Airfix 1/72 Spitfire Va/IIa kit

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

It doesn't tell you to remove the fabric effect from the ailerons. I though Spitifre V's all had metal ailerons.

 

thanks

Mike

[bharris]

On 9/25/2016 at 8:29 AM, Dave Fleming said:

 

Possibly the instructions completed before the colour schemes were finalised, and they forgot to amend the instructions?

But they include in the instructions fitting the Rotol prop for the Mk II.  Curiouser and curiouser...

[FZ6]

On 24/09/2016 at 11:27 PM, Dave Fleming said:

Different 164 Squadron aircraft, MK Va P9563

 

I wonder what colour the dark panel is on the underside of the cowl on this aircraft?

 

Regards,

 

Mark

[bharris]

^{Finally sorted out the oil cooler mystery.}

^{There are two Airfix kits with Mk II options out of the box (the MkI/IIa A02010 and MkVa/II), and I have both.  Comparing the instruction sheets comes up with the following:}

^{The first has a Mk II from May 1941}

^{The second has a Mk II from September 1940.}

^{In neither case do the instructions say that the oil cooler should be different from the main subject (ie that on the box art).}

^{So... out of the box the early Mk II uses the Mk V oil cooler, and the late Mk II uses the Mk I oil cooler!!!} 

^{Might I suggest that these fittings be reversed if you're building a Mk II from these kits.}

^{Given the Airfix instructions cover other differences between the Mk II and the other option, I don't know how they missed this one not once but twice.}

[charlie_c67]

I'm afraid I'm going to be a pleb and ask what the difference is please? I've no idea! Though I thought someone said both types were in the Mk I/IIa boxing?

[Greenshirt]

If asking about the oil cooler, the Mk V (actually called a Mk III oil cooler back then) is larger and more circular to provide more cooler to the more powerful Merlin 45(?) on the Mk V. The oil cooler used on the Mk I/II is smaller and semi-circular. The later Mk V oil cooler was sometimes retrofitted to existing Mk I or II airframes as they needed replacing; likely due to a scarcity of spares. 

[VMA131Marine]

So, the default oil cooler for a Mk.II is the early style. The round intake Mk.V cooler should only be fitted if you have specific evidence that the airframe you are modelling had it. 

 

I'm not sure if the retrofitting of the Mk.V cooler was an issue with lack of spares though. The Mk.II was especially prone to engine overheating with the original oil cooler.

[Work In Progress]

If a Mark II lived long enough to need a new oil cooler there's no advantage at all to fitting another small one if you had Mark V ones in stock, so it would just be common sense both to standardise the spares supply chain on the superior updated product, and to fit it whenever the opportunity or need arose.

[johnd]

I noticed that the instructions for the Va do not specify the yellow leading edge, despite regulations stating that they should be in place for Fighter Command aircraft in that period. Also, the picture in post #28 from FZ6, of a Spitfire from the same squadron at the same time, appears to show it.  So do Airfix have a photo showing their absence or is it a mistake and I have to paint them on? 

 

John.

[charlie_c67]

 

 

Any help?

[Graham Boak]

On 25/09/2016 at 5:13 PM, Mikemx said:

It doesn't tell you to remove the fabric effect from the ailerons. I though Spitifre V's all had metal ailerons.

 

thanks

Mike

The intention was to build all Mk.Vs with metal ailerons, but this was not achieved and many early ones were delivered with fabric-covered ailerons.

 

The central part under the nose is not a panel per se but the outer skin of the oil tank.  Which doesn't tell you the colour, sorry.

 

R7347 seems to have developed a nasty oil leak between the two photos.  I wonder if this has anything to do with the X on the oil tank?

[johnd]

10 hours ago, charlie_c67 said:

Any help?

 

Lovely photos but I think that one's in Temperate Land Scheme and pre-dates the yellow identification bands. 

 

Thanks,

John.

[charlie_c67]

Also interesting to note the different colour tailplane in the second pic!