1/48 Spitfire MK.IXe in International Service

Tigerhead Decals - 1/48 Spitfire MK.IXe in International Service. Structurally unchanged from the C wing. The outer machine gun ports were eliminated, although the outer machine gun bays were retained and their access doors were devoid of empty shell case ports and shell deflectors. The inner gun bays allowed for two weapon fits, 2 × 20 mm Hispano Mk II cannon with 120 rpg in the outer bays. 2 × .50 cal Browning M2 machine guns, with 250 rpg in the inner bays. or 4 × 20 mm Hispano cannon with 120 rpg The .303 machine guns mounted in the outer wings were no longer fitted as most aircraft at that time had armour impenetrable by .303 bullets. During a turning combat the effectiveness of the outboard machine guns was low because if the aircraft was pulling 'g' the flexing of the wings meant that the rounds scattered in a large cone. The 20 mm Hispano cannon were moved outboard and a more effective .50 calibre Browning .50 cal M2/AN heavy machine gun with 250 rpg was added to the inner gun-bay. The first trial installation of the installation (modification 1029) was made in BS118 in November 1943, by mid-March 1944 the first Spitfires to be modified were from 485(NZ), 222 and 349 Squadrons. Spitfires with this armament were referred to as Spifire IX LF .5 and the E suffix was not officially introduced until early 1945. This armament was standard for all Spitfire Mk IXs and XVIs used by the 2nd Tactical Air Force as fighters and fighter-bombers from shortly after D-Day. The improved armament was more effective for both air-to-air engagements and air-to-ground attacks.[9] Many Spitfires had their rounded wingtips replaced by shorter, squared off fairings to improve low-altitude performance and enhance the roll rate. These are sometimes referred to as "LF" versions, e.g. LF.IX. This designation referred to the low-altitude version of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, and, while many "LF" Spitfires had the "clipped" wings, a number did not. It is possible to make 3 full profiles. - Turkish Air Force 1945 - Royal Norwegian Air force 1946 - Royal Egyptian Air Force 1948