[David603]

Gread idea David! I'm surprised this hasn't been done sooner

Because the VIII may be mapped a whole lot better, but unfortunately is quite a bit the wrong shape, especially the rear fuselage is considerably too long.

You have a point about the rear fuselage, it definitely is a touch too long on the MkVIII derived MkIX, and both Il2 Spits have a slight "humpback" where the real Spit has straight line between the fin and the cockpit. The MkVIII is also not quite right around the front of the canopy but the engine and spinner are much more accurately shaped on the MkVIII, and details such as the cannon, tailwheel, radiators and oil filter are also much more accurate on the MkVIII. Factoring in the way the MkVIII is higher poly and better mapped, it is the better model, but it could use the attention of someone like JapanCat to correct the shape of the rear fuselage and cockpit.

EDIT: I used the CF and Tail from the Spitfire XII to produce this MkVIII, with corrected rear fuselage shape.