wouldn't fuel load play into this as well, say the 38 is near 25% and the spit is 50% or even 75%, which would get the best performance over the other? there is alot of variables that come into play in the MA, to say exactly or not that it was the plane, or the skill, etc......it was not a staged fight like in a duel.
I don't fly spits in the MA, so I only have experience from DA or TA in it, but alot of people try to fight with less fuel 50% or less, maybe some 75% for climb out,
I seen some awesome stuff from all types of planes, I always wondered how much fuel load had an effect on how well they could manuever, I am a F4U flyer and I have to take 1 DT then start fight with 100% then at 50% or 40% ( less than 40% have to use throttle control and idle off) is time to RTB or it ain't gonna make it , how many of you fly your planes between 100% to 50% fuel loaded, and not less...to me is a whole different aspect then fighting less loads, unless you are actually on a perch.