Spitfires --- a pair of 2-Seaters !

[kitnut617]

Well, I was going to wait until I finished these before I posted anything, but considering all the excellent projects appearing on the forum I decided to show these now.  They're almost in a finished state but the last hurdle is taking me a little longer.  Work situation is taking my time plus some health issues are distracting me ---

So here we have a pair of 2-Seaters, both were intended for Tiger Force in an Alternative History.  One is a Trainer and the other, originally a Very Long Distance Fighter but as it turned out, a Dedicated Nightfighter. 

Originally the plan was to build a 2-Seater inspired by a profile Greg (GTX) had posted sometime ago where he had shown a 2-Seater Spitfire with a pair of ejection seats under a long Mustang style canopy.  However as things turned out it didn't quite go to plan. These are based on the Spitfire Mk.21/22 and I will endeavour to finish them before the end of the year. I'll post the builds later.

First up is what I call a Spitfire T Mk.21.






And this one I was initially calling a Spitfire NF.Mk.28 but I changed so much of it I think I'll call it a Supermarine Spectre NF Mk.2:

[Captain Canada]

Nice to see you building Robert ! Love the trainer, great idea.

[Tophe]

Congratulations!

[Librarian]

Very much like the trainer . Almost looks like like an early Tucano. Where did you source the canopy?

[McColm]

Great builds.

[Army of One]

Great pair.....!!!! Excuse my ignorance but is there a significance to the clear front of the centre tank of the NF variant...?? A search light...??

[kitnut617]

Thanks everyone, appreciate all the comments.

Great pair.....!!!! Excuse my ignorance but is there a significance to the clear front of the centre tank of the NF variant...?? A search light...??

Yes AoO, that's what it is.  This is a post-WWII operated machine and all the cat & mouse games, brinkmanship etc played out by the opposing forces had each side revelling in 'surprising' one another.  After the stalk the crew relished the moment when they would complete the interception by 'popping on' the light and illuminating the target ----  

Very much like the trainer . Almost looks like like an early Tucano. Where did you source the canopy?

Believe it or not, for both models the canopies come from a TA-4 Skyhawk, both heavily modified.  I found that the distance across the side rails were almost exactly the same as the Spitfire bubble canopy so fitted right on the corresponding fuselage of the Spitfire and in fact the very rear of the canopy on the Spectre NF Mk.2 is half a Spit canopy.

 

[Army of One]

I thought it may be....great job.....love the look of the a/c....

[kitbasher]

The yellow one is quite elegant - well done!

[kitnut617]

The yellow one is quite elegant - well done!

Nice to see you building Robert ! Love the trainer, great idea.

Thanks Todd, Kitbasher

[kitnut617]

Earlier today I was trying to find this thread, it didn't help that I had forgotten what I called it. I didn't realize that it's almost 8 years old either --- But when I did find it again, I saw all my pics had disappeared, curtesy of the PB fiasco. So I've update it showing the pics again, although I haven't finished either of them.

[kerick]

Makes me wonder what a modern built aircraft with a neat canopy like that would go for? Seeing that the real aircraft go for millions these days something with the performance and modern features and lower price might be attractive.

[kitnut617]

Sometime ago, I had written to the RAF Museum to see if I could get any info on Spitfires and Spitefuls. Apart from documents, thousands of production drawings are available for a price. I only bought a few as they were on the expensive side but if you had the money --------

[kitnut617]

So after replacing my photos, they've all disappeared again, thanks to the latest 3rd party host I'm using.

Oooo! fixed it ---- 

[NARSES2]

So after replacing my photos, they've all disappeared again, thanks to the latest 3rd party host I'm using.

Oooo! fixed it ----