cameraman1944 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Have just started the Airfix 1/48 Spitfire V a as flown by Douglas Bader and have a question regardibg the oil cooler fitted to this aircraft. The instructions show a version with a "D" shaped opening but my reference show a different version with a round hole at the front. The kit does contain another oil cooler and this has a round hole but is the wrong shape in plan. In fact when I think about both types included in the kit box seem wrong. Can anyone throw some light on this subject please? Cheers, Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 The D-shaped opening is the a Mk.I or II. The fully round cooler was required for the more powerful engine of the Mk.V. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 Just to embellish Graham's comments, a fair number of Vas were built with the previous style oil cooler, and it took a few months to catch up with all Mk.Vs that needed the retrofit. I'm pretty confident that by the time of his failure to return, Bader's would have had the new style. bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 According to the Air Ministry, all airframes delivered after 13-4-41 had the "Mk.III" oil cooler fitted as standard; W3185 was delivered to 39M.U. 11-5-41, so must have included the larger item. Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cameraman1944 Posted November 6, 2012 Author Share Posted November 6, 2012 Thanks Guys, I'm going with the round version which while not not quite correct in plan is the better of the two. I just wondered why Airfix decided on the D shaped version. Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 probably because Mk.V and Mk.I/II sprues usually have a lot in common, so it is not unusual to have some "spare parts". bob p.s. Thanks for clarifying this one, Edgar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMChladek Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 The kit essentially is their Mk Ia/Mk II kit, just reboxed with new decals as the V style oil cooler comes standard in the kit anyway. You may not get all the bits in the Va to do the Watts 2 bladed prop version with the skinny canopy, but the plastic should build okay into a Ia or a IIa if you so desire (assuming the DeHavilland prop is still present for the Ia on the trees). A few of the sprues also come from the Mk IX kit as well. The "D" type oil cooler shape for the Ia/II isn't quite right either. Its a bit too tall. I am doing mine up as a Ia and had to cut the cooler down a bit to give it a more proper slim profile compared to the protruding nature of the Mk V unit. But it wasn't anything my Dremel tool and a cutoff wheel couldn't handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean_M Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 (edited) I am doing the same project. You may find the following discussions helpful: Spitfire V - Best way to paint the Camo http://www.britmodel...c=234926963&hl= Pre-Shadding and Washes http://www.britmodel...c=234923858&hl= Airfix A50030 - Spitfire Va Douglas Bader http://www.britmodel...c=234924069&hl= My biggest hassle was ignore the paint chart. Use Tamiya Green and mix your brown as per the Camo thread Good luck and look forward to some pics Edited November 8, 2012 by Sean_M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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