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Ok so not a complete car.... I was asked if I could modify a 1/8 scale wheel for a mate at work. Heres what I managed, he wanted the front rim extended outward by 5mm, so I had to make a new wheel and add inner rims to keep the tyre in place. Even made some values

Hi All, I have started this new thread because I want to more broadly cover the things that Spitfires rest upon while on the ground. My intention is to cover/discuss the main undercarriage and tail wheel units as fitted to various Spitfire aircraft. While on occasion looking more closely at the specifics of Spitfire legs. To introduce the topic I will list the various types of struts as fitted on Spitfire main undercarriage and tail wheel units. Please note that the following list of main undercarriage and tail wheel unit strut types is incomplete (with some obvious omissions) and may even have unintended errors. This is due to the fact that for the moment this remains a work in progress and will be amended when I have time to complete it. The Struts Main Undercarriage Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 90273 (splined ram): Spitfire FI, FIIA, FIIB, FVA, FVB, FVB (T), FVI, PRIV, PRVII, PRXI & PRXIII. Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91244 (splined ram): Spitfire FVA, FVB, FVB (T), FV, FVC (T), FIX, HFIX, LFIX, PRXI & PRXIII. Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91244/L (torque/torsion link): Spitfire FV, FVC (T), FIX, HFIX, LFIX, FXII, PRXI, & PRXIII. Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91545 (splined ram): Spitfire FVII, Spitfire FVIII & LFVIII. Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91776 (forward torque/torsion link): Spitfire F21 Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91901 (aft torque/torsion links): FVA, FVB, FVB (T), FV, FVC (T), FVII, FVIII, LFVIII, HFVIII, FIX, LFIX, FXII, PRXI PRXIII. Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91986 (forward torque/torsion link): Spitfire FVC, FVC (T), FVII, FVIII, HFVIII, FIX, HFIX, LFIX, FXII, LFXVI, Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 92216: Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 92238: Tail Wheel Unit Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 90356: Spitfire FI, FIIA, FIIB, FVA, FVB (T), FVC, FVC (T) FVI, FIX, LFIX, HFIX, FXII, LFXVI, PRIV, PRVII, PRXIII & PRXIII. Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91328: Spitfire FVII, FVIII, LFVIII, HFVIII, FXII, FXIV & PRXI. A Closer Look Spitfire Mk VIII Main Undercarriage Oleo Struts To start I will show some examples of the various main undercarriage oleo struts as fitted to Spitfire Mk VIII aircraft. There were three types fitted to the Spitfire Mk VIII series, they were Vickers Oleo Pneumatic types as follows; 91545 (splined ram), 91901 (aft torque/torsion link) & 91986 (forward torque/torsion link). In terms of fitment the Type 91545, 91901 and 91986 struts were fitted to FVIII and LFVIII Spitfires. While the Type 91986 struts were fitted to HFVIII Spitfires. In terms of scale modeling Spitfires if you intend to represent a Spitfire that featured either the Type 91545 or 91986 struts you will be catered for through kit or aftermarket options. If you intend to represent a Spitfire that featured the Type 91901 struts you will have to undertake some scratch building for no kit or aftermarket manufacturer provides such struts. The following pictures should give you some idea of what you are looking for in terms of identifying the various main undercarriage oleo struts as fitted to Spitfire VIII aircraft. Type 91545 struts feature no torque/torsion links, Type 91901 struts feature aft torque/torsion links plus full bounce cut outs on the upper and lower link sleeves and Type 91986 struts feature forward torque/torsion links. These variations can sometimes be hard to spot, that said what one must look for is the following points: the Type 91545 struts start to taper above the top of the tyre. The Type 91901 struts don't taper above the tyre and can appear as if there's no taper or a slightly larger portion above the tyre which is related to the angle of the observer, also when viewed from the side the full bounce cut outs can be seen. You will not see the aft torque/torsion links at all because they are hidden completely by the wheel and tyre. The Type 91986 are perhaps the easiest to notice since they feature prominent forward torque/torsion links that are visible above the tyre. This unidentified Eastleigh built JF500 series Spitfire VIII from 92 Squadron (Sqn) Royal Air Force (RAF) that first flew sometime between 19 March and 22 June 1943. As shown here was photographed at Triolo, Italy, during 17 November 1943. This aircraft is fitted with Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91545 (splined ram) struts, note the taper on the strut above the tyre. On the far left is the Eastleigh built Spitfire LFVIII JF934/A58-315, which first flew 26 August 1943 and was subsequently received by the RAAF 25 October 1943. While next to it is JG467/A58-405, which was another Eastleigh built Spitfire LFVIII that first flew 21 October 1943 and was subsequently received by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) 9 March 1944. These aircraft are fitted with Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91901 (aft torque/torsion link) struts, please note that the strut doesn't taper and that the torque/torsion links cannot be seen while the full bounce cut outs are just discernible. Third in line from the camera is a Chattis Hill built Spitfire LFVIII JG3777/A58-395, which first flew 19 October 1943 and was subsequently received by the RAAF 7 February 1944. While closest to the camera in this instance is the before mentioned JG467/A58-405. Please note that all Spitfires pictured have Type 91901 (aft torque/torsion link) struts fitted and that the full bounce cut outs are prominent while the larger appearance sleeve for the torque/torsion links is identifiable. This unidentified Eastleigh built JF500 series Spitfire VIII that first flew sometime between 19 March and 22 June 1943. This aircraft as shown here was photographed at Nettuno, Italy, 2 February 1944 with Major (Maj) 0-727434 Virgil C. FIELDS, Jr. the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 307th Fighter Squadron (FS), United States Army Air Force (USAAF) in the cockpit (Fields was killed at Anzio, Italy five days after the above picture was taken). This aircraft is fitted with Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91901 (aft torque/torsion link) struts. Here again the full bounce cut out is prominent on the upper sleeve for the torque/torsion links while the links themselves are not visible since they attach to the sleeve from this sight line below the tyre. Closest to the camera is an Eastleigh built Spitfire LFVIII MT726, was first noted at 9 Maintenance Unit 11 July 1944 and subsequently in India from 28 September 1944. This aircraft is fitted with Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91986 (forward torque/torsion link) struts. Here the torque/torsion links appear prominently above the wheel well making this type rather easy to spot. It should also be noted that the wheel well and main undercarriage doors were modified to accommodate the forward torque/torsion links that would otherwise not had enough room for operation. Close Up Type 91901 Struts Shown below are some pictures of mine that reveal the Vickers Oleo Pneumatic Type 91901 (aft torque/torsion link) struts in close up. At some point in the future I will provide further information here within this discussion, until then I hope you find this post informative and appreciate what I have shared. Cheers, Daniel.