spitfirepr1v

Troy Really grateful for the photos. Have also downloaded some squadron ORBs which include a large number of serials and some individual aircraft codes. Cheers Richard

Troy Thanks very much for the info which is great; I thought the sizes might be either 30" or 36" depending on the vagaries of squadrons, ground crew and time of painting. Dave Thanks . Yes I see what you mean about a few spares left over from the DK sheet, ha ha - plus cost. I might go down the route of trying to make my own, which I have done before, but only roundels for PR Spits. I want to have an aircraft which isn't a famous example, just a run of the mill squadron war horse from 1, 3 or 43 squadrons (43 I believe had red codes ?) Will have a look at the ORBs for individual serials and any other supporting info. Cheers Richard

Hi Can some one help me with the size (inches) of the red fuselage squadron code letters on the all black Hurricane Mk IIC as used by 1 squadron. Thanks Richard

A lot of work and research which has paid off in a great looking finished aircraft. Richard

Hi DoD Rather late but have only just read this . Andy is quite correct in that armour was fitted to all PRIVs as standard. If AA810 was found with no seat armour I would suggest this had been removed for some reason or other ( weight saving given the distance and need to concserve for fuel consumption to Norway and back). RAF Benson did a lot of its own modification for specific/special jobs via squadrons ground staff or via the Initial Preparation and Installation party, part of this unit's job was too modify aircraft both Spitfires and Mosquitos ( my uncle was an ex 1PRU and 542 Sqn pilot who later became the air test pilot for the IP&IP unit) . I have a couple of photos which clearly show seat armour on Spitfire PR1Vs The PR were a maverick bunch, left to their own devices regarding aircraft. I know this to be a fact as over a long course of time researching them, I met a number of pilots and navigators who confirmed this . Richard

Wow. I am amazed by the information and reference, better than I could have hoped for. Fantastic. Thank you Troy, Jure and MDriskill for taking the time to upload all the photos, information and references. This is perfect to get my 1/48 FW 190 A3/U4 or A4 /U4 up and running. 😄 Richard

Hi. I am hoping one of the FW190 A specialist can help me with the positioning of the camera vents / fairing position on the underside fuselage of either the FW 190 A3/U4 or A4/U4. Thanks

Thanks for the replies. Its 1/48 and they are solid. I have already sprayed white around the vents in case of mishaps. The decals are Extradecals which seem fairly thin. My concern about cutting a hole is that it might make placing/moving the decal when wet, fragile and prone to tearing.

Just about to apply decals to a BPF corsair ( the late war disc and bar ). I am worried about getting the decals to lie down on the fuselage over the air scoops. Should I try and make a small cut in the decals before wetting them or just use plenty of Micro sol afterwards ?

Sorry - Toby, I don't use photo bucket and am not use to its ways ! Thanks Dave makes sense. It's an extra detail I've recently noticed on the PR I B C and F types. Richard

Hi . Does anyone know what the small intake and rectangular vent are for on early Photo Reconnaissance Spitfires mainly PRIC and PRIF ? Is it related to the heating system for the cameras ? Thanks

Hi . Does anyone know what the small intake and rectangular vent are for on early Photo Reconnaissance Spitfires mainly PRIC and PRIF ? Is it related to the heating system for the cameras ? Thanks

Yes - I know the "off white / pinkish" colour debate etc has ben covered extensively on a number of sites over the years It's purely I want to make a 1/48 model which isn't either "Red X" or "White V" and I have seen a couple of bad images of a/c which wore different code letters but I cannot make them out because of the quality of the image. Thanks

Thanks that's really great. The "pink" Spitfires were standard armed LF Mk IXs modified with a single port facing oblique F24 camera ? On the colour photograph from the RAF Museum web " Spitfire FR IXc of 16 Squadron at Melsbroek in 1944" there are 4 a/c, the single a/c on the left having a code number in white - maybe an E ? I cannot get a descent large image to see it .

