January 19, 2008 at 1:35 pm
OK, so we now have a Mosquito being built basically from scratch, ( with an actual identity) ME 262`s recreated from nothing, FW 190`s back in the air, and pretty much every MK of Spitfire, Seafire, and variant of same flying or close.
So, when will someone build a set of Roc floats and recreate the Spitfire on Floats?
surely someone with deep pockets, a few Spitfires, ( Mr Blair?) and a desire to be just that little bit different has thought of this??
It would look stunning just sitting on its wheel dollies even if it never flys
By: DazDaMan - 21st January 2008 at 22:20
There are/were plans to produce another S5 replica – not very long ago, either, I seem to recall.
By: Lindy's Lad - 21st January 2008 at 21:31
It was a stunning machine – are there plans to build another, or do the CAA have a big downer on the type in light of the crashes? I know deep down that it just isn’t financially viable to operate one on the show circuit, but as vfar as beautiful aircraft go, its right up near the top…
By: Mark12 - 21st January 2008 at 19:37
A repeat post of a Ray Wood image capturing the replica over Old Warden.
Mark

By: Newforest - 21st January 2008 at 16:56
I seem to recall reading somewhere that it was converted back to a landplane. Anybody know better?
Ist flight, as a floatplane, 6/7/44, SOC 22/11/45. so presumably a short life.
By: Pondskater - 21st January 2008 at 16:39
What happened to the IX? Is it documented exactly what happened to it?
I seem to recall reading somewhere that it was converted back to a landplane. Anybody know better?
By: Newforest - 21st January 2008 at 16:05
‘N220/G-BDFF Supermarine S5 rep., Lee on Solent 7.78.’
”1′ S1595 Supermarine S6B rep., Thorpe Park 5.80.’
Does “rep” mean replica?
Guess so wouldn’t you think?:)
By: wieesso - 21st January 2008 at 15:17
Supermarine Replica S.5 G-BDFF crashed in 1984, was repaired and crashed, fatally 3/5/87. It was powered by a Continental 10-360. Photo of the plane at Lee on this site: (and the name is Viv Bellamy!)
‘N220/G-BDFF Supermarine S5 rep., Lee on Solent 7.78.’
”1′ S1595 Supermarine S6B rep., Thorpe Park 5.80.’
Does “rep” mean replica?
By: Newforest - 21st January 2008 at 14:13
Oh dear. ๐
Is there any info online about it, or photos? Was it wooden? Real Merlin etc?
Supermarine Replica S.5 G-BDFF crashed in 1984, was repaired and crashed, fatally 3/5/87. It was powered by a Continental 10-360. Photo of the plane at Lee on this site: (and the name is Viv Bellamy!)
By: James D - 21st January 2008 at 13:57
Believe it was fatal and (Bill?) Hosie at the controls. Wasn’t it a Viv Belamey creation from Lands End.
Would hate to see a genuine Spit converted to floats.
Oh dear. ๐
Is there any info online about it, or photos? Was it wooden? Real Merlin etc?
By: pagen01 - 21st January 2008 at 13:39
Believe it was fatal and (Bill?) Hosie at the controls. Wasn’t it a Viv Belamey creation from Lands End.
Would hate to see a genuine Spit converted to floats.
By: Paul F - 21st January 2008 at 13:31
What happened to that? Iยดm sure I remember it flying over my school.
IIRC it sufferred a (fatal?) crash, but I’m sure others on the forum will confirm.
Paul F
By: James D - 21st January 2008 at 13:21
Not forgetting that a full-scale flying replica of the Supermarine S5 existed up until 20 years ago.
What happened to that? Iยดm sure I remember it flying over my school.
By: Mark12 - 20th January 2008 at 21:16
A couple of years or so back, we had a poster here about to dive on the remains of one of them in the UK. ๐
Mark
By: Lindy's Lad - 20th January 2008 at 21:06
What happened to the IX? Is it documented exactly what happened to it?
By: Newforest - 20th January 2008 at 20:39
Interesting history of the Spitfire floatplanes. The first one converted, the Mk.1 was known as the Narvik Nightmare. Later ones, Mk. Vb and a Mk. lX were converted by Follands using a Supermarine designed float.
http://www.supermarine-spitfire.co.uk/spitfire_floatplane.htm
By: DazDaMan - 20th January 2008 at 00:54
Jurca MJ100, anyone?
By: Malcolm McKay - 20th January 2008 at 00:39
Not wishing to appear grumpy, snarky or difficult, but to me, and I stress me, that would be a waste of a perfectly good pair of floats, not to mention a perfectly good Spitfire.
By: QldSpitty - 19th January 2008 at 21:40
Wasn,t there a MkIX done as a Floatie as well?I heard the results were they were a bit wallowy on the sea but performed Ok in the air considering the drag.If you were to build one I wouldn,t touch an original airframe but build a repro or replica instead.Nice thought.
By: Newforest - 19th January 2008 at 21:18
Ahh Trumpeter have done the Vb on floats but not the Mk1.:D
Aah, if you read the interesting link, I think you will find that the Roc floats were not suitable for the Mk. 1 and so the Mk. 5 was chosen with redesigned floats, presumably not Roc floats?:confused:
By: ollieholmes - 19th January 2008 at 18:19
Ahh Trumpeter have done the Vb on floats but not the Mk1.:D