Supermarine Spitfire MK.Ia

1/48 Scale Diecast Model

S/N X4009, Sqn Code AZ-Q, Pilot FLTLT P C Hughes of No.234 Sqn (Madras Presidency), RAF, 1940

Brand: Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series
SKU: HA7818

Hobby Master HA7818 1/48 Air Power Series

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7818 is a 1/48 scale diecast model of the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ia S/N X4009, Sqn Code AZ-Q, flown by Flt Lt P C Hughes of No.234 Sqn (Madras Presidency), RAF, 1940

Paterson C Hughes

Paterson Clarence Hughes, DFC (1917 – 1940) was an Australian fighter ace who served in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. Credited with seventeen aerial victories during the Battle of Britain, Hughes died in action on the evening of September 7 1940. He was the highest-scoring Australian during the battle and the third highest-scoring Australian of the entire war.

Spitfire Mk.1

The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat, single-engine short-range interceptor aircraft. It first flew on March 5, 1936 and entered service in August 1938 with No. 19 Squadron of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Spitfire was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft and was the only Allied fighter to serve throughout World War II. The initial production variant, the Spitfire Mk I, underwent several modifications after entering service. A de Havilland three-bladed metal propeller replaced the original two-bladed wooden fixed-pitch propeller, significantly improving performance and the service ceiling. Additionally, a blown canopy with a bulletproof windscreen enhanced the pilot’s view and protection.

Aircraft fitted with cannon armament from 1940 received the designation Mk.1b, while the machine gun-armed received the designation Mk.1a. Production of the Mk I concluded in 1941, with a total of 1,567 airframes built.

The Spitfire Mk I uses a single Rolls-Royce Merlin II or III, V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine. The standard armament consists of eight machine guns (four in each wing), but the Mk.Ib had only two cannons, which were later modified to include two cannons and four machine guns.