Book Review of
Polskie Skrzydla, Polish Wings 30
Supermarine Spitfire V, Vol. 2
Author: Wojtek Matusiak
Stratus
ICBN: 978-83-66549-30-2
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $25.00
ICBN: 978-83-66549-30-2
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 2021
MSRP: $25.00
HISTORY:
Like the Mk VI, the Mk VII was a high altitude pressurized variant, this time powered by the Merlin 64 (F. Mk. VII) or 71 (H.F. Mk. VII) series engine with two-stage, two-speed superchargers. The cockpit was pressurized in a similar way to that of the Mk VI, although the details were slightly different.
Other changes to the airframe were made. The Mk VII used a Marshall manufactured compressor for pressurizing the cockpit; this was mounted on the right of the engine and drew its air through a long intake under the starboard exhaust stubs. An automatic valve allowed a maximum pressure differential of +2 lb./sq.in. This was built up during the climb and was maintained at heights of 28,000 ft. and above.
Extended, "pointed" wingtips were fitted to the Type C wings, increasing the wingspan to 40 ft. 2 in (12.2 m). Because the threat from high altitude bombers never materialized, many Mk VIIs later reverted to the normal, rounded wingtip.
While early Mk VIIs were fitted with a detachable canopy, secured by four pilot-operated catches, later Mk VIIs were fitted with a "Lobelle"-type hood which opened by sliding backwards, as on non-pressurized versions of the Spitfire. This was a big improvement on the clamp-down cockpit of the Mk VI. The canopy was double-glazed and used rubber tubing to create a proper pressure seal against the fuselage. The canopy rails were bulkier than the standard Spitfire type.
In total, 140 Mk VIIs were built by Supermarine. Most of them were powered by the Merlin 64 (F. Mk. VII) or Merlin 71 (H.F Mk. VII), the latter fitted with a Bendix-Stromberg "anti-g" carburetor. The HF Mk had superb high-altitude performance, with a service ceiling of 45,100 feet
French ace Pierre Clostermann recalls in his book, The Big Show, the successful interception of a long-range reconnaissance Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/R3 by a Mk VII 'Strato Spitfire' of 602 Squadron at 40,000 feet (12,000 m) over the British Home Fleet's base at Scapa Flow in early 1944.
THE BOOK:
Stratus is based in Lublin, Poland. They are an associate of MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) and they print all of MMP’s books in English for them, as well as their own line of books in both Polish and English.
This book is soft-cover of 36 pages in 8” x 11 ½” page format.
The cook contains 234 black and white wartime-photos. The majority of these show pilots standing around the Spitfires.
This book falls under Stratus’s Polish Wings series of books, because of the 35 color side-view profiles of various types of Spitfires, 24 of them show various types of Spitfires that have a small Polish Air Force checkerboard insignia on the sides of their noses. This indicates that the pilot is Polish and flying for the RAF. The other 11 side-profiles were manned by RAF pilots.
There are also 5 color photos, including the front and rear cover.
The front and back cover arts show a no. 317 Squadron Spitfire VB during Operation “Starkey”, a major allied exercise held in September1943 to practice the invasion of France. During this exercise, aircraft of the “Invasion Forces” received special markings, in the form of black and white bands on outer wing surfaces
Each of the side-views include actual-photos of the aircraft being illustrated.
There are 2 loose sheets inserted in the book that are advertisements. Both are the same size as the pages in the book and are printed in color on both sides.
The first one advertises Special Hobby brand’s1/48th scale kit no. SH38195, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VC “Overseas Jockeys”
The second one advertises Special hobby Brand’s 1/48th scale kit no. SH38192, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XII, against V-I flying bomb.
The third one advertises Special Hobby Brand’s 1//72nd scale kit no SH72127, a Spitfire Mk. 22.
The fourth one advertises Special Hobby Brand’s 1/72nd scale kit no. 72439, a Messerschmitt Bf-109E-4.
Also CMK Brand resin sets are listed.
The second sheet of advertisements is of Hataka Brand’s paint color sets.
Two are for British D-Day markings. One each is for modern Danish armor markings, RAF Coastal Command aircraft, Eastern front aircraft, African campaign aircraft and 8 other sets that have the titles hidden in the illustrations.
The reverse side of this sheet shows a large color illustration of an Italian Semovente tank and lists Hataka’s paint set for Italian Military vehicles during WWII.
