**** DONE: GB-62 1/48 Spitfire Mk.Vb(1) - Spitfires

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Great info, but can we find the small antenna under the starboard wing or did these guys fly without IFF for a while?


I have paid my attention to the IFF underwing antenna. None of the Spits with he starboard underwing seen had the antenna type there. So it is very lkely they didn't have the device installed yet. Here one more shot of the SH-Z. The insulator can be noticed while the wire not. Also no IFF antena on the starboard underwing.


the source: the net.
 
I watched the video twice Andy and it was just as Wojtek said, no mast to tail antenna, no IFF to fuselage antennae and no underwing antenna. One aircraft was filmed from back to front on the right side and nada. I need to keep in mind that this was filmed about a year before "Starkey". Might have to pose this ove to Britmodeller
 

IMHO it is very possible the IFF Mk.II could be attached later and up to the 1943 was in usage.
 
Wojtek,
I wonder if it's not a wire that we see
 
This is from Mushroom Model Magazine Special, "Supermarine Spitfire Mk V

There are also two photos showing this.



So the question is if the no. 64 Sqadron Spitfire Mk.Vb got the IFF Mk.III device fitted. To be honest I haven't seen the kind of the antennae on early to mid 1943 Spits Mk.V. Contrary to that the Malta Spits had the IFF Mk.II wires installed and, as I wrote down in my notebook, these were ordered to remove in late 1943. It might have been because of introducing/replacing with the new IFF Mk.III. It is really interesting because I saw the IFF aerial in images of Seafires even dated early 1942.
 
While looking at the photos Wojtek posted on the previous page and checking the kit box to make sure I had all the correct parts, which I do, I noticed the kit antenna mast was devoid of pennant or "teeth" so I couldn't let that be (I blame you guys for this) First I got my thinnest piece of strip, cut a little over size and glued it to the mast and let it sit for two hours


Then I took some cuticle scissors and trimmed it as close as I dare to the mast. Sanded it even closer and then took a triangle file for final shaping.

 
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Actually these didn't have anything in common with the VHF radio set. These were the remnants of the mount for the triangular "pennant" used for the early antenna wire mounting. There were the holes in the "teeth" for the screws attaching the "pennant"
 

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