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Spitfire Mk.IA (1/48 Tamiya)+bonus


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Very nice build and figures.

fine model, but did this early bird really have the IFF equipment? Checked with fotos. Can't see them.

Apparently yes, have a peek at http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-masts-and-aerials.html/2

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Very nice build and figures.

Apparently yes, have a peek at http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-masts-and-aerials.html/2

Apparently not. ;-) Quoted from that excellent page:

"When modelling a Battle of Britain era Spitfire Mk. I four combinations are possible:

  1. Early rod mast, HF TR 9 radio with wire to the rudder.
  2. Tapered mast with triangular prong, TR 9 radio with wire from fuselage to mast and from mast to rudder.
  3. Tapered mast without triangular prong, VHF TR 1133 radio, no wire although the rudder post may still be fitted.
  4. Ditto 3; IFF fitted wires running from fuselage roundel to leading edge of tailplane tips. An insulator in the form off a small dot is visible just forward of upper part of the red centre spot."

The way I read it, BoB Spits with aerial wire from the antenna post to the rudder did not have the IFF antennas fitted. The only version with IFF wires appears to have been case #4 above, which refers to #3 with no radio aerial wire (because it had the VHF radio fitted).

Kind regards,

Joachim

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Very nice build and figures.

Apparently yes, have a peek at http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-masts-and-aerials.html/2

If you look at the first, a Mk.I from 19 sqdn, QV&I, definitely has no wires at all, not for the radio nor for the IFF. I copied the foto into GIMP and sharpened it a couple of times, but still I cannot see anything. This is expactable, as the IFF only began to be introduced in late September, according to the very same article. So I would very much like to be directed to a foto of QJ&B having all these antennas.

The next foto is a Mk.V from Gilbraltar, with the IFF antennas.

By the way, in another discussion only a few weeks old, it was maintained that you never saw a Spitfire with both radio antennas and IFF wires, as the radio system was exchanged in the summer of 1940, and the VHF didn't need an aerial antenna, while the IFF system evidently was introduced a few month later.

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