MV268/JEJ, No. 127 Wg, Soltau, Germany, May 1945 "Johnnie Johnson" Scale1/40 HA7101

Spitfire MK.XIVe, MV268/JEJ, No. 127 Wg, Soltau, Germany, May 1945 "Johnnie Johnson"
General Background
Spitfire Mk XIV was the most important Griffon-engined Spitfire. It was powered by a 2,035hp Griffon 65 engine based on the Mk. VIII fuselage. Given its superior performance, the Mk.XIVs were used extensively to intercept the high speed V-1 flying bombs from Germany. In the European continent the aircraft was mainly used as armed reconnaissance searching for enemy targets.

The Pilot
James Edgar "Johnnie" Johnson was the top RAF Ace with 38 kills during WWII. Johnson also held the record of never being shot down during the war. The only time he got hit was by a BF-109, taking one cannon shell in the right wing root of his Spitfire Mk.IV. Johnson continued his service of flying after the war and by the time of retirement in 1965 he was an Air Vice Marshal of the RAF and AOC Air Forces Middle East.

Specifications :

Type:	fighter
Powerplant:	1xGriffon 65 or 66, 2,050 hp, Rolls Royce, 12 cylinder V, liquid cooled
Max Speed (Sea Level):	309 mph (499 kph)
Max speed:	448 mph (721 kmh) at 26,000ft (7,925 m)
Climbing Rate:	4,700 ft (1,432 m) / min
Time to 20,000 ft:	(6,100 m), 7 min.
Service ceiling:	44,500 ft (13,564 m)
Max range:	850 mi. (1,368 km)
Empty weight:	6,600 Ib (2,994 kg)
Gross weight:	8,500 Ib (3,856 kg)
Wing span:	36ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Wing area:	242 sq ft (22.48 m2)
Length:	32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
Height:	12 ft 8in (3.85 m)
Armament:	4x.303 in (7.7 mm) BSA
	or 2x12.7 mm (.50 in) Browning machine guns
	2x20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannon, wings