During the dark days
of WW II, when Britain and her empire stood alone against the onslaught of Nazi
Germany, many aircraft manufacturers were at full capacity. Into this came other
suppliers, often not traditionally associated with military hardware production.
One such brave little company was the SuperMarine Carnival Ride Company of East
Thruppinton-Shire-Upon-The Sea, Yorks.
Best known as a
maker of carnival "Whirlabout" rides in the 1930s, SuperbMarine was
accidentally awarded a contract for 50 Spitfires in July of 1939. Not wanting to
let down their end, they set about making their best interpretation of that
beautiful aircraft. The result was aviation history
Having been supplied
with wings, engine and landing gear, SuperbMarine was able to make a fuselage of
their own characteristic design and still create a flyable aircraft.
It wasn't EASY to fly, but fly it did. Apparently, Lord Beaverbrook fainted when
he saw one actually lift off and do a slow roll over the airfield!
Click on
images below to see larger images
Squadron service was
brief however. In fact, it lasted one whole day. That day was September 7, 1940.
Having been delivered to a reserve airfield just south of London (actually a
recently appropriated golf course) the "SpatFires" were parked in nice
neat rows to attract the attention of marauding Luftwaffe aircraft (The plan
even went as far as painting "Drop bombs here" with directional arrows
on nearby fields). The aircraft could be considered a success, as even though it
never fired a shot, it helped down 4 He-111s that collided mid-air while trying
to obliterate the parked SpatFires. All 50 SpatFires were destroyed that day
however, and nary a trace remains!
This model was
inspired by a spat crazy modeller on the "What-If" site...It was built
using parts from an old Frog Spitfire, and gear from a Revell Germany Spitfire
Mk 5. The "fuselage" was carved from a block of blue insulation foam.
Paints were good ole reliable Tamiya.
Alvis
3.1
|