This repaint, made for the FlyingIron Simulations Spitfire Mk.IXc, depicts the restored Spitfire Mk.XVI RW382 as it appears today. Registered in the UK as G-PBIX to 'The Suffolk Spitfire Ltd', it was last restored by the Spitfire Company Ltd at Biggin Hill and first test flown in 2013. In September 2020, it was repainted into the markings of Spitfire Mk.IXc 'Porky II', assigned to the USAAF 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, stationed in the Mediterranean Theatre in 1943, flown by Lt. Robert Connor. 

~ RW382 History ~

Spitfire RW382 was manufactured as a 'high-back' Mk.XVI by the Castle Bromwich Aeroplane Factory, located near Birmingham, UK. The Mk.XVI is essentially identical to that of a Mk.IX Spitfire, but is powered by a Packard-built Merlin 266, rather than a Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 as fitted to the Mk.IX. Manufactured too late to see action in WWII, it was delivered to No 6 Maintenance Unit (MU) at Brize Norton on July 20th, 1945. In April 1947, it was assigned to No 604 RAF Auxiliary Squadron at Hendon, and served until April 1950, when it was retired to No 33 MU at Lyneham. Later that year, it joined No 3 Civilian Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Unit at Exeter, and following that assignment it was transferred to the Control and Reporting School at Middle Wallop in October 1950. RW382 was once again retired from duties in July 1953, and flown to No 45 MU at Kinloss, and then to No 29 MU at High Ercall. It was struck off charge on December 14, 1954.

With its active days in the RAF over, RW382 was allocated to No 609 Squadron at Church Fenton in November 1955 for use as an instructional airframe. A short period later, it was placed as a gate guard at RAF Leconfield, and then at RAF Henlow. In 1968, it was taken down off its pole for use in the movie "Battle of Britain", where it was used for static scenes. Following the end of filming, it was once again put atop a pole at RAF Uxbridge, where it remained displayed until 1988. It was that year that Tim Routis acquired RW382 and sold the project aircraft to American David Tallichet in 1989. Following a two-year restoration with Historic Flying Ltd at Audley End, it made its first post-restoration test flight on July 3, 1991, registered as G-XVIA. The aircraft remained in the UK and was sold to Bernie Jackson of Manitoba, Canada in 1994. In 1995, it was shipped to the US and registered as N382RW. In June 1998, the aircraft was involved in a fatal crash in Blue Canyon, California. The wreckage was later shipped back to the UK and registered as G-PBIX to Pemberton-Billing LLP, and sent to Biggin Hill for restoration by Peter Monk's Spitfire Company Ltd in 2011. The first post-restoration test flight was performed by Clive Denney on September 18, 2013. The aircraft was painted in RAF No 322 (Dutch) Squadron markings, coded '3W-P'.

In September 2020, RW382 was repainted in the markings of a Spitfire Mk.IXc 'Porky II', which was assigned to the USAAF 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, stationed in the Mediterranean Theatre in 1943, flown by Lt. Robert Connor. Although operated out of Biggin Hill for several years, the aircraft has recently taken up residence at Duxford.

~ Repaint Details ~

- Although based on the product paintkit, the textures have been considerably modified and improved. Customized complete maps (PBR) and normal maps (3D detail) have been made.
- The positioning of the rivets and panel lines on the left elevator has been fixed (they're not positioned correctly in the product paint schemes).
- The inaccurate access panels on the engine cowlings have been removed and the actual access panels, as found on RW382, have been added, as well as a couple of panel lines missing in the product paint schemes. 
- Numerous access panels have been added around the fuselage, wings and tail where they are missing on the product paint schemes/painkit.
- All aspects of the paint work were created completey from scratch to match, as close as realistically possible, the real restored RW382.
- All of the stencils are done to match the restoration.
- Prop stencils have been added, front and back, as they are on the restored RW382.
- The textures for the main landing gear and tail gear, landing gear inner doors, wheels, tires, wheel wells, and pitot tube have all been modified. There is now a uniform silver-painted finish to the landing gear, inner landing gear doors and wheel wells, which are all authentically painted silver on the real RW382.
- Includes modified cockpit door texture with stenciling, matching the restored RW382.
- Includes modified 'slipper tank' textures that are colored to match the aircraft.