Eastern Express Spitfire floatplane

I'm not sure if it's currently available but I remember Airfix having a Mk.I out at one time. IIRC the Spitfire Floatplane project made use of both a Mk.I and a V.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

V, Vb and IX.

Tom

A Mark I was converted, but then deconverted because of the Batttle of Britain. Three Mark V were converted (don't know which variant, but they were all the same) and were fitted with two different types of tropical filters, and four-blade props. They were almost used on operations in the Mediterranean. The Mark IX was also fitted with a late-design tropical filter.

The Eastern Express kit is actually a good buy, IMO. Yes, the old Frog Mark II is trash, but the decals are nice and the float conversion quite spiffy. It will work fine with an Airfix Mark V. So, looking at it as an aftermarket conversion kit, it's reasonable. The floats might also be good for a Mark IX conversion.

Mark Schynert

There was both a Mk I and a Mk V floatplane, but I don't belive the floats vera identical, nor the changes to the tail.

The change from the II to the V was the engine. Externally there is little visible to discern change. hth

The Keeper (of too much crap)

Spitfire Mk I serial R6722 was proposed as a floatlane. It was to be fitted with floats from a Blackburn Roc. The whole project was handed over to Folland Aircraft.

It was cancelled, but arrived at No 12 MU for waterborne trials on 3 June 1940 and was found to be totally unstable.

R6722 was painted in normal day fighter camo incl undersurfaces scheme of B&W. The a/c was never flight tested and after the floats had been removed it was sent back to No 39 MU on 10 May 1941 for conversion to F Mk VA status.

A Mk III was also proposed before the successful conversion of the three Mk VB's and a Mk IX.

All the above from 'Spitfire the History' by Morgan & Shacklady page 380.

Ken Duffey