Eduard 11172, Spitfire Story - Malta, Dual Combo Limited Edition. 1:48 Scale

Spitfire Story: Malta - WWII Fighter Plane

Dual Combo Limited Edition  1:48 Scale

11172 - Eduard

This is a Limited edition kit of British WWII fighter aircraft Spitfire Mk.Vb and Vc in 1:48 scale. From the kit you can build two Spitfires that fought in the defence of the island Malta with 15 different marking options to choose from.

The first Spitfires to arrive on Malta, and the first to be deployed outside of Britain, were 15 Mk Vb Spitfires, which were flown off the RN aircraft carrier, HMS Eagle, on 7th March, on Operation SPOTTER.

The Spitfires were fitted with 90-gallon ‘slipper’ belly tanks to give them the range for the 650-mile flight to Malta. To counter the prevalent dusty conditions that they would encounter on Malta, the Spitfires had the large Vokes filter under the nose, which created more drag and lowered the aircraft performance.

In order to take-off from HMS Eagle’s short 660-feet long flight deck, the Spitfire needed take-off flaps. However, the Spitfire’s pneumatically-operated flaps have only one setting of 85 degrees (drag flap for landing). The solution was to wedge the flaps at a 25-degree setting with a wooden wedge. Once safely airborne, the flaps could be lowered to drop the wedges and then raised again.

The 15 Spitfires all reached Malta safely and flew their first combat sorties against a raid by Junkers Ju-88s, escorted by Bf 109 fighters, three days later on 10th March. The 19-strong defensive force of Spitfires and Hurricanes scrambled from Ta Qali and Hal Far was the largest the island had been able to muster for some weeks.

Flight Lieutenant Philip ‘Nip’ Heppell of 249 Squadron, claimed the Malta Spitfires’ first kill when he shot down a Bf 109, whilst other Spitfire pilots claimed a ‘probable’ and three enemy aircraft damaged during the day.

A further nine Spitfires flew off HMS Eagle on 21st March on Operation PICKET, all reaching Malta safely. The Spitfires arrived in the critical phase of the Axis bombing offensive against Malta, which reached its apex between 20th March and 28th April 1942.

HMS Eagle launched nine more Spitfires on 29th March, after which damage to her steering gear meant she had to be put into dry dock. Subsequent Spitfire deliveries to Malta were made from the flight deck of the USN carrier USS Wasp. In the months that followed, some 275 Spitfires were delivered to the beleaguered island.

Model Kit Highlights:

• Plastic parts: Eduard
• Marking options: 15
• Decals: Eduard
• PE parts: pre-painted
• Painting mask: yes
• Full colour assembly and instruction manual

Glue and paint are required but are not included.