dambuster Posted August 25, 2010 Author Share Posted August 25, 2010 A bit more progress. This is not the wing that I will be using but it gives an impression of how she will look. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tc2324 Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Nicely blended there dambuster. Looking forward to the next shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaiidanTomcat Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I love how this looks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenDragon Posted August 25, 2010 Share Posted August 25, 2010 That's looking great Peter, I was expecting a twin jet for some reason! Nice cowling. Paul Harrison Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousDFB1 Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Looking good, nice work getting it all to fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsrjoe Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 looks really neat, different for sure too, theres some other 'jet spit' builds over on the 'what if' modellers site too ... http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/to...t+spitfire.html cheers, joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Starting to look good, you've got some serious filling to do. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted September 5, 2010 Author Share Posted September 5, 2010 (edited) Progress to date. During development of the design Spermaine realised that there could be a substantial heat and pressure build up in the engine compartment and incorporated some dissipation vents into the rear of the upper cowling as seen here and added a cooling flap underneath as part of the wing structure. Someone asked how the jet thrust would work: Still some touching up and panel lines to do..... in case anyone is wondering the exhausts were made from a couple of pieces of very thick sprue from the kit, heated over a candle, bent to shape for each side, trimmed and drilled out. Peter Edited September 5, 2010 by dambuster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaiidanTomcat Posted September 5, 2010 Share Posted September 5, 2010 Looking very smooth. This will look fast when finished, I can tell already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilfish Posted September 6, 2010 Share Posted September 6, 2010 Someone asked how the jet thrust would work: That would be me......Makes sense now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted September 10, 2010 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I'm impressed with your finish so far, I'm thinking this will look good. Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted September 13, 2010 Author Share Posted September 13, 2010 Latest update. Need to fill and finish the folding-wing joint, especially the underside, add cannon, tidy up a few minor blemishes and then the aiframe is complete. Engine jet pipe temporarily removed to get access to wing roots. Tricky getting the Seafire 47 wings to fit at the root; designed an underfuselage fairing at the leading edge - made from miliput wet shaped then sanded to shape. Next update will probably be at the end of the month when I hope to have it filled, scribed and primed. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 coming on in leaps & bounds..... shape is still "spit" if a little blunt.... looking forward to seeing it progress further Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted October 2, 2010 Author Share Posted October 2, 2010 Amid conditions of great security the prototype was rolled out of the paint shop resplendent in day fighter camouflage on 2 October. Unfortunately cameras were not allowed...... Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muller Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 Loving these updates! The jet spit is looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 From the Aeroplane Spotter, 14 Nov 1944. We have been supplied these pictures by a correspondent who obtained them from a source inside the RAF. Of poor quality they appear to substantiate the rumours that have persisted since October about a new variant of the Spitfire powered by an as yet unidentified engine. The last photograph is most interesting as it appears to confirm that a new 'thrust compression' engine has been developed that does not require a propellor to act upon the air. Note what appears to be a large exhaust pipe on the side of the fuselage, well back from where a normal piston engine would exhaust. The characteristic underwing radiators and underfuselage carbouretter housing of the Spitfire are also missing, which leads to the conclusion that the new engine is air cooled and has some direct form of fuel injection. It is believed that the propellor that can be seen fitted in the initial photographs is non-functioning and is removed before flight. Its purpose may be to make the aircraft appear to a casual observer the same as all other Spitfire variants. The exacy unit that operates this aircraft is unknown, but sources suggest that it has been newly formed and may be No 629 Squadron. Code letters appear to be 'XL', which have previousy been allocated to non-operational units; again a possible disguise as to the true purpose of the Squadron. