IWM Spitfire Dismantled – Pics

Being a pedant – if there are three in their original livery, the word ‘unique’ cannot be used in any form – it is either unique or it isn’t; the word cannot be qualified.

There is no such thing as ‘quite unique’, ‘almost unique’ or any of the other rubbish that one hears….

Bruce

Tack welded!!!

Ah, are those little retaining tabs riveted on then? I couldn’t quite tell from standing underneath it.

Tack welded!!!

I took this picture in June 2009 and it appears to me she had her “legs” in the right place then. Is there something I have missed?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjohan/3656123395/in/set-72157620447590688
Ken

The tyres are ‘strapped’ in and the doors tack welded in place. It had its oleos removed when they hung it.

I took this picture in June 2009 and it appears to me she had her “legs” in the right place then. Is there something I have missed?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kenjohan/3656123395/in/set-72157620447590688
Ken

As the aircraft was in use up to 1943/44 it will have been repaired and modified a number of times. Possibly the paint (no code letters) is as it was in use in 1944 but possibly how it was prepared for Musum use. I wonder if an earlier colour scheme is undeneath what we now see.

There is one clear contradiction with your premise Biggles ! It has had holes drilled in it to allow it to hang from the ceiling! If it was on the ground it’s very unlikely that it would need the holes drilling in it! Hangar rash to my mind is far easier to rectify than holes. As for remaining out of reach of painters – that’s an assumption that it would be repainted if it was ground bound.

David,
My point is that it is now the paint scheme, that makes this aeroplane unique to three in the world! The ‘special conditions’ that have produced its longevity is clear.

It is now a very special survivor.

The holes are already in it, and can never be undone.

But hanging from the ceiling means that it is preserved in this condition for the long term, and has not at the wim of transitory civil servants, (through the sixties/seventies/eighties) who may have thought that a quick spruce up seemed like a good idea, with no understanding of what it represents.

The same applies now, for as far as I am concerned, it is currently AT RISK, for exactly that reason. It sits in a restoration envioronment, and I pray that it’s uniqueness is appreciated, in the face of pressure to produce ‘Shiny’ for the new building, and million pound spend.

That is why I asked for some comment or acknowledgement from somebody in the know.

I believe what it needs is a clean, do what it needs from a maintenance and necessity point of view, and have a little careful paint REPAIR, by somebody prctised in the art of detail paintwork….Like the guys who work in th film industry. I am sure its current light damage could be carefully and invisibly mended, with a little care and effort.

I also believe that threads such as this are good, as I am sure that some involved may read them, and it at least gives a guide on the current strength of feeling.
I for one feel very strongly that it should have minimal work done, as to me it is a joy to behold.

Have a great Christmas all.
Guy

I do believe the temptation to repaint it into its “original” colour scheme may have proven too much over the last 70 years, had this A/C been more accessible; it aint broke don’t fix it.

What is all this talk about replacing it with a plastic replica? for £20k you could go a long way in replicating an extinct (or rare) type, (if done by volunteers) then you would have both.

There is one clear contradiction with your premise Biggles ! It has had holes drilled in it to allow it to hang from the ceiling! If it was on the ground it’s very unlikely that it would need the holes drilling in it! Hangar rash to my mind is far easier to rectify than holes. As for remaining out of reach of painters – that’s an assumption that it would be repainted if it was ground bound.

When built it wouldn’t/couldn’t have been “an aircraft,” since “aircraft” was a plural word, signifying more than one airframe. In the 1930s, you could have an aeroplane, or an airship, but you needed two, or more, for them to be called aircraft.
It was some time in the middle of the war that the Air Ministry accepted that the word “aircraft” could be used in the singular.

CBAF – Widely misquoted as ‘Castle Bromwich Aircraft Factory’.

Mark

Just thinking. I don’t think this Spitfire is an aircraft. I think its an aeroplane.

When built it wouldn’t/couldn’t have been “an aircraft,” since “aircraft” was a plural word, signifying more than one airframe. In the 1930s, you could have an aeroplane, or an airship, but you needed two, or more, for them to be called aircraft.
It was some time in the middle of the war that the Air Ministry accepted that the word “aircraft” could be used in the singular.

Biggles post was perfect the only reason this “artifact” is in the condition it is in now is because it was hung up out of reach of the people who would have repainted her many years ago! Put her back up for another 70 odd years I say!

Aircraft/Aeroplane

Just thinking. I don’t think this Spitfire is an aircraft. I think its an aeroplane. It has an “aerodynamic plane” and it is unlikely that it will ever be a craft of the air. Suspended on cables is just that, suspended.

Gentlemen,
Bear in mind that the only reason that this airframe is in the current amazing original condition, is because it has been hung up for so many years.
It has been spared the hangar rash and hands and knocks, which have ensured the repaints of its many cousins.

This is precisely why it is such a rare timewarp.
Long may it continue to be hung in this extraordinary ‘original’ condition for future generations to enjoy.
Guy

The major problem I have with hanging aircraft up, apart from the modifications required to the airframe to do so, is it no longer becomes accessible for research purposes, especially the internals. In my case, it has been Bert Hinkler’s Avro Avian, stuck up in the roof of the Queensland Museum. It has a massive, ugly, steel frame around the fuselage to support it while suspended with cables. I found out too late recently, that the aircraft had been on the ground during re-arrangement of the museum earlier this year and missed an opportunity to inspect it. 🙁

Totally agree, like I said what if sombody whose relative had flown the a/c wanted to have a look at her?

Moggy -how about having a 20K plastic example at Lambeth .Then if you want to see a genuine Mk.1 hanging on wires go to the Science museum and if that doesn’t please the RAF Museum Spitfires just a few miles up the road at Hendon happily sat on their undercarriages !

Then you could find a location to display your 5 million pound Mk.1 Spitfire – ideally somewhere with a strong connection with the type ! Maybe even sat next to its arch enemy the Me109E !

The major problem I have with hanging aircraft up, apart from the modifications required to the airframe to do so, is it no longer becomes accessible for research purposes, especially the internals. In my case, it has been Bert Hinkler’s Avro Avian, stuck up in the roof of the Queensland Museum. It has a massive, ugly, steel frame around the fuselage to support it while suspended with cables. I found out too late recently, that the aircraft had been on the ground during re-arrangement of the museum earlier this year and missed an opportunity to inspect it. 🙁

…it is getting some much needed attention right now.

Is it? Surrounded by tape and Radiation hazard signs all over it? How many restorers will they need to complete the job?
“Collect your Hazmat suit and dosimeter before you get your paint brush…”

but is it really in the airframe’s best long term interest to be suspended again when a plastic Spitfire could do exactly the same job?

But it wouldn’t be doing the same job. We’d be looking at a plastic model, not a historic airframe.

Moggy

Yes, that is true – though has the Spitfire been much better cared for in its time?

David, the point is that conservation work is certainly possible on the Spitfire – it is getting some much needed attention right now. In reality, how much work is done on any aircraft once a particular conservation programme is complete?

Bruce