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Vol 2 All the Spitfire questions here


Sean_M

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Artwork in Spitfire International shows the aircraft much as in the Alley Cat artwork but with Red spinner. The restored 5518 is shown on the cover as 5553 AX.K (all yellow) with a red spinner. However, if you look to the more reliable source of Ron Belling's paintings, you will see yellow spinners on 1 Sq's aircraft, however with all-yellow codes and RAF Day Fighter camouflage, and orange centres to the roundels. The two examples in Belling's book of the EDSG scheme with Springboks has no code letters and either red or dark blue spinners.

Turning to Steven McLean's The Spitfire in SAAF Service, we find that postwar 1 Sq had yellow or blue spinners, red being reserved for 2 Sq. The Springbok roundels appeared with the EDSG over MSG scheme in 1950, retaining the previous spinner colours. "Squadron codes and individual aircraft identification letters were removed in most instances." Most, the man says. 5503 stayed with 1 Sq until February 1951. The photo above is in this book and dated to January 1948, the aircraft being in Day Fighter colours. he states that the yellow was applied to the spinners in the late 1940s.

I can't find an example with the mix of white and yellow codes. Perhaps you could ask Alley Cat where they got their information from?

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Nice pic! No stencils by the looks of things :P

Ben

Except that repainted SAAF Spitfires with the Impala(?) roundel have the Engine Starting Stencil on the cowling as per the cropped image of 5593.

PeterA

Edited by Mark12
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Graham - It appears from your response that you have a copy of "Spitfire International." I don't have access to this book, but understand that on page 327 of it there is a photo of some No.1 Squadron SAAF Spitifires in flight in 1951. I absolutely do not want to cause anyone any copyright trouble, but if this photo isn't under copyright I wonder if I could impose on you to post it.

If it's not possible to do so, I wonder if you'd be willing to take a look at the photo in your book to see if any of the aircraft in it fit the general markings of the decals for A*XB?

Many thanks.

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In this photo, the aircraft carrying full codes are still in Day Fighter. Two aircraft lack any codes and appear to be in a monotone (presumably the EDSG) with small roundels on the upper wing near the tips. None have Springboks. See PM

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I have managed to locate (not yet purchased) a 1/48 Airfix Mk.Va kit (A50030) which might fit the bill for my Mk.Va,b,c collection. However, I have read somewhere that the kit suffers from a number of problems, details of which I can't remember, and would appreciate any advice which might be available.

TIA

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I have managed to locate (not yet purchased) a 1/48 Airfix Mk.Va kit (A50030) which might fit the bill for my Mk.Va,b,c collection. However, I have read somewhere that the kit suffers from a number of problems, details of which I can't remember, and would appreciate any advice which might be available.

TIA

this is the older tool Spitfire I/II kit, just boxed as Va, so just new decals

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/137661-airfix-a50030-supermarine-spitfire-mkva

No point buying, just get the new Mk I kit, IIRC it has the circular oil cooler on the sprues as well as the Mk I cooler. Check some sprue shots here to confirm.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have just purchase the Airfix 1/48 Spitfire Mk.I kit (A05126) with the intention of doing a Mk.Va conversion - thanks to Troy's recommendation. I have identified several suitable subjects 9 i.e those for which decals are readily available) as follows :

R7335 (FJ-N)

W3185 (D-B

R7220 (FJ-K)

I am not certain of the correct propeller type(s) (DH or Rotol) for these subjects and would appreciate any advice.

One point about the kit is that when I took the contents out of the plastic bag I found two small, identical bits which bore no evidence of having been attached to a sprue. In fact the bits were attached to what seemed to be their own individual, very short sprues. The main sprues themselves appeared to be complete, showing no signs of parts having accidentally broken off. Might these bits be parts of the Mk.I Spit ? They do not appear in the instructions. Any suggestions (polite) would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

John

Edited by Sky Pilot
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Bob

Many thanks for the info. I assume that the DH prop was fitted because the Mk Ias (what few there were) were built at Eastleigh.

I'm sorry that I didn't mention, in my previous reply, that I needed to know a couple of other "little" things i.e.

Did the Mk Va have the same, rectangular, rear view mirror and reflector gunsight as the mk Ia ?

I hope I'm not asking too much.

