Off topic---For you Spitfire model guys..........

[retroaviation]

Extraordinary attention to detail here.......


http://www.hsfeatures.com/features04/sp ... kidg_1.htm

http://www.enginehistory.org/merlin_xx.htm

[CWBuff]

That Spit caused quite a bit of buzz when it was posted on HS... and rightly so, it is an absolute masterpiece in every sense of the word.

I don't recall seeing that particular article on the engine before... thanks for posting it!

This kind of work makes me want to quit building models of airplanes and go back to drawing them...


Fade to Black...

[Steve Nelson]

Absolutely stunning! I'm glad he left her in bare metal..really shows off the craftsmanship.

SN

[Bill Greenwood]

Only thing that would make it better is me in the cockpit! Can I fly it? Do you mean it's not real and I can't? Hard to believe, even the cockpit. If I tried to find variances, about all I can come up with is 1. The rear of the elevator should be more round and tapered rather than square, 2 tires might have some tread, 3. I'm fairly sure the antiglare black paint in front of the cockpit is wrong, 4. The headrest might not be red. He may be correct on all of these. I'd enjoy meeting the builder, who knows much about him?

[Mark V]

tires might have some tread

Bill - the early Spitfires had smooth treadless tyres which look pretty strange to us today but its correct.

I'm fairly sure the antiglare black paint in front of the cockpit is wrong

Yes, this is true, Spitfires did not have an anti glare panel ahead of the cockpit - I think the builder added it because he had decided to go with a bare metal finish. Maybe he should have just addded roundels, I dont know.

The headrest might not be red

It looks like a sort of light brown leather colour on my monitor - they were probably darker in WWII, also the red crowbar is a modern touch - they were either Grey Green or bare metal in service.

[blurrkup]

If anybody wants to see it, I think if I recall from another forum, it is now in the RAF Museum at Hendon.

[gregv]

I saw this a while back, and it still blows me away. I take it that the engine and aircraft have nothing to do with eachother, as they are by different gents? Or was there a marriage at some point?

If that's the case all we need is a 1/5 scale human to fly it.

cheers

greg v.

[Mark V]

I take it that the engine and aircraft have nothing to do with eachother, as they are by different gents? Or was there a marriage at some point?

Seperate I believe, in both time and location. Interesting if they could be brought together! I must go see this model as the RAF Museum is about only 30 minutes drive from me.

[Chad Veich]

Here is another Spit model, this one at 1/5.5 scale (83" span). Though it may not be quite as detailed as the one above, this model, built by Barry Dalwig, is stunning and is more than a static exhibit as this model will fly.

[Shay]

;] I'm fairly sure the antiglare black paint in front of the cockpit is wrong

Yes, this is true, Spitfires did not have an anti glare panel ahead of the cockpit.

Or did they???



Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

[Fouga23]

Belgian ones also had an anti-glare shield

[Bill Greenwood]

Amazing photo, Shay. They look like MKV s with the 3 piece exhaust and from the big tropicalized air filters under the engine the must be in desert service. It appears they may be RAF, can't be sure. They look like natural metal finish and if so this may have a local version and the antiglare panels were necsesary for the desert sun. It shows how hard it is to be certain about a model or paint scheme of something that they made 23,000 of 65 years ago. Shay, did you see my info under your "turbine" forum?

[L2Driver]

The code letters (AXXXX) are indicative of use by RAAF (Aussies). The kangaroo in the roundel in the lower left of the photo kind of gives it away, too

The roundels minus the familiar red centers are unique to the Pacific theatre.

[PeterA]

Spitfires of 85 Squadron RAAF.

PeterA

[PeterA]

Some units of RAF Spitfires operating post WWII in silver finish adopted the black anti dazzle panels, particularly in India and Hong Kong.

PeterA