Spitfire MK Vb/TROP

Frank Riera
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vb/Trop
RAF 417 Squadron 1942

Specifications (Spitfire Mk VB)

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Length: 29 ft 11 in (9.12 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
Height: 11 ft 5 in (3.86 m)
Wing area: 242.1 ft2 (22.48 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 2209.4(tip)
Empty weight: 5,065 lb (2,297 kg)
Loaded weight: 6,622 lb (3,000 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,700 lb (3,039 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 45[nb 14] supercharged V12 engine, 1,470
hp (1,096 kW) at 9,250 ft (2,820 m)

Performance

Maximum speed: 370 mph, (322 kn, 595 km/h)
Combat radius: 410 nmi (470 mi, 760 km)
Ferry range: 991 nmi (1,135 mi, 1,827 km)
Service ceiling: 36,500 ft (11,125 m)
Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13.2 m/s)
Wing loading: 27.35 lb/ft2 (133.5 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.22 hp/lb (0.36 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns: 2 x 20mm Hispano Mk II cannon; 60 rounds per gun: 4 x .303 in
Browning Mk II* machine guns; 350 rpg.

Gordon Sørensen
What did you think of the Hobby Boss kit? I have never built a HB kit, and always wondered if the Easy Build series was like the old Snap-Fit kits of my youth....

Frank Riera
Hi Gordon,
Kit was not bad and went together well but you will have to get a new canopy as the one provided is way oversized for the kit and there is really no way to fix it. There are also no oleos provided for the landing gear so you will either have to build it without it or come up with your own. Fuselage and wings have nice fit, no cockpit detail other than seat and stick molded already. Hope this helps.