Dan /Guppy white spit IX

[rogerdee]

I found this profile  for a 93 squadron  spitfire ix,wondered if it was  correct  or  not  i  cant  seem to find any more info on it,also has any one done a white spitfire or working on one?

[/IMG]
thanks in advance for  any help  given


rogerdee:aok

[Greebo]

I'd guess this is a V-1 chaser with the paint stripped off to gain a few MPH.

[rogerdee]

the profile says it was in the med  in 43 44  dont knowif this is correct tho

rogerdee

[Guppy35]

I don't have a photo of that particular bird, but there are numerous examples of natural metal or silver painted Spits, including Spit IX's flying in the MTO at that time.

I have no reason to believe it isn't accurate.

As for the white Spit.  Are you talking about PV115, the Spit IX used in Italy for recce duties?  Some sources say the paint was slate gray overall.  I've seen profiles done in both.

Dan

[blue308]

the picture you posted Rogerdee has a discription in polish,  and says as follows:

the Spitfire IX was flown in Italy '44. The mediterrainian front was characterised by a more loose approach to all strict military rules than in western europe. It was, among other, the first front to see non-camouflaged, natural aluminium spitfires. A curious thing about this particular aircraft is the lack of anti-reflection paint on the armoured fuel tank lid.

hope this helps

[rogerdee]

Thank you  for the translationi was having trouble tying to decide if it was metal of not

rogerdee

[Guppy35]

Another example of an MTO Spit IX in Italy, November 1944.  Clipped wing Spit LFIXcs lugging bombs on the centerline.  Note the background Spit IX in either all silver or completely stripped of paint except for the red spinner that was a MTO theater recognition color on all Allied fighters.

There is no anti-glare panal at all on that bird.

Dan

[SlapShot]

I don't know about that Dan ... If you look real close, it does appear (to me) that there is an anti-glare panel on that bird ... very similar to the picture in the first post.

[Guppy35]

Originally posted by SlapShot
I don't know about that Dan ... If you look real close, it does appear (to me) that there is an anti-glare panel on that bird ... very similar to the picture in the first post.

I looked close and it doesn't appear to have one.  But for example.  Here are a few more.

Two Spit IXs modified for recce work to FRIX in all silver with black anti-glare.


A Spit IX,  that a high ranking American officer 'traded' his P51 for.  


And an all Silver Spitfire XVI.


 It appears that if the plane was painted overall silver, they didn't add the anti-glare and if it was natural metal, they did, except in the case of the US flown Spit IX.  The caption for the original photo of the 601 Spit says it was painted silver overall.

Lots of all silver postwar Spits in all silver with no anti-glare too..  Gotta love those Spits don't ya?

Dan

[Guppy35]

I scanned it again, and I'm still not seeing it.  I do see discoloration on the area right in front of the cockpit, but I don't think it's paint, but from where they've been refuiling it etc.  

You can see the exhaust stain too, but no demarcation line for an anti-glare panal.

But then again lots of folks are disagreeing with me today.  Might need to finally get glasses

Dan

[SlapShot]

I can see it !!!

[Guppy35]

That doesn't look like it to me.  You can definately see how the exhaust trail curves slightly up and back down from the middle of the exhaust stacks.  But that looks to me the same above and below on the two seperate cowl pieces.

The RAF used black not OD for anti glare as well and it sure doesn't look black.

Some of it looks to be how the sun hits it on different angles on the cowl right behind the prop.

Ahh well, guess we'll have to agree to disagree

Dan

[Engine]

Looks like an anti-glare to me. Pffft, apparently Guppy doesn't know anything about RAF spits!

[SlapShot]

LOL ... I'm tryin'

[Guppy35]

Yeah but that's just the shadow caused by the shape of the cowl

Dan