Models & Kits
New Arrivals
Description
Brand: Corgi
Color: Multicolor
Features:
- Corgi - Aviation Military Aircraft 1:72 Scale
- A detailed die-cast scale model for the adult collector
- 1 x Aircraft, 1x Stand
- Desperate to ensure the Spitfire maintained its ongoing combat effectiveness, designers at the Vickers Supermarine Company were almost constantly engaged in modifying, upgrading and improving their famous fighter throughout the Second World War, however, during that time, there were occasions when unexpected Luftwaffe advancements called upon their flexibility and ingenuity.
Binding: Toy
model number: AA29102
Part Number: AA29102
Details: Description
Product Description
Desperate to ensure the Spitfire maintained its ongoing combat effectiveness, designers at the Vickers Supermarine Company were almost constantly engaged in modifying, upgrading and improving their famous fighter throughout the Second World War, however, during that time, there were occasions when unexpected Luftwaffe advancements called upon their flexibility and ingenuity. With a significant new variant of the Spitfire at the advanced stages of development, the introduction of a capable new German fighter aircraft in the skies over occupied Europe caused great concern amongst RAF officials, who were now losing Spitfires at an alarming rate and needed an immediate response. With the proposed squadron introduction of the new Spitfire Mk.VIII variant still some months away, Supermarine designers had the idea of mating the intended new powerplant for this aircraft, the Rolls Royce Merlin 60 series engine, with existing Spitfire Mk.V airframes already on the production line, a temporary solution which might just buy them the time they needed. The idea was given official approval and the RAF's Emergency Interim Fighter Programme got underway, with the new variant given the designation Spitfire IX, a stop-gap solution which would actually prove to be something of a fighting thoroughbred. In actual fact, this undertaking was not without several rather significant challenges for the team at Supermarine to overcome and but for the severity of the situation in the skies over Europe, may have actually been regarded as too problematic. Attaching the powerful new variant of the Merlin engine to existing Spitfire airframes was fraught with challenges, as the new unit was larger, wider and featured a redesigned rear section, all of which made this far from a simple exchange of engines. Supermarine technicians had to remove all existing systems and connections, design a new engine mount, then replace all fittings with newly upgraded components, all of which were essentially hand built. In fact, it could be argued that many of the first Spitfire Mk.IX fighters were hand built, with each one having an incredible number of man hours devoted to their production. Once test aircraft were passed to the Air Fighting Development Unit and later the Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment for extensive evaluation, it was found that this interim, stop-gap Spitfire was a marked improvement on existing Spitfires in performance terms. What had started as something of a desperate attempt to address a critical situation facing the Royal Air Force would actually result in the service introduction of an exceptional fighting aeroplane and a continuation of the incredible Spitfire story. The Spitfire Mk.IX would go on to be considered so successful that it would become the second most heavily produced variant in the entire production run of the fighter, second only to the Mk.V and if including aircraft powered by the American produced Packard Merlin in this number, actually eclipsed the Mk.V in terms of production number. It would also be the last major Merlin powered variant of the Spitfire, before the introduction of the mighty Griffon. Just one of many Commonwealth airmen who served and fought with great distinction within the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, New Zealander Colin Falkland Gray initially had some difficulty in joining the force, failing twice to do so on medical grounds. Having spent some time improving his fitness levels, he was eventually accepted for a short service commission in the late summer of 1938, but rather than stay and train with the Royal New Zealand Air Force, elected to travel to Britain for his flying training, where he would gain his wings and later graduate as a probationary Pilot Officer in October 1939 without too many difficulties. This proved to be a rather tumultuous period for the Royal Air Force and Europe as a whole, as Britain and her allies were now at war. By th
EAN: 5063129006570
Package Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.9 x 3.1 inches
Languages: English