The first, the last and the many: the Mk, IXb

All the frames for the Mk. IXb are of an excellent quality. No flash, ejection points at places where they do no harm and all the frames have a clear letter to identify them, like this part is frame M 

The clear parts come with two different canopies. One bulged and one less bulged. Because the production process gives a slight seam in the canopy of the bulged one, there is an alternative without seam and less bulged. 

They also arranged parts to go together in frame. This frame, K, has the parts for the engines.  

There are some parts which are not used so will there be another version? 

The two engines: the front of the Mk. IX and the rear of the Mk. V Quite a diffenrence! 

The engine parts for the Mk. V 

And for the Mk. IX 

All the parts for the cockpit. 

The handle for the emergency undercarriage control on the left and the pump for the windscreen de-icer on the right 

The instrument panel. The decals are marvellous, even better than many aftermarket sets. 

The seat with aftermarket seat belts 

Starboard side of the cockpit 

Even three spare bulbs for the reflector sight are present 

The sparelights, the wobble pump and the external connector 

A screenshot of a Spitfire Mk. IX in Microsoft Flight Simulator, What is more fun than flying your own Spit. And yes, she is a handful: because of the powerful engine and the narrow undercarriage, she has a tendency to swerve to the right on the ground and once airborne, roll to the right. My first take-offs ended in a crash but I'm beginning to learn. 

The engine and propcontrol. an excellent example of how to paint the model 

The undercarriage emergency system and the windscreen de-icing system in MSFS. 

The two fuselages together 

The two wings compared. Top the Mk.V and bottom the Mk.IX 

Wing and fuselage joined together. Lots of detail! 

The upper wing half in place. Gunbays clearly visible 

The two Spits together 

The engine bearers with the coolant tubes. It takes a lot of patience but with a little pushing and turning, they suddenly drop in place, No need to cut them up into pieces, the fit is perfect! 

The engine firewall with engine bearers in place. All the pipework is visible 

The bearers awaiting the engine 

The engine in place 

The engine in its place 

The other side of the engine. Still a little touching up to do. 

The top colour applied 

Almost ready, the spinner is too red, should be more orange red 

top view, awating the decals 

And finished! Only need some magnets too make the panels fit a bit better. But without panels the model is also very nice 

And the other side. With a light red spinner. A nice story behind this aircraft. It is in fact the MJ271, but for museum purposes they use this serial. It was almost a wreck, but it was sold to Duxford. They stored it for many years, which didn't much good. But eventually it was restored as the Silver Spitfire. This Spit flew in 2019 around the world a also landed at Lelystad airport, where she had rested in a museum for many years!