF\"\u003e341 (Free French)\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Squadrons. This type was by far the most produced of the Spitfire Mk IX\u003cbr\u003e variants, with over 4,000 built. The maximum power of the Merlin 66 was\u003cbr\u003e 1,720 hp (1,280 kW) at 5,750 ft (1,283 kW at 1,752 m) and the maximum \u003cbr\u003espeed of the Spitfire LF Mk IX was 404 mph (650 km\/h) at 21,000 feet \u003cbr\u003e(6,400 m).\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-39\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supermarine_Spitfire_(late_Merlin-powered_variants)#cite_note-39\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e34\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e The Merlin 66 introduced a new Bendix-Stromberg injection carburettor, which replaced the earlier S.U float carburettor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 id=\"C_type\"\u003eE type\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eStructurally identical to the C wing. The outer machine gun ports \u003cbr\u003ewere eliminated; although the outer machine-gun bays were retained, \u003cbr\u003etheir access doors were devoid of empty cartridge case ports and \u003cbr\u003ecartridge deflectors. The new wing allowed for a four cannon armament \u003cbr\u003eand the inner bays could carry \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Heavy_machine_gun\" title=\"Heavy machine gun\"\u003eheavy machine guns\u003c\/a\u003e. There were thus two possible weapon fits:\u003cbr\u003eeither\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003e2 × \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/.50_cal\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\".50 cal\"\u003e.50 cal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/M2_Browning_machine_gun\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"M2 Browning machine gun\"\u003eBrowning M2\u003c\/a\u003e machine guns with 250 rpg in the inner bays and 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon with 120 rpg in the outer bays\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eor\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003e4 × 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eThe .303 machine guns mounted in the outer wings were no longer \u003cbr\u003efitted, because rifle calibre bullets were ineffective against heavily \u003cbr\u003earmoured aircraft. (These outer guns had always been the less effective \u003cbr\u003epart of a Spitfire's armament: their distance from the centreline made \u003cbr\u003ethem hard to \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gun_harmonisation\" title=\"Gun harmonisation\"\u003eharmonise\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e and in turning engagements, wing flexing meant that the rounds were \u003cbr\u003eeven more widely scattered). The 20 mm Hispano cannon were moved \u003cbr\u003eoutboard and the .50 calibre Browning M2\/AN, with 250 rpg were added to \u003cbr\u003ethe inner gun-bays. The first trial installation (modification 1029) was\u003cbr\u003e made in \u003ci\u003eBS118\u003c\/i\u003e in November 1943; by mid-March 1944 the first \u003cbr\u003eservice Spitfires to be modified were from 485 (NZ), 222 and 349 \u003cbr\u003eSquadrons. Spitfires with this armament were at first referred to as \u003ci\u003eSpifire LF.IX .5\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e and the E suffix was not officially introduced until early 1945. This \u003cbr\u003earmament was standard for all Spitfire Mk IXs and XVIs used by the 2nd \u003cbr\u003eTactical Air Force as fighters and fighter-bombers from shortly after \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/D-Day\" class=\"mw-redirect\" title=\"D-Day\"\u003eD-Day\u003c\/a\u003e. It proved more effective for both air-to-air engagements and air-to-ground attacks.\u003csup id=\"cite_ref-9\" class=\"reference\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Supermarine_Spitfire_(late_Merlin-powered_variants)#cite_note-9\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e9\u003cspan class=\"cite-bracket\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003eMany Spitfires had their elliptically \"pointed\" wing tips \u003cbr\u003ereplaced by shorter, squared off fairings. This slightly improved \u003cbr\u003emaximum speed at low altitude and enhanced the roll rate. While many \u003cbr\u003e\"LF\" Spitfires (\u003ci\u003ee.g.\u003c\/i\u003e the LF.IX) had the \"clipped\" wings, a number\u003cbr\u003e did not. The true distinguishing feature of \"LF\" versions was the \u003cbr\u003efitting of low-altitude versions of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 id=\"firstHeading\" class=\"firstHeading mw-first-heading\"\u003e\n\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/thehiddenlair.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/LTGICM-488022_grande.jpg?v=1648690477\" jsaction=\"\" class=\"sFlh5c FyHeAf iPVvYb\" style=\"max-width: 400px; height: 300px; margin: 0px; width: 400px;\" alt=\"ICM Spitfire LF.IXE with Soviet Pilots and Ground Personnel LTG ICM-48 –  The Hidden Lair\" jsname=\"kn3ccd\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/www.hobbylinna.fi\/pictures\/icm_148_spitfire_mk_lf_ixe_with_raf_pilotsground_crew-0657c63ae2fc7b.jpg\" jsaction=\"\" class=\"sFlh5c FyHeAf iPVvYb\" alt=\"ICM 1:48 Spitfire Mk LF IXE with Soviet Pilots\/Ground Crew - Harrastekauppa  Hobbylinna\" jsname=\"kn3ccd\" style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 13px; max-width: 2048px; height: 352px; margin: 0px; width: 469px;\"\u003e\n\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch1 id=\"firstHeading\" class=\"firstHeading mw-first-heading\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mw-page-title-main\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ICM","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57795421143424,"sku":"48802","price":17.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0978\/1601\/9328\/files\/ICM48802.jpg?v=1775218095","url":"https:\/\/pienoismallimarketti.fi\/products\/spitfire-lf-ixe-with-soviet-pilots-ground-personnel","provider":"Pienoismallimarketti","version":"1.0","type":"link"}