Griffon Spitfires compared

[Andrew Jones]

There was some debate earlier about the wing on the new airfix Spitfire PRXIX being further forwards than previous models. I have therefore dug out my Griffon Spitfire kits and made a comparison of the various models.

Firstly , two stage Griffon fuselages

Lining up the various fuselages at the engine firewall [frame 5 ], it is clear that there is very little variation between the various kits, at the most there is only a 1/2 mm variation in the distance from the firewall to the wing leading edge, there may be slightly more to the trailing edge but this can be accounted for by differences in the root chord.

Both the Airfix Spitfires both measure 131mm from the firewall to the rudder post, the others vary by 2 or 3 mm, but the overall lenght may be dictated by variations in rudder size , which I have not checked.

The position of the cockpit is very closely matched by all the kits .A suprising result of this comparison is how closely the dimensions of the Hobbycraft kit match those of the new Airfix PRXIX. The Academy kit of course is deeper in the fuselage than the others ,but the fore and aft measurements are very close to the others except for a slightly longer nose.

Andrew

Will post up short nose Griffon's later.

Edited March 9, 2013 by Andrew Jones

[KRK4m]

And what about the best duo in whole bunch - Fujimi and the Czech AZ ?

[Andrew Jones]

And what about the best duo in whole bunch - Fujimi and the Czech AZ ?

Not 1/48

[Paul Bradley]

Very interesting comparison, Andrew - thanks for taking the time to do it. I was lookingover the Hobbycraft one just yesterday, and, like you was surprised by the fact that it matches up to the Airfix kits quite well. I did notice that the rudder line doesn't seem vertical though - and your photo appears to show that - or am I imagining it?

[Andrew Jones]

Very interesting comparison, Andrew - thanks for taking the time to do it. I was lookingover the Hobbycraft one just yesterday, and, like you was surprised by the fact that it matches up to the Airfix kits quite well. I did notice that the rudder line doesn't seem vertical though - and your photo appears to show that - or am I imagining it?

Not imagining it at all , the Hobbycraft fin is not vertical and has quite a severe kink at the bottom , but could be easily cured with a sliver of plastic card. Interestingly both the Aeroclub kits have a kink at the base of the fin, but not nearly so severe as the Hobbycraft kit, whilst the Airfix PRXIX does not and is completely vertical.

Andrew

[czechnavy]

Thanks, Andrew, a really useful bit of work!

[dragonlanceHR]

Re: kink

Some photos show it, some not, but it's very slight, a few degrees. It's a sheet metal fairing, not rudder post.

Bottom part of the rudder leading edge is also not vertical, it slants to the rear.

This is a best example I could find.

Note that the lower line of the rudder is not in line with the painted fin flash.

Edited March 3, 2013 by dragonlanceHR

[Paul Bradley]

Oh, so that's what PS890 looks like nowadays....shame.

[NPL]

There was some debate earlier about the wing on the new airfix Spitfire PRXIX being further forwards than previous models. I have therefore dug out my Griffon Spitfire kits and made a comparison of the various models.

Firstly , two stage Griffon fuselages

Lining up the various fuselages at the engine firewall [frame 5 ], it is clear that there is very little variation between the various kits, at the most there is only a 1/2 mm variation in the distance from the firewall to the wing leading edge, there may be slightly more to the trailing edge but this can be accounted for by differences in the root chord.

Both the Airfix Spitfires both measure 131mm from the firewall to the rudder post, the others vary by 2 or 3 mm, but the overall lenght may be dictated by variations in rudder size , which I have not checked.

The position of the cockpit is very closely matched by all the kits .A suprising result of this comparison is how closely the dimensions of the Hobbycraft kit match those of the new Airfix PRXIX. The Academy kit of course is deeper in the fuselage than the others ,but the fore and aft measurements are very close to the others except for a slightly longer nose.

Andrew

Will post up short nose Griffon's later.

Well, the previous discussion about the PR Mk.XIX was really about some inner Airfix business, their Mk.XII versus the XIX. But of course it ended like one of the usual and to non-specialist probably boring debates about dimensions in general. The Spitfire addicts will always love this discussion.

NP

[grahamf]

Hi Andrew, I have just dug out my Supermarine MK 16 Fuselage drawing, The length of the fuslage from frame 5 [ firewall ] to the rudder post is 245 inches which is 6223mm and at 1:48th scale is 129.645833mm.

Its worth remembering that the MK 22 onwards had a larger 'Spiteful' Tail and this put the rudder post further back for the first time since the prototype so the length should be longer.

[Andrew Jones]

Hi Andrew, I have just dug out my Supermarine MK 16 Fuselage drawing, The length of the fuslage from frame 5 [ firewall ] to the rudder post is 245 inches which is 6223mm and at 1:48th scale is 129.645833mm.

Its worth remembering that the MK 22 onwards had a larger 'Spiteful' Tail and this put the rudder post further back for the first time since the prototype so the length should be longer.

That dimension makes the Aeroclub F21 the most accurate of this bunch, both the Airfix PRXIX and Mk22 have the same dimensions for the nose and from frame 5 to the rudder post.

As for the MkXII first measurements show the same dimensions as the PRXIX with the exception of 2mm extra at the wing root chord which has the effect of placing the trailing edge 2mm further back, the placement of the leading edge being exactly the same as the PRXIX relative to the engine firewall [ frame 5 ].

Andrew

[gingerbob]

Its worth remembering that the MK 22 onwards had a larger 'Spiteful' Tail and this put the rudder post further back for the first time since the prototype so the length should be longer.

245 inches from Frame 5 to rudder post is correct. I'm not so sure about the "Spiteful" tail moving the rudder post, but I'd have to go looking for confirmation.

bob

[NPL]

245 inches from Frame 5 to rudder post is correct. I'm not so sure about the "Spiteful" tail moving the rudder post, but I'd have to go looking for confirmation.

bob

I believe that within only a few months it has been stated several times that the distance from frame 5 to the rudder post remained the same from the prototype to F.24. Interesting that all the kits laid out on the photo that introduced this line of discussion agree on this.

NP

[Andrew Jones]

I have now had time to compare the short nosed Griffon Spitfire kits, once again they are all remarkably close in outline with one exception , the wing position on the SH Seafire XV.

I have included the Airfix PRXIX for comparison and I would say that the Aeroclub Seafire XVII conversion is the nearest to published dimensions , the Airfix XII and XVII only suffer in that their fuselages are approximately 1mm to deep.

By laying a rule along the fuselages it can be clearly seen that the wing leading edge of the SH kit is 2/3mm to far back compared to the others, this also of course has the effect of pushing the trailing edge correspondingly back. Not a lot of difference ,I know but enough to make it look "not quite right ".

Andrew

[Work In Progress]

Thanks, that clarifies things perfectly.