CF-GMZ ‘Edmonton Canada, The Crossroads of the World’, Canada, 1949

Our model making superstar Paramjit has been at it again, this time turning his attentions to the two beautiful scheme options included in the soon to be released 1/48th scale Civilian Spitfire Mk.XIV kit – don’t they look absolutely stunning!

Even though we only included our scheme review of the latest 1/48th scale Civilian Spitfire Mk.XIV kit release at the beginning of last month, we don’t think many readers will mind us making an earlier than expected return to the subject in this latest edition of our blog, particularly when we tell you that we have images of two beautiful built models to show you. The latest products of the Paramjit Sembhi model production line, these spectacular models clearly illustrate why so many modellers are desperate to get their hands on this new kit, even though they will be facing a particularly difficult choice when selecting which of the two beautiful scheme options to finish their model in.

Endowing the cultured Spitfire with a welcome power boost, the Rolls Royce Griffin engine allowed the Spitfire to remain at the forefront of world fighter development, increasing the performance of the aircraft by more than 80mph over the fighters which had contested the Battle of Britain. Whilst the cultured purr of the Merlin had been replaced by the frightening growl of the Griffon, the Spitfire still managed to retain its aesthetic appeal, even though these were very different beasts.

As an Airshow favourite, the Spitfire is unquestionably without equal and since the end of the Second World War, large numbers of former military Spitfires have undergone restoration to airworthy condition, allowing millions of people to experience something of what it must have been like to see these fighters in operation during the 1940s. Whilst most are finished wearing representations of the camouflage markings so familiar with wartime Spitfires, just a handful of owners have been a little more adventurous with their presentation, none more so than the magnificent aircraft owned and operated during the 70s and 80s by British warbird enthusiast Spencer Flack. For many people who were lucky enough to see this aircraft in the flesh, they would probably describe G-FIRE as the most beautiful Spitfire they had ever seen and one which certainly stood out from the historic aviation crowd.

Number of Parts

118

Scheme A – Supermarine Spitfire FR Mk.XIV G-FIRE, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, England, 1988