Building of the Spitfire Mk. IXB
During and after the second World War many Spitfires were used by the Dutch. It happened to in many different model, such as the Spitfire Mk. IXb.
The 322 Dutch Squadron RAF used four different types, such as the Spitfire Mk. IX, also used by the post war Dutch Air Force.
The Spitfire Mk.IXb was not equipped with the more modern universal wing, but with the older type of wing, the b wing, also used on the Spitfire Mk. Vb.
For those interested, I recommend the websites www.Spitfiresite.com and http://luchtoorlog.be/spit_vl.htm, where much information about the Spitfires and the types of wings can be found.
Below a separate overview of the Dutch Spitfires Mk. IXb
| Serial | Squadron code | Date entering service | Date out of service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MJ232 | VL-C | 09-08-1944 | 18-10-1943 to 33 Maint. Unit 21-06-1947? SOC |
|
| MK147 | 28-09-1944 | 16-11-1944 | 14-01-1944 to 39 maint. Unit To Detling; 01-10-1947 to Turkey |
|
| MK189 | VL-H / 3W-H | 13-09-1944 | 13-09-1944 | 28-01-1944 to 9 Maint. Unit |
| MK320 | VL-F / 3W-F | 20-08-1944 | 20-08-1944 | 28-01-1944 to 9 Maint. Unit Cat. Ac. F/O Vlug; FLAK damage; 81 RSU 22-09-1944 to 326 squadron |
| MK684 | VL-V | 09-08-1944 | 30-08-1944 | 26-03-1944 Naar 8 Maint. Unit Missed in action near St. Omer; F/O Muller returned. |
| MK905 | 3W-P | 09-08-1944 | 01-09-1944 | 20-03-1944 to 39 Maint Unit FLAK near St. Omer and crash; Maj. Kuhlmann or F/Lt van Eendenburg? |
| ML347 | VL-Y / 3W-Y | 28-09-1944 | 30-09-1944 | 21-04-1944 to 9 Maint. Unit F/O Manders, Cat. B; 05-04-1945 to MedAAF |
| Serial | Second serial | RAF-serial | Date entering service | Date out oif service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H-102 | H-51 | MH485 | 13-07-1947 | 30-04-1952 | Sold to the Netherlands on 01-10-1946. 13-05-1947 to Tilbury and shipped to the Dutch East Indies. By the end of 1948 new serial H-51. Used till the end of 1949. Sold to Belgium on 31-04-1952 as SM30 |
| H-105 | H-68 | MH434 | 13-07-1947 | 30-04-1952 | Used in the Dutch East indies, later sold to Belgium. as SM41. Restored to flying condition in England. See site of OFMC and the links below. |
| H-112 | H-63 | MH725 | 13-07-1947 | 30-04-1952 | On 15-05-1947 to Tilbury and shipped to the Dutch East Indies. On 23-01-1948 belly landing after a test flight and stored at Andir. In December 1948 re-serialled as H-63 in a new colour scheme consisting of Jungle Green and grey under surfaces. In 1950 returned to the Netherlands. |
| H-113 | H-57 | NH309 | 13-07-1947 | 30-04-1952 | Sold to the Netherlands in 1946 and via Tilbury transported to the Dutch East Indies. First flight at Kalidjati on 28-01-1948. Went to 322 squadron at Semarang on 26-11-1948. New colour scheme and serial just before start of the so called second police action. In September to Andir and stored in crates. In 1950 sent to the Netherlands. In 1952 sold to Belgium as SM-34 |
| H-117 | H-67 | MJ714 | 13-07-1947 | 30-04-1952 | Op 26-07-1946 sold to the Netherlands and via Tilbury shipped to the Dutch East Indies. First flight on 04-03-1948. On 16-03-1948 transported to Kalidjati and stored for a large period. Not used and returned to the Netherlands in 1950. Sold to Belgium on 31-04-1952 as SM35 |
| H-118 | H-54 | EN560 | 13-07-1947 | 12-03-1953 | Sold to the Netherlands in 1946. On 16-5-1947 to Tilbury.and on 13-06-1947 shipped to the Dutch East Indies. In 1950 returned to the Netherlands, refurbished at Fokker, but scrapped for spare parts. |
| H-120 | H-56 | MH439 | 13-07-1947 | 30-04-1952 | Used in the Dutch East Indies. Went to Belgium as SM33 |
Because of this information I started to built a model of the Spitfire MK.IXb.
I used an Airfix Mk.VC , which still contained the original B wing. Further I still had an old Airfix Mk.IX (originally from the 50s) and a Spitfire IXE model of KP.
The Airfix happened to be of rather poor quality, I thought the KP kit much better.
The KP kit has a rather good interior. The Airfix Spitfire IX lacks this. As I had not the intention to built a perfect model, I didn't use several modelling add-on but simply used the KP fuselage.
As I wanted to built a Spitfire IXb used by the 322 Dutch squadron RAF, I replaced the later used pointy rudder with the more rounded rudder of the Airfix Spitfire. See the photos below.
The main problem seemed to be fitting the Airfix wing to the KP fuselage.
This happened to fit rather well, I just had to cut off some plastic at rear and the front of the wing.
Also I had to remove some plastic of the fuselage to fit the wing.
The wings of the Spitfire Vb kit.
The nasty point of the KP kit is the lack of pins to fit both fuselage halves.
It was necessary to fit both halves perfectly well together to prevend problems putting the fuselage and the wing together.
The model I painted in a standard World War II RAF scheme and applied decals from van Dutch Decal set 72056. The serial I made my self with rub letters.
Nowadays you can use your computer and printer to print this kind of things on decal paper.
The finished model of the Spitfire IXb.
The kit used is the one from KP, combined with the wing and rudder of the Spitfire VB kit from the old Airfix Mk.IX kit. The decals come from Dutch Decal set 72056, the RAF-serial is home made.
Nederlands (nl-NL) 
English (United Kingdom)