Reviewed by Brett Green

HyperScale is proudly supported by Squadron.com

There is probably no aircraft whose exact shape generates more controversy than the Spitfire. This may seem surprising as a number of relics survive today, but there is no doubt that the subtle contours of this most gracious fighter have managed to elude many model manufacturers.

Paul Monforton is a professional manufacturing engineer in the aerospace industry who has put his shoulder to the grindstone to produce a remarkable book designed to help us to identify the various shapes and detail aspects of the most produced variant of the Spitfire - the Mk.IX / XVI.

To this end, the Author has produced hundreds of scale CAD drawings of the Spitfire Mk.IX and XVI. The plans are supported by nearly 900 large full-colour photographs of existing Spitfires, both whole and detail parts.

432 high-quality, glossy pages are packed between hard covers. The contents are logically laid out with a simple Contents page listing the order of play:

1. Acknowledgements

2. Fuselage

3. Cowlings

4. Wing Fillet

5. Canopy

6. Empennage

7. Wing

8. Undercarriage

9. Cockpit

While the layout is well done, there are no general page numbers, only section numbers and page numbers within the sections. There is also no detailed Index, which would have been very helpful to pinpoint specific details in this weighty tome.

The CAD drawings are breathtaking in their scope and detail. Every imaginable detail inside and out is covered, including (literally) rivet counts and the thickness of skinning. These CAD diagrams have been based on consultation of more than 200 original factory drawings.

• 
• 
• 

Thumbnail panels:

The presentation of the photos is excellent too. Once again, all aspects of the Spitfire IX / XVI are covered inside and out. Detailed captions are included. Where it is helpful, multiple views of detail parts are illustrated at different angles. I found the many photos of the cockpits to be especially valuable. Each instrument is also individually illustrated in large format.

"Spitfire Mk.IX & XVI Engineered" is a very serious book for the very serious Spitfire fan.

It will represent an engineering bible for modeller, illustrators and aircraft restorers. Every one of the Spitfire IX / XVI's 46,000 rivets are displayed between the large, hard covers.

If you love the Spitfire, you are going to love this book!

Highly Recommended for serious Spitfire aficionados.

Thanks to Paul Monforton for the review sample

Spitfire Mk.IX & XVI Engineered is available online from Monforton Press