Supermarine Spitfire and Seafire

[Mossie]

Okay, hopefully this is the final revision.  Does this look okay?  Same as before, but supercharger realigned and carb and oil pumps a little higher.

[Mossie]

Been busy for a few weeks, but I've finally got around to creating a Spitfire profile based on the previous revision of the inverted Merlin:



Any comments?

[PR19_Kit]

It'd probably work mechanically, but it's not as pretty as the original version to my mind.

[Mossie]

I see the deep chin of the Merlin engine spitfires as it's least flattering feature.  Not to say it's bad, just a little reprofiling would be perfect.  I find the Griffon engine Spits a bit more pleasing aesthetically, although I actually prefer the earliest marks for modelling.

I prefer the cowling shape on this one, but I do find that the low exhaust gives a snarling or buck toothed look that can detract a lot from the overall impression.

One thing that comes from this version is that there's plenty of room above the cowling for MG's similar to the DB powered machines, that might mitigate the need for longer undercarriage struts due to the lower prop.  I haven't drawn that in as it's not really a feature of British WWII aircraft.  Another way would be for the undercarriage to retract slightly into the wings, which I think happens on the '109?

[pyro-manic]

I quite like that, actually. How about a low-back variant (Mk.XVI?)?

[Mossie]

Here's the Mark XVI (actually an FR.XIV but with the new nose, it's close enough for a look-see)



Compared to the earlier mark:

[kitnut617]

IMO Simon, the low back would have the same nose as the earlier Spit. It looks like you've stretched the nose to suit the length that a Griffon engine Spit was and I thought this was an inverted Merlin 

[Mossie]

I went by a web page that stated the cowlings of the Merlin engine Spitfires were extended for the Mk.IX and Mk.XVI to make room for the larger supercharger.
http://spitfiresite.com/2010/04/spitfire-mk-ix-xi-and-xvi-variants-much-varied.html

This might well make it plastic, I've offered up a Whirwind cowling to Mark I that I'd butchered the Merlin from for a stalled project.  Should work, with a little putty.

[Mossie]

I've got this on the go at the moment, the Whirlwind cowling worked well, with plenty of Milliput and a half undercarriage wheel for the extreme nose. Trouble is, just as I'm getting somewhere, I dropped the canopy and stepped on it!

I've got a flat canopy from the Mk.I/Mk.IIa that's a possibility.  I'd thought about this early on as early development, but I discounted it as looking too Bf-109 alike.  This is something I'm trying to avoid as I'm sure I'll be accused of Germanising the Spitfire, all I want to show is an alternative design route.  Still, I might have to as it's all I've got and I'm hoping to get it done for Telford.  I might just tack it down and change it when I can get hold of a replacement.

[Captain Canada]

Too bad about the canopy ! A common problem tho....drop it, step back to look for it and *crunch*. The new nose profiles look good, I'm especially fond of the late mark.

[NARSES2]

Mossie

I've got the bubble canopy from the new tool Mk I/IIa kit spare. Can post it to you if you want ?

PM me your address if wanted

Chris

[Mossie]

Too bad about the canopy ! A common problem tho....drop it, step back to look for it and *crunch*. The new nose profiles look good, I'm especially fond of the late mark.

That's exactly how it happened, stepped back where it couldn't possibly be and 'oh, s%@t!!!  Not the first time I've done it with a canopy either.

I might do a later mark at some point.

[Mossie]

Mossie

I've got the bubble canopy from the new tool Mk I/IIa kit spare. Can post it to you if you want ?

PM me your address if wanted

Chris

Chris, that's fantastic mate, PM on it's way.

[DarrenP]

could the spitfire airframe have accepted the vulture engine?

[The Wooksta!]

No, Vulture was much larger.