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Spitfire Mk.I/Ia books?


Bozothenutter

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Being on a book buying spree,  it seems I'm in need of books on the early Spitfire.

 

I already have  Andy Saunders "Spitfire Mk.I P9374" and the Haynes book on the Merlin.

Any other that are 'must have's?

I'm more into the technical side of stuff, so rebuilds, restorations, aircraft in bits etc, would have my preference.

 

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"Spitfire  Classic Aircraft  No.1  Their history and how to model them". Roy Cross & Gerald Scarborough 1971 PSL Publishing .  Based on improving the Airfix 1/24th Spitfire lots of useful diagrams and information despite its age. 

 

"Spitfire In My Workshop"  David Glenn. How he built the 1:5th scale model in the entrance hall to the RAF Museum Hendon. Lots of building techniques. https://www.spitfireinmyworkshop.net

 

 

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On 4/8/2021 at 4:16 PM, T-21 said:

"Spitfire  Classic Aircraft  No.1  Their history and how to model them". Roy Cross & Gerald Scarborough 1971 PSL Publishing .  Based on improving the Airfix 1/24th Spitfire lots of useful diagrams and information despite its age. 

 

"Spitfire In My Workshop"  David Glenn. How he built the 1:5th scale model in the entrance hall to the RAF Museum Hendon. Lots of building techniques. https://www.spitfireinmyworkshop.net

 

 

Love that 'Spitfire in my workshop'  book!

I have something similar from my car building days by Gerald Wingrove.

Another book that teaches not only scratchbuilding skills, but 'eye' skills as well.

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  • 2 months later...

From several comments on here I gather Alfred Price is the goto author on all things concerning Spitfires, but......

 

Which one???????

 

'prolific' doesn't begin to describe his oeuvre!

From experience books are often retitled, reprinted, republished while the content remains the same, so which ones are the ones to get?

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8 minutes ago, Bozothenutter said:

From several comments on here I gather Alfred Price is the goto author on all things concerning Spitfires, but......

 

Which one???????

 

'prolific' doesn't begin to describe his oeuvre!

From experience books are often retitled, reprinted, republished while the content remains the same, so which ones are the ones to get?

 

The Alfred Price book to get is The Spitfire Story.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-Story-Dr-Alfred-Price/dp/184425819X

 

Very good for sorting out marks, but no Seafires.

 

While not Mk.I specific, for the modeller, Spitfire at War, 1,2,3 are all excellent references,  they are in a format of short articles, with masses of photos, often large. 

volume 1 and 2 were published as a one volume BTW

this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Spitfire-Complete-Fighting-Alfred-Price/dp/1856480151

the original issues have glossier paper, and can be got cheap.  Had them for years. great books.

 

On 08/04/2021 at 11:43, treker_ed said:

What about the Airframe & Miniature book on the Merlin engine spitfires?

 

https://www.valiant-wings.co.uk/airframe--miniature-no12-second-edition-2802-p.asp

 

I have recently got their Hurricane book.  In a word, 'shoddy'  

Also I have read negative opinion from informed commenters on their Boomerang and Mosquito books.  Treat with caution.  

 

HTH

 

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Get this cheaply enough and you have a one stop shop for all marks of Spitfire and Seafire.

 

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/Spitfire-History-Shacklady-Edward-Morgan-Eric/30927620691/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-UK_Shopp_Tradestandard-_-product_id=COUK9780946219100USED-_-keyword=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwlMaGBhD3ARIsAPvWd6iBJqGWtNHsXHg-WJo938CwmMGpwGCIL0EWdJCFD4iLNTkbauxibtgaArXjEALw_wcB

 

Some details may now have been superseded but for its sheer scope it’s well worth it. Second edition was slightly revised.

 

Trevor

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14 minutes ago, Max Headroom said:

Some details may now have been superseded but for its sheer scope it’s well worth it.

I still rate the Price -Spitfire Story over this for an introduction to the variants.

 

While a monster of a book, over 600 pages, a good chunk is the serial listing, which is available online

http://www.airhistory.org.uk/spitfire/production.html

 

Part of my reason I was less impressed when I got a copy to be honest, was invaluable when first published.

 

Well worth picking up if cheap, they will turn up for about £20 if you wait.

 

 

14 minutes ago, Max Headroom said:

 

Second edition was slightly revised.

Apparently the drawings are not as well reproduced.  I don't have it confirm though. 

 

HTH

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Picked up the Haynes Spitfire 'manual' at a recycling shop for €0.50.

Disappointing book really, they seem to make little effort in distinguishing between the marks, so it all is 'a Spitfire'.

Anybody know what the 'restoration manual' is like?

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