Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'Spitfre PRIF'.
-
This is my other build so far for this Group Build. The basic kit is the current issue Mk I with the long defunct Airkit Enterprises PRIF conversion kit. The PR IF was one of the first of the long range PR Spitfires and based on the Mk I airframe. In addition to the camera installation, all the armament and gunsight were removed. An unarmoured windscreen and blisters on the canopy were also fitted . The aircraft carried extra fuel in a new fuselage tank behind the pilot and in two underwing blister. Extra oil was carried in a deepened tank under the nose. This gave the PR IF the range ,under optimum conditions, to reach Berlin and back. The PR IF entered service in July 1940, just when a PR aircraft was needed that could range over the Continental ports in the build up to an invasion and have a chance of coming back All the PR Spitfires had a very surface finish to maximise performance. the Aitkit conversion set consists of resin mouldings for the new deeper oil tank in the nose, and tank behind the pilot and the underwing blisters. Another piece is also given for the camera windows in the fuselage, but so far as I am concerned, that is what drills were invented for as the conversion would have cut a fair chunk out of the rear fuselage/wing root, not the easiest part to deal with anyway on Spitfire kits A very thin vacform canopy is also given with unarmoured windscreen and side blisters. As the conversion kit is designed for the 1979 Spitfire Ia kit there may be fit issues. No decals are given, but I have some on an Almarks and a Model Alliance sheet for PR aircraft. One of the first steps was to remove some the detail on Airfix kit. Some of it because the detail is too wide and deep and some to remove the gun bay access panels. A thin layer of Miliput was used. The interior was more or less the Airfix kit apart from the removal of the gunsight and the addition of the resin fuel tank. This needed some material removing to ensure a good fit of the fuselage halves. The oil tank and fairings were removed from the kit. A test was made with the vac formed canopy and it was found, not surprisingly, not to fit. The shape of the Airfix kit around the windscreen makes it hard to fit anything other than the Airfix canopy and so I reshaped and polished the windscreen and will add the blisters cut from the conversion kit canopy later. First photo shows the parts with some Miliput on and the second the interior with new fuel tank. the fina photo shows the fit of the new oil tank and that it is not a good fit, but I would have been surprised if it had been. Now the York is nearly finished, I hope to get on with this quickly.