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 From the Aeroplane Spotter, 14 Nov 1944.We have been supplied these pictures by a correspondent who obtained them from a source inside the RAF. Of poor quality they appear to substantiate the rumours that have persisted since October about a new variant of the Spitfire powered by an as yet unidentified engine. The last photograph is most interesting as it appears to confirm that a new 'thrust compression' engine has been developed that does not require a propellor to act upon the air. Note what appears to be a large exhaust pipe on the side of the fuselage, well back from where a normal piston engine would exhaust. The characteristic underwing radiators and underfuselage carbouretter housing of the Spitfire are also missing, which leads to the conclusion that the new engine is air cooled and has some direct form of fuel injection. It is believed that the propellor that can be seen fitted in the initial photographs is non-functioning and is removed before flight. Its purpose may be to make the aircraft appear to a casual observer the same as all other Spitfire variants. The exacy unit that operates this aircraft is unknown, but sources suggest that it has been newly formed and may be No 629 Squadron. Code letters appear to be 'XL', which have previousy been allocated to non-operational units; again a possible disguise as to the true purpose of the Squadron. Peter There's something fishy about this: I can't find this article anywhere in my 16 (not 14) Nov 1944 copy of "Aeroplane Spotter". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 (edited) There's something fishy about this: I can't find this article anywhere in my 16 (not 14) Nov 1944 copy of "Aeroplane Spotter". Following publication of this article the security services quickly clamped down on the story. Most copies of the Aeroplane Spotter dated 14 Nov 1944 were destroyed, and a censored issue was quickly published on the 16th. Peter Edited October 3, 2010 by dambuster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Col. Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Yes very good. Now stop teasing us and lets see some proper photos! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanflyer Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Looking strangely plausible, Peter. This is what Whiffery is all about - lots of putty and sanding, and if it doesn't fit, engineer a solution. I like the idea of fitting a fake prop for misdirectional purposes, very wartime MoD. Personally I think I'd mount the prop on permanently and call it a turboprop Spitfire! I love your attention to detail such as removing the underwing radiators, and in that spirit, one or two comments if I may - the horizontal bar across the intake was only on the Meteor because it was the leading edge wing spar, and wouldn't be needed in your installation. All it would do is serve as an impedance to the intake airflow. Also your hot jet exhaust gases would do nasty things to the thin ally of the Spit's fuselage - are you intending to fit some sort of deflection plates there, as seen on the Seahawk and the Harrier for instance? Not intended as criticism, but I can see you're putting a lot of work into this and if something doesn't ring true you might want to change it. Really looking forward to seeing the full colour rollout - Kodachrome was available in 1944 you know! Cheers, Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Hi Dean, Thanks for the comments. Initially I omitted the horizontal bar in the intakes but then I decided that it would be necessary in the real aircraft to provide some additional structural support for the engine. Regarding deflection plates - this too had occurred to me - at one point I considered adding a strip of reinforcing material along the exterior of the fuselage and leaving it natural metal to act as a form of heat shield. Who knows, maybe the Supermarine engineers are even now working on some modifications...... Peter Looking strangely plausible, Peter. This is what Whiffery is all about - lots of putty and sanding, and if it doesn't fit, engineer a solution. I like the idea of fitting a fake prop for misdirectional purposes, very wartime MoD. Personally I think I'd mount the prop on permanently and call it a turboprop Spitfire!I love your attention to detail such as removing the underwing radiators, and in that spirit, one or two comments if I may - the horizontal bar across the intake was only on the Meteor because it was the leading edge wing spar, and wouldn't be needed in your installation. All it would do is serve as an impedance to the intake airflow. Also your hot jet exhaust gases would do nasty things to the thin ally of the Spit's fuselage - are you intending to fit some sort of deflection plates there, as seen on the Seahawk and the Harrier for instance? Not intended as criticism, but I can see you're putting a lot of work into this and if something doesn't ring true you might want to change it. Really looking forward to seeing the full colour rollout - Kodachrome was available in 1944 you know! Cheers, Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pte1643 Posted October 8, 2010 Share Posted October 8, 2010 Someone asked how the jet thrust would work: I wouldn't like to be the ground crew kneeling on the wing when the pilot started that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benskipper Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 (edited) I wouldn't like to be the ground crew kneeling on the wing when the pilot started that up. Blue Jobs always had it easy... Edited October 9, 2010 by benskipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Smith Posted October 10, 2010 Share Posted October 10, 2010 . I like the idea of fitting a fake prop for misdirectional purposes, very wartime MoD. the USAAF actually did this with the P-59 Airacomet for those very reasons. cheers T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dambuster Posted October 16, 2010 Author Share Posted October 16, 2010 (edited) OK - gone as far as I want to with this one. To recap - Academy Spitfire XIVe fuselage, Airfix Seafire FR47 Wings, AMT Meteor engine cowlings, Tamiya Meteor F1 engine, finished in Xtracrylix with assorted decals. With its stablemate Peter Edited October 16, 2010 by dambuster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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