spitfire

Now that really looks impressive, the exhaust staining looks just right to me. Cheers Dennis

No problem, here's a few more. Cheers Dennis

Just to stimulate the taste buds, we used to live in Thailand and visited the RTAF museum in 2002, a really nice museum. Cheers Dennis

Great information and the photos are even better, really impressive, thanks for posting them Cheers Dennis

Some thoughts of Edgars on Spitfire seats from various threads, mostly Britmodeller You were close with the seat; it was introduced in May, 1940. It was not known, initially, as Bakelite, according to Vickers it was "plastic," and (as mod 189) it was "To introduce plastic seat as alternative design to assist production and provide alternative manufacture." This means that the metal seat carried on in production alongside the plastic, in fact I have a drawing of a metal seat which incorporates a late war mod for the Sutton QK harness, for both the Spitfire and the Seafire I'm not totally convinced, regarding the cushioning, on the seat back, and feel that it might have been introduced, for comfort, when the Mae West wasn't worn; anyway, all those, that I've seen, are black. That later plastic seat, of yours, is a late/middle-war variant, since it has the lozenge-shaped indentation for the dinghy's airbottle (most uncomfortable to sit on.) Early pilots just had to make do with a Mae West. Normally a piece of "basil" leather used to prevent chafing of the ripcord; the early seat also had no recess in the base, since there was no dinghy, therefore no inflation bottle to cause discomfort for the pilot. This is the early metal seat; note there's no cut-out in the right side (that came later; I believe to stop any possibility of the Sutton strap fouling the raising/lowering lever.) Not visible from this angle, but the early seat had no cut-out (handhold) in the backrest, either; the first oval cut-out was in the newly-fitted armour plate. The cartridge carrier was meant for the Seafire, but appeared on various Marks, at various times; although removal of the seat is a swine of a job (the carrying framework has to be at the bottom of its travel, or the seat jams against the bulkhead as it's lifted,) either seat could be fitted. A Very pistol was planned-for, from the start, but the stowage was deleted 29-9-37; the Seafire brought it back. This is a metal seat, still in use (at least it was about 6 years ago. Note that the depression didn't exist, at first, in fact the first one, in the plastic seat, was square, but was changed to a lozenge-shape, because of cracking at the corners. The plastic seat was mooted, and planned for, way back in 1938, with Castle Bromwich to be the main recipients, but there was a long litany of problems, with cracking, and breakages, during testing, with the result that it was only accepted into service during the Battle of France, and was introduced into production, under mod 189 "To introduce plastic seat as alternative design to assist production and provide alternative manufacture," from 14-5-40. Note the double use of "alternative." As late as 1944, references can be found to metal, or plastic, seats, and there's a drawing, for late Seafire seats, which specifies a certain thickness of duralamin. So, in answer to your question, since the seat could be replaced, at any time, the choice is yours. Edgar Modification 189 was "To introduce plastic seat as alternative design to assist production and provide alternative manufacture," and was requested from the Air Ministry in February, 1940, being cleared for use from 14-5-40. Note the use (twice) of the word "alternative." The plastic seat did not replace the metal seat, so any Spitfire could have had either type, and, even though removing the seat is a swine of a job (especially once armour was added,) a replacement could be of either type. As late as February 1945, mod 1117 was quoting "if pilot's seat is metal or plastic and has a wall thickness of less than .15". " I wouldn't place a bet on it, but I would not be surprised to find, given the dates, and their well-documented problems, that the initial idea was to supply plastic seats to Castle Bromwich, while Eastleigh, being geared up for metalworking, from the start, stayed with the metal seat. Of course, if that was the idea, the bombing of the Eastleigh works would have thrown the whole thing out of the window. Edgar Also note the lack of a handhold in the back; rather spoils the fun of those who advocate sending the harness through it, I think. In fact, the "Y" part of the first "M" harnesses went through a hole in the early armour plate, and this meant the need for a different (K-type) harness, with a longer strap, since tall pilots became cramped by the early type. Edgar Cheers Dennis

Progressing nicely Stew, I'm still taking notes. Cheers Dennis

This was waiting for me when I got home after my morning bike ride. And at last it's here, I have all the nice Airscale goodies for it as well, just have to finish my PCM Re2005 before I can start it. Cheers Dennis

Could not resist this one. And my Trumpeter Devastator is in the post from Hannants. Cheers Dennis

Exactly Cheers Dennis

That is most impressive, I know how eye watering that camouflage is to do after my 1/32 He219, so well done, the figures are really well done and give some feel for the size of the aircraft as well. Cheers Dennis.

Superb build and what an amazing paint job, definate eye strain territory. Cheers Dennis

No kit yet but the AM is mounting up, the Trumpeter 1/32 Devastator is on my backorder at Hannants, so I have been gathering stuff in advance. From Squadron I got these as I could not find them elsewhere. Then Peter at Airscale fetched out these beauties. Twin Brownings for a Midway Devastator More detail of the gun mount, I'm going to need a steady hand to seperate these. Late style wheels And as I can see other USN early subjects some decals and for my future Revell Hurricane build some more markings And a recent survey of my decal and masks collection pointed me towards these. And Hannants has just e mailed me to say that the 1/32 scale Italeri MC202 is in stock so that has duly been ordered. Cheers Dennis

Nice to see this back online, and it's looking good. Cheers Dennis

Here's a couple more photos. # And a restoration just for clarity. Cheers Dennis

Very interesting and I like the work you are doing, simple improvements with the Tamiya acting as a reference. Cheers Dennis

What a great idea for a build, I built the Hasegawa kit in the 1990's and enjoyed it, but seeing your side by side build certainly shows up the progress that has been made in kits since then. I also have got the Tamiya kit and the updated Hasegawa kit so when I finally get around to building the modern Hasegawa kit it will be fun to compare it to your vintage kit. Cheers Dennis

Beautiful work, very atmospheric. Cheers Dennis

Well your health is the most important thing, so relax and get well soon. All the best Dennis

Some nice photos on there Cheers Dennis

Now that is a real disaster, especially when it was looking so good. Dennis

Fantastic, a really classy build of a "challenging" kit, the smoke rings are great. Cheers Dennis

Most impressive, the build, finish and weathering are first rate. Cheers Dennis

Some great information and some great photos, thanks to all. Cheers Dennis

That paint sure has lasted well. Cheers Dennis

Beautiful, that is a real keeper, I know the kit well so can appreciate the work that has gone into it. Cheers Dennis