In January 1940, the Luftwaffe tested the prototype Ju 86P, fitted with a greater wingspan, pressurized cabin, Junkers Jumo 207A-1 turbocharged two-stroke, opposed-piston diesel engines and a two-man crew. The Ju 86P could fly higher than 12,000 m (39,000 ft), where it was felt to be safe from enemy fighters. Satisfied with the trials of the new Ju 86P prototype, the Luftwaffe ordered that some 40 older-model bombers be converted to Ju 86P-1 high-altitude bombers and Ju 86P-2 photo-reconnaissance aircraft, with pressurized fuselage, no armament, and a crew of two.

Satisfied with the trials of the new Ju 86P prototype, the Luftwaffe ordered that some 40 older-model bombers be converted to Ju 86P-1 high-altitude bombers and Ju 86P-2 photo-reconnaissance aircraft, with pressurized fuselage, no armament, and a crew of two. Those operated successfully for some years over Britain, the Soviet Union and North Africa.

In May 1942 a number of Ju 86P-2s were issued to 2.(F)/123 (or Auflk.Gr.23), based at Kastelli on Crete. From Crete the P-2s were able to reach Egypt and North Africa, where at first they were still safe.

In the face of the threat of the Ju 86P, the RAF proceeded with the development of a specialized high-altitude Spitfire. The first was the Mk. VI, modified from the Spitfire Vb with a special engine and supercharger, and a pressurized cockpit. These were issued to two squadrons in Fighter Command in 1942, but were unsuccessful and in light of the cessation of Ju 86P flights over England, they were eventually withdrawn from service. However, four of them were sent to Egypt where the Ju 86P was in use. They were unable to reach the enemy's operating altitude.

A standard Spitfire Vb - BR114 - was modified for high altitude flight with a major weight-reduction program. All weapons were removed from the wings, and a .50-caliber machine gun was mounted in each wing. The engine compartment was sealed in an attempt to maintain pressure. All radios and other equipment not essential for flight was removed. The cockpit was not pressurized.

A "hunter-killer" team was created, with Spifire VI BS124 accompanying BR114 to BS124's maximum attainable altitude of 46,000 feet, with the pilot receiving vectors from ground control, to bring the team within sight of the target. At that point, BR114 would proceed to make the interception.

The first successful mission was flown on August 24, 1942, with Flt Lt Emanuel Galatzine, a Russian prince serving in the RAF, flying BR114. The two Spitfires first spotted the enemy when they were at 37,000 feet and the Ju 86 was at 42,000 feet. The Germans spotted the Spitfires and began climbing to what they believed was a safe altitude. Ground control vectored the team through the Spitfire VI until it reached its maximum altitude of 46,000 feet, with the Ju 86 clearly visible several thousand feet above, due to contrails. Galatzine continued his climb and closed on the Ju 86. He later reported that he could see the entire Middle East to the north from Greece to Turkey, Palestine, the Sinai Peninsula and south to the Sudan, with the Gulf of Sirte and Malta visible to the west. With only a standard oxygen system that was delivering less than half the oxygen his body required due to lack of pressure, Galatzine managed to close in and shoot down the first Ju 86P to be lost to enemy action at 49,000 feet over the Nile Delta. Over the next few days the Spitfires repeated the performance and two more Ju 86Ps were lost over Aboukir; the high altitude reconnaissance flights came to an end.

My project will be to make BR114 and BS124, using the Eduard Spitfire VB and Vc kits. As I see it, these are pretty simple conversions, given the quality of the kits and their designs.

A friend sent me the extended wingtips from a Spitfire VIII kit to use for BS124, while I will scratchbuild the "scratchbuilt" extended tips BR114 used. I have two Spitfire IX 4-blade props for the project. Using the Vc kit for BR114 allows me to substitute a flat cover for the cannon covers, as the airplane was modified.

I'm attaching some photos of models of these two done by other modelers, which I am using as inspiration for the project.

8 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Really interesting story and model subject. The only remark I can give is that the areas were sealant was applied don’t seem like aluminium or similar NMF shade to me, at least judging by the BW photo of the subject. What’s your view on this detail Tom?
Looking forward for the build and possibly further details on the 2 Spits

@holzhamer - in other pix of the airplane those are a little brighter. (see attached) I am going to go with that, using Tamiya flat Aluminum applied with a brush, as the final step. Unless someone can come up with a better explanation.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

@holzhamer - it's silver or grey - I may split the difference.

Here's all the modifications necessary to do the models.
for the HF VI, I needed to make the cockpit side flap disappear and the rails for the sliding canopy, and add on the intake on the right hand side of the cowling for the pressurization system intake. I carefully glued in the side flap, then filled the seams fore and aft with CA glue, and ran some CA glue in the sliding rails. Then I carefully sanded them down, and didn't lose any detail. I used my pounce wheel to "rivet" the seams on the side flap. The pressurization intake was scratched from some Evergreen rod, then glued in position. I also have to make a rear bulkhead for the cockpit, which will be done from Evergreen sheet. The HF VI did not have a sliding canopy - it was locked from outside to maintain pressure (yes, all the pilots really disliked that, since it was difficult to open from inside if one had to get out).

For the Vc, all I had to do was close the side flap and create a flat gun position cove. From what I can tell, the flap was closed and then puttied in an attempt to seal the cockpit as well as they could. Then I took some .010 Evergreen sheet and made the gun covers. I also cut off the bases of the cannons from the wing leading edge. I'll fill the outer hole that's there and then leave the inner hole for the .50 caliber machine gun barrel.

From this point on, it's just assembly like normal kits, other than modifying the shape of the extended wingtips on the Vc.

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Great work on the modifications, Tom @tcinla

Here is the Spitfire Vc - the "killer" of the "hunter/killer" team.

This requires the least modifications. Substitute a piece of Evergreen sheet cut to shape for the gun bay cover and cut off the cannon mounts on the wing leading edge. Fill in the outer hole, use the inner hole for the .50 caliber machine gun barrel.

The extended tip needs a modification since this wasn't a factory part, but rather something done at Aboukir while developing this special one-off airplane. Once you glue the wingtips on, you sand the planform to a "pointed" tip so it looks basically just like the regular wing. It'll take you about a minute to do both. The wingtip should come out about 1/16 inch shorter in span than the part began with and the tip is slightly rounded, not sharp.

The airplane used the Aboukir filter option with the deeper lower cowling.

Once you have done that and assembled the model as a Spitfire Vc Trop otherwise, you have it done.

The cockpit of this airplane wasn't pressurized, so it is just the standard cockpit. They did everything to lighten the airplane they could, so I think it is logical they removed the seat armor; there are no photos of the cockpit, so that's an edumacated guesstimate.

One thing I didn't expect (and from photos of other models made of BR114, those modelers didn't either) is that the sliding hood is the earlier "slat sided" hood, which wasn't standard with the Spitfire Vc, but look at the photo I attach here and you will see it. (Another lesson in research: do not "assume" things. Assume does make an "a s s" out of "u" and "me" - LOOK at the photo and see what's there; the number of mistakes people have made not doing that is uncountable it's so large) All photos of both of these airplanes show the hood closed, though on this airplane it could be slid open.

I am going to go over the model using CA glue to make the "putty" fillers they used on the airplane to "pressurize" it as much as they could.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Great progress on both, Tom @tcinla
Thanks for sharing the valuable information