Supermarine Spitfire MH603 Paintwork refreshed

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) at Scone NSW is undergoing a refresh of her paintwork.  Following on from our report of the first engine runs of Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 in our news article of June 2020 we can now report on her progress towards her first flight in in over 7 decades.  She’s edging ever closer with virtually all of the detail systems testing now complete and the detail of cosmetic completion of the aircraft is being carried out.

Recently the aircraft was moved from the restoration hangar at Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) to Pays Aviation Paint shop facility for a comprehensive refresh and detail of the paint finish on the aircraft.  This level of accuracy is not to be hurried and a mountain of research has to be undertaken in an effort to ensure the completed aircraft not only looks good but is period correct.  As this is the actual scheme it carried in January 1944, it has to be historically precise as well. In addition all the cowlings and access panels have now had their final fitting and adjustments they are being completely refinished and are in keeping with the rest of the airframe.

Whilst the Spitfire had been painted when it was structurally completed, the detail of the finish was not fully applied, including various stencils etc. Moreover during the extensive completion of the restoration inevitably wear and tear occurs to the paint finish so it was always envisaged that this comprehensive update of the paint scheme would be undertaken just prior to its first flight.

Spitfire MH603 Chin Cowlings

The paint work is currently being carried out by Bennii Walters in the paint shop of Pay’s Air Service. Although over the years, work on the internal painting, wings and exterior surfaces has also been undertaken by Rod Curmi and Mal Pittman and the finish so far is a real credit to the workmanship of this team.

Spitfire MH603 Engine Cowlings

Bennii is currently retouching all of the external camouflage on the aircraft in the original 331(Norwegian) Squadron scheme it wore in WWII coded “FN-B”.  Every effort is being made to complete this scheme as accurately as possible with correct placement and colour matching of the serials, rondels and stencil markings.

Spitfire MH603 Side Cowlings

Our selection of images taken during the refinishing process as it moves to completion will be updated once the aircraft leaves the paint shop soon. Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 will be ready for her first flight of since 1955. Warbirds Online will report on the first flight of Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 in the very near future.

We extend our thanks to Ross Pay and the team at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations for their help and assistance with this report. We wish to also thank Bennii Walters of Pay’s for supplying the images of Spitfire MH603, because of our limited ability to travel to Scone NSW  due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Did you miss the news on the first engine run by Supermarine Spitfire MH603?  Then go to the Warbirds Online News article here.

© John Parker 2021