Jack Roethlisberger's Spitfire Replica for Sale

[Dan K]

At barnstormers:

https://www.barnstormers.com/classified ... atid=23451

[bdk]

At barnstormers:

https://www.barnstormers.com/classified ... atid=23451

Great looking build. I hope someone picks it up and completes it.

[Warbird Kid]

Bob Deford's 1/1 Spit replica was for sale not too long ago in additional to another 1/1 replica for sale. I think it was in Florida? What an amazing act THAT would be if someone acquired all three, got them all flying, and painted them in matching squadron colors. What a cool act here in the states where real Spitfires are rare!

[marine air]

It would be ideal if they had a shop and estimate lined up so that a buyer could reasonably estimate what it would take to get it finished, licensed and flying. I would rather own a replica Mk IX Spitfire than say, a replica Yak-3 or Flug Werks FW-190. We don't have any restoration shops in my area to finish it and I don't have the skill. I've noticed some P-51D projects sometimes have two prices ; one "as is" and another finished and flying.

[C VEICH]

Bob Deford's 1/1 Spit replica was for sale not too long ago in additional to another 1/1 replica for sale. I think it was in Florida?

I heard Deford's was for sale but never heard any confirmation of it being sold. Will hate to see it go away as it is a regular around AZ airshows and is always a joy to see. The bird in Florida is, or was, located in Boca Raton and was built by well known warbird and race pilot Gunther Balz. From photos it appears to be every bit as nice as the Deford airplane, although the paint job is a bit "suspect" to my eye. As is the Deford airplane for that matter, but the Balz machine even more so. There are videos of the airplane being run up and taxied but I am not sure if it has flown. Pics here for anyone interested: https://www.aircraft.com/aircraft/20172 ... tfire-mkii

[Archer]

although the paint job is a bit "suspect" to my eye.

The listing explains that: "Exterior Notes MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE. BATTLE OF BRITTON COLORS!"

[C VEICH]

although the paint job is a bit "suspect" to my eye.

The listing explains that: "Exterior Notes MILITARY CAMOUFLAGE. BATTLE OF BRITTON COLORS!"

Ah yes, of course, who could forget the Battle of Britton? My bad.

[Sopwith]

Didn’t know about Battle of Britton

[lotus49]

I would never minimize the effort involved in building and completing a full size spitfire replica, it's a magnificent achievement.
But I cannot understand why the completed aircraft, which looks correct, and is clearly an accurate replica, does not end up with an equally accurate paint scheme.
I do not think it is a related to the surface the paint is applied to, as actual wooden warbirds (Mosquito) have perfectly period correct paint schemes applied.
I also do not believe that the time to apply a period accurate paint scheme would be much different from an inaccurate shiny scheme.
Maybe even less.
It's a mystery.

[Michel Lemieux]

Anyone has info on the full size turboprop variant being built?

There was a pic of it a little while ago.

Cheers.

[bdk]

I do not think it is a related to the surface the paint is applied to, as actual wooden warbirds (Mosquito) have perfectly period correct paint schemes applied.
I also do not believe that the time to apply a period accurate paint scheme would be much different from an inaccurate shiny scheme.

The wood isn't painted directly anyhow. They are covered with fabric and the fabric is what gets painted. In the case of the faux Spitfire, it may be covered in fiberglass.

[DH82EH]

Perhaps, when he was choosing the green, he was thinking "Limey"

[Stephan Wilkinson]

"The wood isn't painted directly anyhow. They are covered with fabric and the fabric is what gets painted. In the case of the faux Spitfire, it may be covered in fiberglass."

Correct. My Falco, which was all wood, was covered with "deck cloth"--a thin fiberglass fabric--embedded in epoxy, which was squeegeed onto it.

[Archer]

I would never minimize the effort involved in building and completing a full size spitfire replica, it's a magnificent achievement.
But I cannot understand why the completed aircraft, which looks correct, and is clearly an accurate replica, does not end up with an equally accurate paint scheme.

I agree, just getting a full-size replica to this point is a huge undertaking. As for the why of the colour choice, even more so than when you own an aircraft, when you build one it is completely up to you as to how you paint it and finish it. The builder may have had to economise on the paint choice, perhaps the surface material or finish precluded using other paint types or perhaps the builder liked this shade better. All valid reasons in my book.

[marine air]

If it’s a genuine sample of an aircraft, you can get away with straying with authenticity. Say, tweaking the nose art or putting a modern instrument panel. If it’s a reproduction, then it’s imperative to add as many items as possible to “ sell the illusion.”
A few years ago at Oshkosh there was a replica Spitfire parked next to Kermit’s authentic Mosquito. They looked fantastic from a distance. Upon close inspection, the Spitfire had unauthentic tyres, no guns or dummy cannons, and the cockpit looked like a Homebuilt aircraft. The sad thing is when the replica Spitfire was started many years ago, there were several Spitfire cockpit items available to purchase on the internet. The paint should be “spot on “ .