Hobby Master HA8321, Spitfire Mk. IX PL258, 331 (Norwegian) Sqn., 1944

Description

HA8321
, Spitfire Mk. IX PL258, 331 (Norwegian) Sqn., 1944
Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series
1/48 scale pre-finished.
Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic.
Professionally painted.
All markings pad applied for superb results.
Canopy slides open.
Comes with a pilot that can be removed.
Comes with display stand.
Landing gear is fully retractable and can be displayed up or down.
Propeller is metal.
Extremely sought after by collectors.
The Mk. IX replaced the Mk. V in June 1942 and on September 12, 1942 a Mk. IX brought down a
Ju-86R flying at 43,000 feet. Another major achievement of the Mk. IX took place on October 5,
1944 when 401 Squadron became the first allied aircraft to shoot down an Me-262 jet. Even with
the arrival of the Griffon powered Mk. XIV the Mk. IX continued in service until the end of WWII.
There were 5,665 Mk. IX Spitfires and its variants produced.
In 1944 Spitfire Mk. IX PL258 was built in Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory and flown by 331
(Norwegian) Squadron’s Fenrik (Ensign) Carl Jacob Stousland. On December 29, 1944 the
aircraft was on a reconnaissance flight over Germany when it collided with Spitfire PT909 piloted
by Sergeant Ole Tilset. Stousland managed to make a belly landing near Tubbergen,
Netherlands but the aircraft was a write-off. Dutch farmers hid Stousland and after 79 days
managed to reach Allied lines but the Tilset was captured.
Specifications for the Spitfire Mk. IX
Number built - 5,665 all Mk. IX variants
Crew – 1 X pilot
Dimensions
Length - 31 ft. 3.5 in.
Wingspan:
Standard (F) - 36 ft. 10 in.
Clipped (LF) - 32 ft. 2 in.
Height - 11 ft. 9 in.
Wing Area - (F) 242 sq. ft. or (LF) 231 sq. ft.
Weight
Empty - 5,610 lbs. (2,545 kg)
Maximum Takeoff - 7,500 lbs. (3,402 kg)
Performance
Engine
1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 61 @ 1,515 hp
or
1 X V-12 Rolls-Royce Merlin 63 @ 1,712 hp
Maximum Speed - 408 mph (657 kph) @ 25,000 ft.
Service Ceiling - 4,000 ft.
Range w/o drop tank - 434 miles (698 km)
Armament
2 X Hispano 20mm cannons
plus either
4 X .303 machine guns
or
2 X .50 machine guns
1,000 lbs of bombs (500 centerline, 250 each wing)