Merlin Mk 66 for Spit IX

[Squire]

Personally I think the XVI designation has caused as much if not more confusion...folks get it and the XIV mixed up and then all the stuff about it being a LF IXE doesn't help.  If we can have the BF 109G-6 and the Bf 109G-14 without mass confusion I guess we could have the Spit F. Mk IX and the Spit LF. Mk IX

[Karnak]

Personally I think the XVI designation has caused as much if not more confusion...folks get it and the XIV mixed up and then all the stuff about it being a LF IXE doesn't help.  If we can have the BF 109G-6 and the Bf 109G-14 without mass confusion I guess we could have the Spit F. Mk IX and the Spit LF. Mk IX

It has certainly led to some "interesting" threads about how that one Spitfire Mk XVI airframe with ~32 hours of combat time was actually the total combat time of all Spitfire Mk XVI airframes.

[bozon]

As to the variant choice for our V mark - way back the spits line was rearranged to give a better representation of spits at any given time frame of the war. Because many spit model served in parallel, our old super-spit V was a later model that our spit IX, and we were missing spits between the mark I  and mark IX.

It was then that the models VIII and XVI were added and covered the late Merlin models, spit V was derated to a 1941 model and our spit IX represent the 1942-1943 "stop gap" mark IXs before the introduction of the mark VIII. As said by Karnak above, our spit XVI represents the late IX models.

[FLOOB]

Karnak likes gap fillers.

[Guppy35]

Funny thing is Pyro asked us at the time what was the best way to go and the spit history guys suggested they do it this way to cover the various time frames and allow for the best variety for scenario use etc.

If you are desperate for a Merlin 66 take the VIII or the XVI.  Having recently finished a scenario where the altitude of the fights was higher, having the FIX made a big difference.

In the MA the 8 or 16 works better down low.

In the end HTC gave us our biggest bang for the buck with the Spit lineup without having to model every variant.

[bustr]

The OP seems to have fallen for bigger is better in the advertised ingredients. Maybe some day Hitech will tell Waffle to cut one loose. It's interesting he didn't jump to the head of the line and simply ask for 150 Oct fuel which would liven things up slightly across the spits 9-14.

For many players, getting a spit up to 350 and faster turns it into a ride they don't know what or how to do with. At MA alt, it still won't turn a spit into a runstang to have an IX with wing tips and a 66. Or other than a 14 with 150 Oct.

There might be something to having slightly longer ailerons and wing tips on the spit16. How much of a something would probably be only useful to a talented vet. But, then you can simply take 50% and a dropper to furball with an 8 while flying it like an 8 and not a merlin 61 9.

[715]

As to the variant choice for our V mark - way back the spits line was rearranged to give a better representation of spits at any given time frame of the war. Because many spit model served in parallel, our old super-spit V was a later model that our spit IX, and we were missing spits between the mark I  and mark IX.

It was then that the models VIII and XVI were added and covered the late Merlin models, spit V was derated to a 1941 model and our spit IX represent the 1942-1943 "stop gap" mark IXs before the introduction of the mark VIII. As said by Karnak above, our spit XVI represents the late IX models.

OK.  I guess it makes sense (although it does kinda match my "worst of each mark" thought).  Of course it means no one ever flys the Spit V in the MA because, well, it's useless.

[Karnak]

OK.  I guess it makes sense (although it does kinda match my "worst of each mark" thought).  Of course it means no one ever flys the Spit V in the MA because, well, it's useless.

Depending on your desires the Mk VIII is the best version as it has the Merlin 66 rather than a Merlin 61, 63 or 70.

Merlin 70 could be interesting in some ways though.

See my earlier response for how the Mk V could be worse.

[Squire]

I would still like a full wing span Spit XVI or a clipped Spit XIV option. Not possible in this version but perhaps in later game versions where its a hanger option on applicable types who knows...

[Zimme83]

Having Mk IX in HF (merlin 70) variant along with mk XIV for high altitude and Mk VIII and XVI for low level/attack could be an option. Guess it would be somewhat closest to how they were used in WW2.

[Guppy35]

Having Mk IX in HF (merlin 70) variant along with mk XIV for high altitude and Mk VIII and XVI for low level/attack could be an option. Guess it would be somewhat closest to how they were used in WW2.

There is a reason the Merlin 66/ 266 birds were the most numerous by far.  It would be a waste of resources to do an HF IX.   Understand I've been a Spit junkie long before flight sims.  The Spit XII has been a long time passion.  That being said in terms of AH we have a decent representative Spit line up.  As much as I'd love an XII or a Seafire III, I strongly believe there are other planes that should be added first