This is one neat book. It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan on building a Spitfire and to aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Stratus books and all Stratus titles can be viewed on their web-site at:
Like the Mk VI, the Mk VII was a high altitude pressurized variant, this time powered by the Merlin 64 (F. Mk. VII) or 71 (H.F. Mk. VII) series engine with two-stage, two-speed superchargers. The cockpit was pressurized in a similar way to that of the Mk VI, although the details were slightly different.
Other changes to the airframe were made. The Mk VII used a Marshall manufactured compressor for pressurizing the cockpit; this was mounted on the right of the engine and drew its air through a long intake under the starboard exhaust stubs. An automatic valve allowed a maximum pressure differential of +2 lb./sq.in. This was built up during the climb and was maintained at heights of 28,000 ft. and above.
Extended, "pointed" wingtips were fitted to the Type C wings, increasing the wingspan to 40 ft. 2 in (12.2 m). Because the threat from high altitude bombers never materialized, many Mk VIIs later reverted to the normal, rounded wingtip.
While early Mk VIIs were fitted with a detachable canopy, secured by four pilot-operated catches, later Mk VIIs were fitted with a "Lobelle"-type hood which opened by sliding backwards, as on non-pressurized versions of the Spitfire. This was a big improvement on the clamp-down cockpit of the Mk VI. The canopy was double-glazed and used rubber tubing to create a proper pressure seal against the fuselage. The canopy rails were bulkier than the standard Spitfire type.
In total, 140 Mk VIIs were built by Supermarine. Most of them were powered by the Merlin 64 (F. Mk. VII) or Merlin 71 (H.F Mk. VII), the latter fitted with a Bendix-Stromberg "anti-g" carburetor. The HF Mk had superb high-altitude performance, with a service ceiling of 45,100 feet
French ace Pierre Clostermann recalls in his book, The Big Show, the successful interception of a long-range reconnaissance Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/R3 by a Mk VII 'Strato Spitfire' of 602 Squadron at 40,000 feet (12,000 m) over the British Home Fleet's base at Scapa Flow in early 1944.
THE BOOK:
Stratus is based in Lublin, Poland. They are an associate of MMP (Mushroom Model Publications) and they print all of MMP’s books in English for them, as well as their own line of books in both Polish and English.
This book is soft-cover of 36 pages in 8” x 11 ½” page format.
The cook contains 234 black and white wartime-photos. The majority of these show pilots standing around the Spitfires.
This book falls under Stratus’s Polish Wings series of books, because of the 35 color side-view profiles of various types of Spitfires, 24 of them show various types of Spitfires that have a small Polish Air Force checkerboard insignia on the sides of their noses. This indicates that the pilot is Polish and flying for the RAF. The other 11 side-profiles were manned by RAF pilots.
There are also 5 color photos, including the front and rear cover.
The front and back cover arts show a no. 317 Squadron Spitfire VB during Operation “Starkey”, a major allied exercise held in September1943 to practice the invasion of France. During this exercise, aircraft of the “Invasion Forces” received special markings, in the form of black and white bands on outer wing surfaces
Each of the side-views include actual-photos of the aircraft being illustrated.
There are 2 loose sheets inserted in the book that are advertisements. Both are the same size as the pages in the book and are printed in color on both sides.
The first one advertises Special Hobby brand’s1/48th scale kit no. SH38195, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. VC “Overseas Jockeys”
The second one advertises Special hobby Brand’s 1/48th scale kit no. SH38192, a Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XII, against V-I flying bomb.
The third one advertises Special Hobby Brand’s 1//72nd scale kit no SH72127, a Spitfire Mk. 22.
The fourth one advertises Special Hobby Brand’s 1/72nd scale kit no. 72439, a Messerschmitt Bf-109E-4.
Also CMK Brand resin sets are listed.
The second sheet of advertisements is of Hataka Brand’s paint color sets.
Two are for British D-Day markings. One each is for modern Danish armor markings, RAF Coastal Command aircraft, Eastern front aircraft, African campaign aircraft and 8 other sets that have the titles hidden in the illustrations.
The reverse side of this sheet shows a large color illustration of an Italian Semovente tank and lists Hataka’s paint set for Italian Military vehicles during WWII.
This is one neat book. It will be of great interest to modelers, who plan on building a Spitfire and to aviation historians alike.
I want to sincerely thank Casemate Publishers for this review sample. Casemate is the N. American distributor of Stratus books and all Stratus titles can be viewed on their web-site at:
Highly recommended.