John

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Hello in the BoB Group Build I'm doing Spitfire I DW*O of 610 Squadron. As you can imagine specific photos are rare and all I can find are the Tamiya 1/72 and 1/48 built up models like this

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pgmxuPRFcLs/TRqaDbh2msI/AAAAAAAAHT4/5axuioSpVhY/s1600/spit_DW-O_2_light.JPG

My problem is this. They all depict the aircraft with undersised wing roundels and not the usual (56"?) type. Is there any evidence that this was the case? All other 610 Sqn machines of which I have seen upper views, seem to have 'normal' size.

The only photo of DW*O I have seen is this (or a variation of it)

https://scarfandgoggles.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/610_june_1940_1.jpg

As you can see it's a sideways only view. Incidentally I may be imagining things but that tail flash to me is reversed in colours as well as being undernourished. So if it did fly with shrunken wing roundels as well as the tail flash, that would be unusual?

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Trevor

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  • 2 weeks later...

Could anyone advise me if there were ever any Spitfire Vbs that were clipped wing - not "LF" - not tropicalized - camouflaged for ETO. I've spent many happy (?) hours searching for such a bird. If one should turn up I suspect that suitable decals will be a problem necessitating my building them up from various sources.

It goes without saying that any advice will be greatly appreciated.

I'm certainly no expert but sometimes luck plays a part!

I have just come across Colorado sheet 48.89 Spitfire & Hurricane Portuguese Air Force and one scheme is Spitfre Vb MR+S No 36 There is no colour code at all on the instructions so I don't know about the scheme. Air Enthusiast 13(?) has an article that's relevant which I hope to get access to shortly....The drawing shows three exhaust stubs but I'm not certain that's correct.

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Could anyone advise me if there were ever any Spitfire Vbs that were clipped wing - not "LF" - not tropicalized - camouflaged for ETO. I've spent many happy (?) hours searching for such a bird. If one should turn up I suspect that suitable decals will be a problem necessitating my building them up from various sources.

It goes without saying that any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Yes there were.

IMG_0001_zps9lpyo2fc.jpg

The one under everybody's noses. As Wojtek Matusiak has said “probably never captioned correctly”. BL479 was not a LF.V. SZ codes were also used by Northolt Wing and Station HQs. BL479 was “owned” by G/Cpt M.W.S.Robinson, Northolt Station Commander, which explains the showroom finish and lack of any chessboards.

IMG_0011_zpsouh0j7lb.jpg

After Zumbach replaced BM144 it was repainted and recode as H 'Halszka'. Later, along with 303 squadron's other Mk Vs, the wings were clipped.

IMG_0013_zpswd5zv7ef.jpg

IMG_0015_zpsaixzcorg.jpg

IMG_0005_zpsshndoozl.jpg

Transferred to 315 Squadron and repainted again, it was given the codes PK*O.

IMG_0012_zpseiklyerx.jpg

IMG_0014_zpsttcvnbio.jpg

EN951, the third of Zumbach's RF*Ds, continued to serve with 303 Squadron as RF*D after Zumbach had left. It too had its wings clipped. Zumbach's personal markings have been removed but it still has Zumbach's elongated mirror. It too was transferred to 315 Squadron where it was coded PK*D.

IMG_0002_zpsclj7muws.jpg

BM309 RF*E. Retained by 303 Squadron for training purposes after converting to Mk IXs.

IMG_0003_zpsqtm4j0bt.jpg

IMG_0007_zpsbqrdqy0g.jpg

AR338, PK*P.

IMG_0004_zpsmipfehuw.jpg

IMG_0008_zpsoo0ie92x.jpg

The other Spitfire, BL670 PK*B. BL670 had previously belonged to 303 Squadron's CO S/Ldr Kołaczkowski coded RF*K 'Krysia'. BL670 was the presentation Spitfire Ever Ready II.

IMG_0009_zpsa8w5qbaz.jpg

IMG_0006_zpsu6qrvgb4.jpg

IMG_zpsnarxgqvn.jpg

AR451 PK*U, BL993 PK*X and BM537 PX*T. Escorting Gen Sosnkowski's Lockheed 12 afternoon 12th August 1943, leaving Ballyhalbert.

Edited by 303sqn
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SleeperService

I am very grateful for your efforts and would appreciate details of what you discover from Air Enthusiast 13.

303squ

Many thanks for your response. The info provided presents me with several interesting alternatives. Things are gradually coming together.

Cheers

John

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  • 2 weeks later...

