warhawk Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 (edited) Hello, Looking at some Clipped-wing Spitfire photos, I have noticed an oddity: Mk.V (both "b" and "c" wing) photos clearly show small nav lights at wingtip ends: img source: Britmodeller "Spitfire Questions" topic img source: Spitfire Site "Supermarine Spitfire Variants" So do the Mk.IX/XVI examples with the "e" type clipped wing: img source: DCG Forum But in photos of Mk.XII version, the lights are clearly missing Img source: World war photos Does this mean they were over-painted on Mk.XIIs, or they just straight-up flew without them (which I thought was not allowed by the regulations)? Edited November 27, 2018 by warhawk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 (edited) Some did, some didn't. There are at least two and possibly three different types of "clipped" wingtips on Spitfires and some were simple wooden fairings with no frills and extras. Regulation-wise you're not required to have lights at all on aircraft not flown at night. You're not even required to have an electrical system. How many lights do you see on Tiger Moths? Edited August 21, 2017 by Work In Progress 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 34 minutes ago, Work In Progress said: How many lights do you see on Tiger Moths? Usually none, but rarely two - although it's hard to see them both at once. (Some RAAF EFTS units taught night flying and their TM's were modified appropriately, with a nav light above and below the cabin) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 4 hours ago, warhawk said: Hello, Looking at some Clipped-wing Spitfire photos, I have noticed an oddity: Mk.V (both "b" and "c" wing) photos clearly show small nav lights at wingtip ends: img source: Britmodeller "Spitfire Questions" topic img source: Spitfire Site "Supermarine Spitfire Variants" So do the Mk.IX/XVI examples with the "e" type clipped wing: img source: DCG Forum But in photos of Mk.XII vesrion, the lights are clearly missing Img source: World war photos Does this mean they were over-painted on Mk.XIIs, or they just straight-up flew without them (which I thought was not allowed by the regulations)? To the best of my knowledge, and Graham or ToT can confirm or correct, but Mk XII's were not fitted with navigation lights on the wingtips. Don't ask me why! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junchan Posted August 21, 2017 Share Posted August 21, 2017 The early clipped wing had a wooden tip cover and did not have a navigation lamp. while, the later clipped wing had a metal tip cover with a clear window for a navigation lamp. Jun in Tokyo https://www.flickr.com/photos/horaburo/albums 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warhawk Posted August 21, 2017 Author Share Posted August 21, 2017 Thanks for the drawings, very concise! Looking at the photos, it seems that the shape also varied in section. Aleksandar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fernando Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 Hi, everyone, It is my understanding (along to 72modeller) that Mk XIIs didn't have the wingtip light. Fernando Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seawinder Posted August 22, 2017 Share Posted August 22, 2017 6 hours ago, Fernando said: Hi, everyone, It is my understanding (along to 72modeller) that Mk XIIs didn't have the wingtip light. Fernando Mine as well. When I did my Airfix XII (okay, okay! we all know about its fatal flaws), I put on nav lights and was informed that they shouldn't be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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