1/48th Scale Spitfire Mk IXE (ICM Spitfire Mk XVI)

At the end of WWII the SAAF choose the Spitfire Mk IXs as their standard fighter. 80 Spitfire MkIXs were gifted to the SAAF and a further 59 were bought from RAF surplus stocks and brought into post WWII SAAF service. Although they were all MkIXs they were of different production standards and both the high back and low back versions (most commonly seen on the Mk XVI) and both clipped wings and standard wings were used. The SAAF Spitfires were capable of carrying the 60 pound rockets and/or bombs under the wings. For my late SAAF Spitfire I choose to build a low back Spitfire. This model was built straight out the box using the ICM kit.

	I built the kit as ICM intended and painted it the last scheme that the SAAF used on their Spitfires. This was Extra Dark Sea Grey upper surfaces with Medium Sea Grey under surfaces. The decals were sourced from a Carpena sheet covering exotic Spitfires. No underwing serials are included though.