I am looking for any individual letter codes and serial numbers for the "pink" FR IX Spitfires used by 16 squadron other than MK716 "Red " X and MK915 “White” V. Thanks Richard

Hi . I am doing some research on PR aircraft which after operational duty with PR squadrons at RAF Benson went onto 8 (C) OTU RAF Dyce to train photo reconnaissance crews before operational service. I have seen in a log book belonging to an ex PR nav that he flew in various "older " PR Mosquitos at Dyce with his pilot on training sorties over Scotland. The log gives the aircraft's serial and an individual number i.e. DZ592- Mosquito 89 or DZ596 - Mosquito 93 . I am trying to find what colour, type face, size and their position these "code" numbers ( 89 or 93 ) would have had on the aircrafts fuselage. Any help or even photos ? I have exhausted my own books , downloaded images and the internet . Thanks Richard

Thanks to everyone for all the excellent advice. I have gone through the laborious task of a PR 1V conversion before using a Tamiya Mk V tropical but was hoping there was a quicker solution with the PR XIX wings and a Airfix mk V . Hey ho back to the bench and lots filling , sanding and scribing. It will be worth it in the end as its going to be modelled on one flown by my uncle. Cheers

Does anyone know if the Airfix 1/48 Spitfire PR XIX wings are a good fit with the Airfix Spitfire Mk Vb as a starting point for a PRIV conversion ?

Thanks for the great photos and time to sort it out for us 85sqn. Its disappointing that Airfix kits do not have interchangeable wing/fuselage matchability. I assume the new Mk Vb body is the same as the Mk I ? I agree on seeing them, Tony is right about the lower half but its folded wings for me so a challenge lies ahead one way or another. Richard

Fantastic . Thank you all so much for the replies and help. It would be really great if Geoff or 85 Sqn could just do a quick masking tape dry fit for us all ? Thanks to Tony for the tips about the panel lines and the lower centre section. I am ok with all the "extras" for the Seafire MkIII conversion having done my homework for a Seafire MkII build such as the oil cooler, strengthening, exhausts etc. Just to add something into the discussion I am lucky and privileged to know an ex FAA 899 NAS Seafire pilot (92 years young) who flew Mk IIs and IIIs, and has given me a lot of first hand info. i.e. no catapult spools on his escort carrier based Seafires Mk III because they could not use the US style catapults plus the Seafires didn't need catapult launches and they caused drag . So watch the spools ! Don't leave the lifting spools on the fuselage as these were always removed as they caused drag of about 5mph. 500lb bombs for the Operation Dragoon invasion of S.France instead of 45 gal drop tanks - short flying times and no clipped wings as they tried them and found they hindered low deck landing speeds. ! He bailed out over the Salerno landings into the sea and was rescued . An amazing gent. please let me know about the dry fit of the MK I fuselage and XVII wings . thanks Richard

Just thinking about some FAA options and wondered about this . Does anyone know how good the match would be in terms of actual fit ( gaps, shape etc ) to use the folding wings from the 1/48 Airfix Seafire XVII to the Airfix Spitfire Vb fuselage to start a Seafire Mk III with fold wings ?

Hi Everyone. Could some tell me if the F-6C variant of the P-51B/C Mustang could carry in the fuselage, both an oblique and a vertical camera, (K-24s), at the same time . Was there enough space in the fuselage immediately in front of the structural break ahead of the tailwheel, to fit these two different cameras together for a mission? thanks Richard

Hi Adrian I totally agree with Dave and Andy ( Hi Andy) the mosquitos were not fitted as standard with oblique cameras because of their "normal" type of high level ops that they did. At RAF Benson there was a special unit ; the Initial Preparation and Inspection unit/squadron which fitted, kitted and air tested out each new PR aircraft ( spits and mosquitos) flown in from the factory to squadron requirements before it was flown to its designated squadron by the ferry unit pilots also based at Benson ( these were usually new or resting PR pilots.) I have a photocopy set of De Havilland drawings/plans for PR Mosquitos mk IV, IX and XVI ; the last two both show oblique ports and fittings as standard. The PR squadrons were specialists who adapted their aircraft to suit, so best to find a photo and work with that or a serial number from the squadron ORB and find some info that aircraft's typical missions, if there is such a thing with the PR ! Enjoy modelling the beautiful PR mossie and remember the unsung bravery of the PR crews. Richard

Hi Scott Just one thing I would check is that on many of the war time PR Spits the camera control box was Black. I have seen this in a number of photos and I have been in contact over the years with a number of PR pilots who have said they remember them as black. Richard

Re the mudflap debate. If a/c are operating from concrete runways then is there any need for mudflaps to protect the camera ports? Early PR spit ( A-G and IV ) might or would have flown from grass fields hence their need for the mud protection. I have spoken to a ex PR Spitfire pilot on this subject last year. He has an excellent memory and said he never used them. He flew PR XI and XIX during the war from 44 to the end of hostilities. from RAF Benson ( if Colin is available he will know our friend and can support his wonderful memory). Sorry to "muddy" the waters Richard