The Mk 22

was identical to the Mk 21 in all respects except for the fitting of a cut-back rear fuselage and tear-drop canopy and a more powerful 24 volt electrical system in place of the 12 volt system of all earlier Spitfires. Most of the Mk 22 types were built with further enlarged tail surfaces, similar to those of the Supermarine Spiteful. A total of 272 Mk 22 airframes were built: 250 at Castle Bromwich and 27 by Supermarine at South Marston.

The Mk 22 was used by only one regular RAF unit, 73 Squadron in Malta. However 12 squadrons of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force used the variant and continued to do so until March 1951 and the aircraft was also used at Flying refresher schools. May 1955 the remaining F.22 airframes were declared obsolete from all RAF units. Many were sold back to Vickers-Armstrongs for re-furbishment and sale to the Southern Rhodesia Air Force, Egyptian Air Force and Syrian Air Force.

The Mk 24

the final Spitfire variant was similar to the Mk 22 except that it had an increased fuel capacity over its predecessors, with two fuel tanks of 33 gal (150 l) each installed in the rear fuselage. There were also zero-point fittings for rocket projectiles under the wings. All had the larger "Spiteful" tail units: modifications were also made to the trim tab gearings in order to perfect the F Mk 24 types handling characteristics.

In fighter configuration the F Mk 24 types armament consisted of 4 × short-barrelled 20 mm Hispano cannon – operational experience had proved that the hitting power of these larger weapons was necessary to overcome the thicker armoured plating encountered on enemy aircraft as the war progressed.

A total of 81 Mk 24 airframes were completed, 27 of which were conversions from Mk 22 types. The last Mk 24 to be built was delivered in February 1948. They were used by only one RAF squadron, 80 Squadron, until 1952. Some of the squadron's aircraft went to the Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force where they were operated until 1955.

The E wing configuration

Structurally unchanged from the C wing. The outer machine gun ports were eliminated, although the outer machine gun bays were retained and their access doors were devoid of empty cartridge case ports and cartridge case deflectors.

Kit Contents

4 long 20mm cannon barrels
4 brass fittings for 2 short 20mm cannon barrels
1 sheet of instructions

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