Looking for more details and information on Spitfire IX from 73 sq in Italy 1944

Spitfire Mk.IX MJ116 73 sq the period from July to September 1944 in Italy

Spitfire HFIXC ML425 73sq the period from July to September 1944 in Italy

Looking for photos or profiles I searched on the internet and I found nothing special.

Can anyone help me more.

P.k

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I've just picked up an Airfix 1/48 boxing of the Spitfire Vb of which I am having a great time building up. It's a wonderful kit and I'm really pleased with how they've supplied all the the parts to build most versions of the Vb, but as I'm spitfire illiterate, I have very little idea as to what the options represent or how they relate.

For example, from what I have read so far, Castle Bromwich produced example's apperantly used the Rotol propeller whereas Supermarine use the Dehaviland. But as well there are 3 different windscreens plus 3 different sliding portions, 3 different exhaust manifolds, and 2 different oil coolers, and I'm wondering what the differences represent.

There are also included bombs and racks but no assembly instructions so I'm curious as to how they go together and despite searches I have found little about that variant so I am interested in learning more about it.

As I want to do an OG/DG/MSG scheme I ordered X48093 from Hannants which looks to have some interesting options, if anyone who is familiar with it and/or any of its subjects has any comments I'd be most interested in hearing them. I would post a build thread but all I have is an android and apperantly posting pics and smilies are not an option.

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Hi just a simple question if anyone could answer please?

Does anyone know the engine cowling length differential of the early (Mk I to Mk VI) and later (Mk VII to Mk IX/XVI) Merlin variants please?

Or the length of the Tamiya XVI cowling at least- either will do.

Many thanks Adrian

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Going on memory, 9" cowling length increase.

For example, from what I have read so far, Castle Bromwich produced example's apperantly used the Rotol propeller whereas Supermarine use the Dehaviland. But as well there are 3 different windscreens plus 3 different sliding portions, 3 different exhaust manifolds, and 2 different oil coolers, and I'm wondering what the differences represent.

As I want to do an OG/DG/MSG scheme I ordered X48093 from Hannants which looks to have some interesting options, if anyone who is familiar with it and/or any of its subjects has any comments I'd be most interested in hearing them. I would post a build thread but all I have is an android and apperantly posting pics and smilies are not an option.

Bombs and racks not on Vb- not under the wing, anyway- one under the belly perhaps.

I don't have the kit, but if one oil cooler is "half-round" that's for the Mk.I/II, while the fully round intake version is for the Mk.V. If both are round intake, the one with a "tail" is for Tropical, whereas the Temperate style is a smooth fairing line.

On the windscreen, original (Mk.V) was a rounded shape, with armour glass added externally, later came a flat-paned windscreen. Hoods (canopies) correspond to the choice of windscreen, but also flat-sided hoods (curved top) came first, "balloon" hood came late, where the sides are also bulged. Generally speaking, aircraft retained the windscreen they were built with, but might have gotten later style hoods along the way.

Exhausts: first was "round" (the back one, at least), then came "fishtail", and some had a tube run through to heat the guns- but sometimes this was disabled, so the tube remained, but was open at the back and not plumbed into the fuselage.

Hope that gets you started, and others with specifics will be along soon, I'm sure.

bob

Edited by gingerbob
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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Hello, I have a doubt regarding the Mk I Spitfire's walkways, in their part close to the tips.

I wonder if they arrives to the tips and ended there, or if they makes a 90° turn and goes up to the leading edge of the wing ?

And furthermore....my choice is WZ-T of 19 sq at Duxford press day....I know that the early yellow surrounded roundels were painted over and replaced by B types, and I know that this examples had just one roundel per wing (one upper and one lower).

Considering that the overpainting of yellow ring in the fuselage is clearly visible, is it realistic that a large overpainting was done also on upper right wing to cancel the roundel by re-tracing the camo scheme with fresh paint ?

TIA

MAurizio

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All this about clipped wings and normal span wings. I have mentioned it before, but the RDAF flew Spitfire IXe's after the war, sometimes with clipped wing sometimes with the normal. Jacob Stoppel once told me that he had it from the horse's mouth: it depended most of what was available on some special day. I am quite sure that during the war it was a major decision, but how long time did it take to change from one configuration to another?

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What type of covering/seal was used to cover the inner .50 gun port on the E-wing Spitfire?. It looks like tape was used in most cases, but some pictures almost seem to show a flat, solid type of cover. Perhaps this was more of a post war practice, or a recent modification to the current flying E-wing Spitfires. Any information that can be provided will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

roncl

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