Supermarine P-57 Spitfire

[Alan P]

Following Nazi Germany’s lethally successful V-3 rocket strikes on mainland USA throughout the Spring of 1945, large scale production of American war material was considerably disrupted. The successful counter-offensive by German air and ground forces through the Ardennes the previous December had led to a stalemate in the West, just as Stalin’s starving armies had begun to withdraw from the Eastern front. The only alternative was to use the Allies’ massive air power advantage to smash German production and morale. However, production of the premier US fighter, the P-51D Mustang, had almost ceased entirely. This left almost no escort protection for the massive wings of B-17 and B-24 bombers striking at industrial targets deep inside Germany.

At the same time, production of the latest Mk.25 Spitfire was being stepped up in Canada in preparation for the final assault on a resurgent Germany scheduled for May 1945. In a reversal of policy, America pleaded for the loan of these exceptional fighters until the V-3 threat could be eliminated and war production renewed. Churchill reluctantly agreed to equip three US Army squadrons with the new Spitfire, which was designated P-57 in US service. The first squadron received its new Spitfires in April 1945.

 

Although inferior to German jets, its endurance and firepower meant that Spitfire pilots were regularly found loitering around jet airbases to pick them off easily as they landed low on fuel. By the time the B-29 bombers began to pound Germany in July 1945, the air war was well over. US production switched from the Mustang to licensed full-scale production of the new Spitfire and nearly 4,000 were produced by the war’s end in January 1946, serving British, US and Canadian air forces as the Allies’ prime air superiority fighter.

 

“LOU IV” was the CO’s aircraft of 375th Fighter Sqn. It accounted for 14 victories over German adversaries including 3 Me262 jets. It was shot down by enemy flak while attacking ground targets near Siegen, Germany in July 1945.

 

 

 

Airfix 1/48 Seafire FR.46 kit built from box with Tamiya P-51D Mustang decals. Kit/decals slightly modified to fit the legend. Finished in White Ensign enamels and Alclad Duraluminium, homemade sludge panel wash using water, washing-up liquid and Tamiya gloss black.

I thought the colour scheme matched the slim shape of the Spitfire really well. See what you think.

Cheers Al

[Troffa]

Lovely build, and the Spit really suits that yellow nose (sacrilege, I know!) I enjoyed the back story, and was waiting for the dropping of Little Boy and Fat man on suitable German cities to force the Nazi capitulation.

Thanks for sharing.

Troffa

[aeroplanedriver]

That, Sir, is a stunning model. Have you posted it on the whif site yet? They'll be breaking out the drool buckets if you do.

[CPNGROATS]

Nice what-if I, for one like this type of speculation...the paint job and background story are first rate....

Although not up to your exquisite Spitfire build I converted a 21st Century ME-262A in 1/32 and modified it to represent a IJA 262. ( As if the German's delivered one for evaluation during the war). I added J.Rutman resin nose and main wheels as well as a nose wheel brake line. The markings are from the spares box, and the "swastika like" tail marking was actually used by the Japanese during WWII. Perhaps another interesting speculation for extending the conflict into 1946....if the IJA had actually been able to have these in quantity...??

Cheers,

ggc

[Mike]

A very interesting back story & it's amazing how the different paint job transforms the Spit's shape. I also like that bright spanking orange/red 262!

[Alan P]

and was waiting for the dropping of Little Boy and Fat man on suitable German cities to force the Nazi capitulation.

Maybe in the next instalment! thanks for having a look mate.

That, Sir, is a stunning model. Have you posted it on the whif site yet? They'll be breaking out the drool buckets if you do.

Thank you very much, i wasn't aware of a whif site, would you mind posting the URL?

A very interesting back story & it's amazing how the different paint job transforms the Spit's shape. I also like that bright spanking orange/red 262!

Thanks Boss, and me too! it's amazing with these whif what works well and not so well? Does anyone ever use photoshop or whatever to test out colours on blank aeroplane profiles? Might give that a go next time. Mind you, the colour profiles put up on the site provide a fair bit of inspiration too!

Thanks for looking everyone, and your nice comments!

Al

[turnerdad]

[Tedfellows]

That looks smart as hell!! If only the RAF would have let our boys paint up our planes all pretty!!

Top build me old!!

[damian]

That is a sweeet Spitfire! Makes me almost sad I sold mine!

D

[aeroplanedriver]

Maybe in the next instalment! thanks for having a look mate.

Thank you very much, i wasn't aware of a whif site, would you mind posting the URL?

Thanks Boss, and me too! it's amazing with these whif what works well and not so well? Does anyone ever use photoshop or whatever to test out colours on blank aeroplane profiles? Might give that a go next time. Mind you, the colour profiles put up on the site provide a fair bit of inspiration too!

Thanks for looking everyone, and your nice comments!

Al

Dont mind at all Al.

WhatIf Modelers

[Radish]

Just beautiful and absolutely brilliant!!!

[Gekko_1]

Does anyone ever use photoshop or whatever to test out colours on blank aeroplane profiles?

All the time mate!

That is one outstanding Spit, very nice back story too!

You'd fit-in well over on the "What if?" site! Everybody's crazy over there.

Richard.

[Mark]

That's stunning Al! It really looks great but what I'm most impressed with is the imagination of anybody to start a project like that! I have trouble deciding what standard schemes to mine in, let alone a whif scheme!

[spitfire]

That looks really great, it really suits that paintwork in fact at first I though it was a Griffon engined P-51, now there's an idea.

Cheers

Den

[AnonymousDFB1]

Stunning Al. she passes my test for a what if. If it looks right i passes and she sure does look right

[sotoolslinger]

Yes come to the Darkside (we have cookies) I was turned on to this site over on http://www.whatifmodelers.com/ This is just gorgeous. I love the backstory.

[Alan P]

So many nice comments for my first whiff! : thank you so much guys and gals!

Might try a few more whifs.

I really like the look of Gekko's 111 sqn Flanker, but whether i'll be able to sacrifice my Trumpy uber-kit for it....

Thanks again everybody, much appreciated

Al

[Mentalguru]

GREAT! I hope your next one is going to be a NMF 86th Bomb group Lanc.

[martin_sam_2000]

That looks really great, it really suits that paintwork in fact at first I though it was a Griffon engined P-51, now there's an idea.

Cheers

Den

Its been done. This is a pic from the Capcon2007 show here in Ottawa

there was also this one:

Sean

[damian]

Those are two mean Mustangs!!!

D

[F-32]

Great build, its look almost real!

[Ian]

Why didn't anybody tell me 'bout this.... Luvvit, just great !

Ian

[GreenDragon]

Great looking WHIF Al, excellent build and paintwork and a good back story too!

Paul Harrison

[Eddie M.]

Now that's how it's done! Outstanding work and great back story. I love it!!

Eddie

[entlim]

Nice what-if I, for one like this type of speculation...the paint job and background story are first rate....

Although not up to your exquisite Spitfire build I converted a 21st Century ME-262A in 1/32 and modified it to represent a IJA 262. ( As if the German's delivered one for evaluation during the war). I added J.Rutman resin nose and main wheels as well as a nose wheel brake line. The markings are from the spares box, and the "swastika like" tail marking was actually used by the Japanese during WWII. Perhaps another interesting speculation for extending the conflict into 1946....if the IJA had actually been able to have these in quantity...??

Cheers,

ggc

Peculiar thing is- the japs did produce one , which, except for the engine pods was a dead ringer( apparently only 1 found by the allies)