The Supermarine Spitfire Part 2 (Griffon-powered, including the Seafire) - A Complete Guide To The Famous Fighter, by Richard A. Franks (Airframe & Miniature 13, Valiant Wings 2019)
Valiant Wings Publishing’s 13th title in the well-established Airframe & Miniature series is “The Supermarine Spitfire Part 2 (Griffon-powered, including the Seafire) - A Complete Guide To The Famous Fighter” by Richard A. Franks.
The Spitfire is one of the most popular aircraft modelling subjects around. This latest book goes some way towards unpicking the bewildering choices of variants and schemes that apply to the Griffon-powered versions.
As early as 1939 investigations were undertaken for using the new Rolls Royce 37 or Griffon engine (1720HP), replacing the Merlin (then only 1030HP). Richard A. Franks guides us all the way to the fascinating trip of this remarkable transformation!
The 13th book in the much-acclaimed “Airframe & Miniature” series contains 272 pages, packed with vital information that no active modeller and Spitfire enthusiast should be without.
It contains:
- 40+ pages of technical information
- 30+ pages of walk-around images and technical diagrams
- 33+ pages of camouflage and markings
- 40+ pages of model builds and modelling information
- 300+ photographs including wartime images
- Colour side views and four-views by Richard J. Caruana
- 85+ 3D isometric views of all variants by Juraj Jankovic
- Specially commissioned extensive full kit builds by Libor Jekl & Steve A. Evans
- Specially commissioned front cover artwork by Jerry Boucher
- A bonus set of 1/48 scale plans (8 page foldout) by Richard J. Caruana
The book is sewn bound on glossy paper, with hundreds of photographs, diagrams and profiles, the modern pictures being in colour, while the contemporary content is black and white. It is written by Richard A Franks, with profiles by Richard J. Caruana, and models by a group of fine modellers.
Volume 2 deals with the later Griffon engine variants, from the Mk XII up to the Seafire, FR Mk 47 & Spiteful/Seafang, with everything in between. The pages are broken down into the Airframe section that deals with the real aircraft, and the Miniature section that covers the scale models and has a number of builds, plus a host of photographic detail that will be of great help to the modeller.
The breakdown of Contents is as follows:
Airframe Chapters
1. Evolution - Mk.XII to Mk 24
2. Evolution – Seafire Mk XV to FR Mk 47
3. Spiteful & Seafang
4. Camouflage & Markings and Colour Profiles
Miniature Chapters
5. Spitfire & Seafire (Griffon-powered) Kits
6. Building a Selection
7. Building a Collection
8. In Detail: The Supermarine Spitfire & Seafire
Engine, Propeller, Cowls
Oil, Fuel, Coolant, Oxygen, Hydraulic
Cockpit & Canopy
Radio
Mid & Aft Fuselage
Tail
Wings
Undercarriage
Armament, Ordnance & Drop Tanks
Camera
Access Panels
Miscellaneous
Appendices
I. Kit List
II. Accessories and Mask List
III. Decal List
IV. Bibliography
1:48 Scale plans fold-out (equivalent to 8 pages)
The scale plans are nicely thought out, and fold out sideways with the left-hand edge captive to the inside cover, and with detailed drawings that pick out the differences & details between variants and sub-variants.
The Preface is a useful summary of the history of the Griffon-powered variants in RAF/RN and foreign service, including many interesting black & white action photographs, with many more in the following first three chapters: 1, 2 & 3 (evolution through all the marks).
Chapter 4 (camouflage & markings) is this time built around the many excellent color profiles by R. Caruana, so text is less and profiles are more – linked to a detailed narrative. By browsing these pages is impossible not to think about starting a model right now – but more about this in the following chapters…
Chapter 5 (24 pages) has a look through all the Spitfire kits that you can find in most popular scales and gives the author’s assessment of them, with photos of the box art and contents.
In Chapter 6 (18 pages) we find four builds by Libor Jekl & Steve A. Evans, all first rate, with two in 1:72 (Fujimi Mk XIV & Special Hobby Mk 22), and two in 1:48 scale (Airfix Mk XIV & Special Hobby Mk XV).
Chapter 7 (Building a collection) is perhaps the most valuable and useful of all: The artwork of Juraj Jankovic (more than 85 three-D isometric views) shows us the differences between each variant.
Chapter 8 (In detail) includes a wealth of walkaround photos and diagrams from 6 preserved Spitfires that will help you understand the physical nature of the Griffon-powered machines in every possible detail. We particularly liked the pages showing all the tails of all the variants together, trying to clarify things and confusion about this matter!
ISBN: 978-1-912932-00-9. Retail price is £21.95 per copy + postage and packing. Orders via the Valiant Wings website, www.valiant-wings.co.uk, by ‘phone on 01234 273434 (+44 1234 273434 if calling from outside the UK) or by writing to:
Valiant Wings Publishing, 8 West Grove, Bedford, MK40 4BT, UK
The Supermarine Spitfire Part 2 (Griffon-powered) - A Complete Guide To The Famous Fighter by Richard A. Franks is also available from specialist bookshops and certain hobby retailers. If you plan to build any model of Griffon powered Spitfire or you need one-source reference, do not miss this book. Highly recommended!
PS. When you visit Valiant's website using the links here, don't forget to check the first Volume or Part 1 (AM12) dealing with the Merlin-powered Spitfire variants!
