DarenC1 wrote:
DH82EH wrote:
I had posed this question in a recent photo thread with no response. Is there a way for the casual Spitfire observer to tell a Mk XVIII from a low back XIV at a glance?
I thought the XVIII has a slightly different rudder (referring back to a post over on Key from YEARS ago!) but I can't recall now.
However, I do remember that Spitfire MV293/"MV268", owned by The Fighter Collection, has/had a Mk.XVIII rudder...!
Later MkXIV has basically the same fus as a MkXVIII. The XVIII wing being significantly different in structure and strength.
My guess is the fus engineering for the mk22 fus is pretty much the same for the later XIV and XVIII.
The Type number seems to be 356 for the 20 series, 369 and 379 for the XIV and 394 for the XVIII.
In some cases changes made on one seem to get incorporated over time into the others late in the war and post war.
The XVIII has the split trim tab on the rudder of the 20 series. I've seen them on some XIVs as well.
Factory Drawings for all these types are incomplete so its hard to know what was used where.
The spare parts list for the XVIII (type 394) I have has part numbers for all models going back to 300 or MkI incorporated some where. Example on the rudder the hinges and attach pins are 300XX P/N or the same on all models going back to the Mk I although the Rudder P/N is 39423 sit 1 or Mk XVIII. If a part was changed for the Mk V and never needed to be upgraded again it kept the 349XX number.
A quick look shows 37918 sht 4 S and P for the Horizontals, Elevators are 35120 sht 2 (Mk VII), Rudder 39423 sht 1, rear fus (tail- stern group?) appears to be a 37927 sht 21, Canopy 37939 sht 10, The main fus doesn't list an assy number but ribs are mostly 379 with a couple 359 prefixes suggesting MkXIV.
The PR XIX shows the same tail 37927 sht 21 but a rudder 37923 sht 1.
Comparing individual parts it appears the 379XX rudder ribs start with 366 (Mk VII) and the 394 rudder has the same ribs identified with 373XX. I don't have any reference for what Mk a 373 is. Both rudders have different trailing edge P/Ns as well.
I don't have a print of the 394 rudder, just a parts list. Someone else probably has the different dimensions of each.