Hobby Master Archive

1/48 scale pre-finished. This Spitfire variant comes with a new unarmed D Wing. New wrap round canopy. A modified fuselage showing camera bays. Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Canopy slides open. Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Comes with display stand. Landing gear is fully retractable and can be displayed up or down. Propeller is metal. Extremely sought after by collectors.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7604 Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX PM631

The Spitfire PR XIX was the last Spitfire with elliptical wings and was the last RAF Spitfire type in front-line service. The PR XIX was a combination of power by the Griffon engine of the Mk. XIV and the wings of the PR XI making it the fastest Spitfire. Weapons were removed to allow for larger fuel tanks in the leading edge of the wings making it possible to fly missions as far as Berlin at altitudes over 40,000 feet. By the end of production 225 XIX had been made.

PM631 was a Spitfire PRXIX built in November 1945. This series of Spitfire was designed with a Griffon 66 engine and a pressurized cockpit. Both were necessary for the aircraft to operate at speeds of 370 mph at 40,000 feet. The purpose of these PRXIX machine was to provide high-altitude reconnaissance photographs over the ETO during WW II. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately PM631 was too late to participate in the war so in 1946 it was delivered to the RAF who in May 1949 gave it to the 203 Advanced Flying School. The aircraft was modified for meteorological work and leased to a civilian company and flew out of Hooton Park and Woodvale. Perhaps the highlight of PM361s life came in 1957 when it flew in formation with two other Spitfires to Biggin Hill. Here it became part of the Historic Aircraft Flight that grew into the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). The aircraft is still airworthy and in 2010 has served for 53 years. The aircraft is painted in the same scheme as a PRXIX of 541 Squadron that had taken part in WW II.

Specifications for the Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX Number Produced - 225 Performance Engine - (1) Rolls-Royce liquid-cooled Griffon 66 / 12-cylinder developing 2,035 HP @ 2,134 m (7,000 ft.) The difference between the Griffon 65 and the 66 was the 66 had a blower to provide cockpit pressurization. Fuel Capacity Internal - 954 L (252 gal) External - Optional slipper tank/drop tank 85 L or 643 L (90 gal or 170 gal) these were seldom used on this Spitfire model because the added drag eliminated any benefits. Maximum Speed - 735 km/h (457 mph) Cruise Speed - 580 km/h (360 mph) Maximum Altitude - Approximately 14,000 m (approximately 45,000 ft) Normal altitude for vertical photography - 9000 m (29,530 ft) Range - 880 km (547 miles) Maximum Range - 1,125 km (699 miles) with a slipper tank/drop tank Dimensions Length - 9.96 m (32.68 ft) Wingspan - 11.23 m (36.84 ft) Weapons - None, only equipped with (2) vertical cameras with a focal length of 920 mm and (1) oblique camera with a focal length of 350 mm.