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 HA7605 Supermarine Spitfire PR XIX PS 915 “The Last”

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.

PS 915 joined 541 Squadron at Benson in June 1945, about one month after Germany surrendered ending WWII in Europe. From here PS 915 moved to the PR (Photo Reconnaissance) Development Unit to do testing of new cameras. Its next assignment was with 2 Squadron at Wunsdorf, Germany. From here the aircraft flew strategic recon sorties monitoring the Iron Curtain divide between East and West Europe. This aircraft had the honor of conducting the last operational sortie by an RAF Spitfire. On April 1, 1954 PS 915 flew a photographic mission over Johore, Malaysia in search of suspected Communist guerrilla encampments. To mark this milestone the ground crew painted “The Last” on the left side of the engine cowling.

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.