Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7110 Spitfire XIV “RM683/AE-N” Sqn. Ldr. W G Dodd, No. 402 Sqn. RCAF, Hawkinge, 26 August 1944

1/48 scale pre-finished Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Cockpit slides open. Cockpit side door opens. Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Comes with display stand. Landing gear is fully retractable and can be displayed up or down. Removable wing gun covers. Propeller is metal. Extremely sought after by collectors.

Spitfire XIV specifications Basic information: Country of origin: Britain Classification: single-engine fighter Crew: 1 Production: first produced in 1943 Number produced: 957 of all XIV variants Dimensions: Wingspan: 36ft 10in (11.23m) Length: 32ft 8in (9.96m)

Performance: Powerplant: 1 X Rolls-Royce Griffon 65 12 cylinder liquid-cooled engine 2,035hp (1,517kW) Speed max: 447mph (720km/h) Range: 460 miles (740 km) on internal tanks Ceiling max: 42,978ft (13,100m)

Weight: Empty: 6,603lb (2,995kg) Maximum: 10,285lb (4,665kg)

Armament: 2 X 20mm (.078in) Hispano cannons 4 X Browning 7.7mm (0.303in) machine guns Up to a 1,000lb (454kg) payload with other options possible

Probably one of the best-known fighters of WWII the Spitfire had a big psychological effect at home and in Germany. With its great performance the British were given hope of surviving the Battle of Britain and the German pilots learned to respect its fighting capabilities. The name Spitfire came from a nickname the director of Vickers-Armstrongs had for his spirited daughter. There were 24 marks of the Spitfire and many sub-variants. The Mk. XIV was only an interim variant until the Mk. XVIII could be produced. The Spitfire was the only Allied aircraft in continuous production throughout WWII with 957 Mk. XIVs being produced. The Mk. XIV received several modifications such as a bubble canopy and a modified rear fuselage.

In July 1944 Squadron Leader Wilbert Dodd was appointed C/O of 402nd Squadron RCAF at Hawkinge. He was assigned Spitfire XIV RM683/AE-N that had flown its first 402nd operation on August 10th on a V-1 patrol. Dodd flew his first operation on August 26, 1944 over the Compiegne region. Dodd was only with the 402nd until October 1944 but RM683 was now piloted by Flg. Off. Sherk who destroyed an Fw-190 near Aachen on Christmas day. RM683 survived WWII and eventually was transferred to the Belgian Air Force