niceguygriffy Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 So what would I do differently with the benefit of hindsight? I would definitely start with more paint, a lot more! Running out several times was a real pain and nearly prevented me finishing it in time. I would also take more care with my soft edge masking. There are a few areas of overspray which could have been avoided but I guess this would improve with practice. I have also discovered a design flaw in that when taking the weight of its pilot the main wheels bow slightly but there is not enough room to prevent them fouling slightly on the undercarriage legs. This makes it harder to pedal and it is also rather slow to turn even with 'full rudder'! I am going to modify and increase the length of the main spindle to move the wheels a couple of inches further out on each side. This will prevent fouling and also improve the Spit's rate of turn. Overall though I think it looks great and thoroughly enjoyed renovating it. Of course,the last word should really come from its new owner and hopefully the pictures below tell you all you need to know! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Very excellent! Fantastic job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 A really nice project Looks good in the light of day, and the boy's smile says it all 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguygriffy Posted August 29, 2014 Author Share Posted August 29, 2014 Oh and here's its big brother! I should take the opportunity to thank everyone who helped me with this project. I have already credited Hobbyrama for supplying the paint (in stages) and Bribie Island Signs for the markings but failed to mention Glenn Bailey of Glenns Custom Stuff who made up the mechanism for the rudder connection to the tail wheel. But most of all I thank my Uncle John Chorley for building it in the first place and then gifting it to my little boy. Oh and of course thanks to you guys for your advice and encouragement during the project. Tally Ho! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Ah bless,.......he looks really happy with it,..... despite the fact that the wingspan is obviously wrong in relation to the fuselage,......seriously though,.....its been a brilliant thread and you`ve done a fantastic job,.....I hope it continues to give many more years of fun,...I would have loved that when I was a nipper! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmcclure Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Well that's just a complete delight! What a wonderful thing to do and how rewarding when your son started playing with it. Very, very well done indeed! Cheers, Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James G Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Great job, I'm sure your Uncle will be proud. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PC2012 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 That is seriously cool. I wish I had one as a kid. I had to make do with a garden chair and a few sticks hinged together for the stick and rudder and some cardboard wings made from boxes. Could you fit a small electric motor? would be cool with a spinning foam prop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Fantastic! I wish I'd had one of those when I was little, I had a dumper truck and the bucket fell off after about a few months. How did you make the instrument panel, it looks really good. Good on yer John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 This has been a really nice thread to follow, and with a great ending too, cheers Griffy and well done Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean1968 Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Last photo of a proud father and very happy son is the best. A great moment captured. My little boy would love one of these. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOCKNEY Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Wonderful, to see it finished. You should think about replicating these, I can imagine dogfights everywhere with lots of homemade sound effects ! Cheers Pat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crowbar Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Awesome build!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Knight Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 I did say its a great job, but now I study it I see it has 6 spoke wheels and that version only ever had four spoke wheels.............. I'll get me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smoffo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Wonderful, now I got thinking of building one for my brothers kids 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 That's just brilliant! I'm now thinking 'make one a bit bigger.... lawn mower engine... prop from an R/C shop......small pram wheels......' Cheers John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I like the way you are thinking John ...bigger wings... and functional control surfaces... Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngtiger1 Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Totally cool. It gives me a great idea for when I have kids. Added to the check list... 1. Make 1:1 scale kid (check) 2. Make 1:? scale Mustang, Thunderbolt, or a Spitfire (check) 3. Play with the kid sitting inside the pedal plane (check) Got it... Mike Edited August 30, 2014 by youngtiger1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niceguygriffy Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Thanks guys for all your kind words of appreciation! A couple of you have suggested modifications or a version 2 with motorised power, a spinning prop and full width wings. Now I'm no expert on anyone else's kids but these 'improvements' would probably end up with me being arrested following my little boy wreaking havoc in the local area! Seriously though I did consider a perspex disc for the propeller but decided I could always add it later. Same goes for working ailerons which would be a nice touch and I could hide the mechanism under the wings. But it's a kids toy at the end of the day of course and once I have the mainwheels moved further out I will just let my son do his worse to it! As for building more, well maybe one day. A Bf 109 E might be the order of the day for when my next little'n, due in 3 months, is old enough to join battle. I just hope there is still something left of the Spit by then! Oh and nearly forgot Biggles87. I didn't touch the instrument panel on this renovation. From what I can see my Uncle must have found a large photo of an aircraft instrument panel in a magazine and cut out all the main gauges and switches. He has then glued them onto a piece of card shaped to fit the instrument panel wall, then very carefully glued a piece of shaped perspex over the top for protection. A great job and although the pictures are now a little faded I decided I would probably do more harm than good trying to replace them! Edited August 31, 2014 by niceguygriffy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawkkeeper Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 A top restoration job, great looking machine & it's new owner looks well chuffed with his new charge. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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