In a recent article in Aeroplane magazine, the RAFM`s head of collections, Ian Thirsk makes reference to the internal armour windscreen on Spitfire X4590. He states that even though it is a later modification, it forms part of X4590`s history and therefore will not be changed. I think that he is mistaken because i have seen many pictures of this Spitfire in the 1960`s with its original external armour windscreen. Does anybody on this forum have any memory of when it was changed?. I seem to remember reading that the BBMF took it for P7350 but i could be mistaken.
By: One of the Few - 17th June 2016 at 22:54
Much appreciated Mark, thank you for helping with my inquiry. With hindsight, i wish that Spitfire R6915 had been the fighter chosen to be put back into Battle of Britain colours before X4590, as befitting such a star veteran, but that is another debate entirely!! 🙂
By: Mark12 - 17th June 2016 at 19:51
The front windscreen assembly was switched by the RAF Exhibition Flight at least four years before the RAF Museum opened in 1972.
Mark
By: One of the Few - 17th June 2016 at 18:22
You could be right Mark. I could have sworn that i read an article somewhere saying that the windscreen was swapped to go on an airworthy early Spitfire. If the museum did just take it off themselves i wonder where the original is now?, i guess we will never know! 🙂
By: Mark12 - 16th June 2016 at 20:13
I doubt the BBMF took the windscreen assembly.
P7350, going right back to the 1950’s had an external armoured screen and the correct balloon or bubble sided canopy.
What is not always appreciated is that the front metal hoop on the internal screen canopy is higher than the external type.
I would suggest that it was easier to replace the windscreen with the later type on X4590 to match the already fitted and available later canopy.
Mark
By: One of the Few - 16th June 2016 at 19:55
Thank you Mark, that is much appreciated. Do you happen to know if it was the BBMF who took the original windscreen?, mind you if the later bubble canopy as opposed to the flat sided canopy did`nt nest properly on X4590, would it have nested properly on P7350?.
By: Mark12 - 16th June 2016 at 18:48
The first dated shot I have of X4590 with an internal armour screen and matching canopy is April 1968 at Bentley Priory.
For most of the 1960’s it was displayed with its original external armour front screen but with the later canopy that did not nest at the interface.
The canopy was usually slightly or fully pulled back so this mismatch was not fully apparent but it does explain why that whilst ‘on duty’ it would often have a cover over the canopy in off peak hours.
Mark
Sign In
June 16, 2016 at 6:20 pm