AMC1965 Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Hi all, I have a query regarding the radio compartment on the spit. I have purchased the Eduard accessory and notice that the radio sits on a tray. Would this tray slide out to allow access to the radio? Or would they just lift it up off the trayand out? As part of my spit maintenance diorama I want to depict the radio being seen to. It is the one thing I can find no reference photos on. Plenty on cameras, engines and guns but not the radio. Many thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted March 16, 2021 Share Posted March 16, 2021 Closest thing I could find was the link to the Sq/Signal walkaround on the Spitfire. See the two photos of the radio bay. From the look of the lip at the bottom, it would appear that the radio equipment was not mounted on a sliding tray, but had to be detached from its mount and lifted out of the opening. Photos of restored Spits most likely would be useless as the old equipment is almost always replaced by modern avionics. Best I could find- sorry! If you're doing a diorama, just put an erk in front of the open radio access hatch with his hands on the radio! Mike http://www.hyperscale.com/2014/reviews/books/squadronspitfirewalkaroundreviewme_1.htm Where is our beloved Edgar when we really need him? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC1965 Posted March 16, 2021 Author Share Posted March 16, 2021 Ah many many thanks Mike, funnily enough I am waiting on that very publication, ordered it from Abe Books. Much appreciated your response. May just have the flap open and the radio being worked on, on a table so you can see into the compartment as there is some nice internal details with the Eduard kit..many thanks again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeSmith Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 AMC1965. The transmitter receiver was secured to it's own tray which as a unit was then offered up and in through the fuselage radio access door. There are rollers on the forward/entry end of the transmitter/receiver tray that engage on the fixed structure in the fuselage. The sides of the fixed structure are shaped like a ramp. As the transmitter/receiver is slid into place down the ramp and bottoms out at full travel, an extension of the roller assembly engages in a socket to secure the tray, as well as a pair of latches utilized at the door end. I don't have the means to post/show you pictures on here. Hopefully my description will be sufficient. 72modeler's link does show the fixed (ramp sided) structure through the radio access door that the transmitter/receiver tray slides down. Cheers Joe 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC1965 Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 Hi Joe, No, that, when read in context with Mike's photo, makes perfect sense. Many thanks for that. I am displaying the radio as out and being tinkered with so will fabricate a tray based on your description to go under it. Thank u very much for your assistance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 5 hours ago, JoeSmith said: Hopefully my description will be sufficient. Your description makes perfect sense. I couldn't figure out how the radio assembly could be slid into place with the tray being so far below the lower lip of the radio hatch, but the extended rollers explains that! I searched and searched, using every word combination I could think of, and couldn't come up with any photos or factory diagrams that showed the installation clearly. Thanks for helping AMC1965 out! Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 Does this help? Sorry I do not have a better image. Ray 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 I note that the drawing above says it is an installation for the TR 1133 and TR 1143. There is another sheet for the installation of the earlier TR 9D. Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC1965 Posted March 18, 2021 Author Share Posted March 18, 2021 Hi Ray, that is a really big help? Does the TR 9D differ much? I am doing a Mk 1a and it would have had the 9D as opposed to the 1133. Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 23 minutes ago, AMC1965 said: Does the TR 9D differ much? Hi Andy, I would have to do a bit more digging. Hopefully someone will come in with the info. I expect the size is comparable though. Seems a decent sized unit with, I expect, a comparable tray when you watch the early Spitfire maintenance video. The wireless maintenance comes up first in this part if you have not seen it already: Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray_W Posted March 18, 2021 Share Posted March 18, 2021 29 minutes ago, AMC1965 said: I am doing a Mk 1a and it would have had the 9D as opposed to the 1133. Found it. TR-9D Ray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC1965 Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 Hi all, many many thanks for the information. I think I have everything I need (apart from the 9D itself) to complete a fair replica of the radio compartment and equipment. I will order the 9D from Model Monkeys now they have reopened. Again, many thanks, great website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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