T60321 Tamiya 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe

History

The legendary Supermarine Spitfire is often credited with saving England during WWII. Among its many variants was the Mk.XVI, which was a Mk.IX airframe that was powered by a Merlin 266 engine license-built by Packard Motor Car Company in the United States. Most Mk.XVIs featured the larger rudder and E Type wing with two 20mm cannons and two 12.7mm machine guns. With the introduction of the teardrop canopy, the rear upper fuel tank capacity was reduced to 33 gal. and that of the forward lower fuel tank was increased to 48 gal. to compensate. 1,054 Mk.XVIs were produced from September 1944 until July 1945. During the war, they were deployed on the European front and served as fighter-bombers. In the post-war period, the Mk.XVI was used by the RAF as well as the Belgian and Greek air forces until the early-1950s. 

The Supermarine Spitfire was designed by R.J. Mitchell and its distinctive silhouette makes it one of the most widely-recognized fighters of WWII. Famous for its exploits during the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire continued to evolve to counter newer Axis aircraft. As a result of this evolution, numerous variants of the Spitfire were born and served with distinction in the RAF as well as the air forces of many other countries until well after the end of WWII. 

The Spitfre Mk.XVI was almost identical to the Mk.IX in nearly all aspects except that most were powered by a Packard-built Merlin 266 engine which had taller dimensions than the Rolls Royce 66 engine and featured a bubble canopy with a "low back" fuselage. Other new structural changes saw the Mk.XVI equipped with a larger 96 gallon main fuel tank, as well as two additional fuel tanks installed at the rear of the fuselage and a larger oil sump to allow it to flylonger distances. Mk.XVIes were mainly used in ground-attack roles and came with the "E" armament configuration of two 20mm cannons and two 12.7mm Browning machine guns. Also, as concrete tarmacs became more common as the war progressed, changes to the camber angle of the Spitfire's landing gears were made to make for more efficient landings and take-offs. With the changes made to the new gun and cannon positioning, ammunition ejection ports, and the landing gear design, the wings featured new bulges compared to the Mk.IX. The Mk.XVIe, served with distinction throughout Europe for the latter half of the war.

Product Features

High Quality Model Kit with Excellent Detail
Photo-Etched Parts
Detailed Engine, Cockpit and Landing gear
Canopy held in place with small magnets and can be opened after assembly to display engine details
Moveable ailerons, rudder and elevators
Flaps can be displayed in up or down position
Includes 30 gallon drop tanks and 250lb bombs
Engine cowl can be removed after model assembly to display engine details
Supplied with High quality Decal sheet and Masking Sheet
Includes display Stand and two pilot figures (standing and Seated)
A full colour 16 page reference manual and painting guide is included
Age Suitability: 14+

Safety Notice: Warning! This product is not suitable for children under 36 months because of small parts which can present a choking hazard

Specs

Wingspan: 311mm
Fuselage Length: 302mm
Tires: Vinyl
Scale: 1/32

Contents

1 x Tamiya 1/32 Supermarine Spitfire Mk XVIe Plastic Assembly Kit

Model: T60321
Shipping Weight: 2.0kgs
Manufactured by: Tamiya