Another dumb winter project!

If the instrument panel curve is correct,the coaming cutout is correct to the Spitfire engineered book and the distance between the canopy rails is about 22″ wide your fine..Problem with caste repros is that they are something like 5th generation copies where each generation shrinks a bit due to the casting process..Best is to make a new master pattern (off memory 11% bigger due to shrinkage) and get new ones cast..

Thats interesting Stuart. I had best check all the measurements in advance. My replica gunsight bar is 17 1/2″ at max point so it will be 3/4″ out as well, if my fuselage dimensions are correct.

Found the drg (amazingly) the distance from tip to tip is 18.26″; as said previously mine was 3/4″ under, even the spherical gunsight mount was well undersize!

Thanks Ross, Wow that’s a hefty piece of kit. I will skip that item then.:D
Cheers
Cees

Any info how the Mk XIV gunsight is fitted in the late Mk IX?
Cheers
Cees

The Gyro gunsight?
Yes two brackets and a tube with a fitting that suits the bottom of the gyro sight..Photo from Mark12
http://photobucket.com/gallery/user/Mark12/media/bWVkaWFJZDoxMzc1MTAxNjc=/?ref=

Another disappointing day, but the gunsight bar is fitted(with packing Stuart!). Only had an hour on it due to other issues. But the IFF tapper and mount are in along with spare bulbs. Progress will be a little more sedate from now.

Any info how the Mk XIV gunsight is fitted in the late Mk IX?
Cheers
Cees

Robert, the coaming isn’t as difficult as it seems; BUT be warned, if the gun sight bar is a reproduction, it will almost certainly be too small (point to point) mine was 3/4″ out and had to make the coaming pieces so they flared out at the end to accept the gun site casting.

There is a drg for this measurement, which I do have, but unsure where at the mo.

Brilliant ,well done ,look forward to seeing any updates.

Wow. Fantastic work Tony. A work of art.

It will have Ross!

Needs a ventilator and Bulb holder,Morse key,Radio controller,cockpit light 😉

Day 3 working on the Spitfire cockpit was a little disappointing. The weather was poor so had to clear space to work indoors. Finished all the riveting which was good. The windscreen unit was left over after spitfire production in Salisbury ended. So it has never been fitted and has spent over 70 years spreading. This made fitting challenging. Also spent time fitting anchor nuts and also threading bolts! Its a pain when you have almost a million fasteners and none fit or they need the threaded portion extended!

End of day 2, lots of riveting…tres cold. Now turning to the windscreen unit. Needs new Perspex

Cheers DC. I was on the backroom team of Secret Spits. Filmed tons more that sadly did not make the final cut.

I like your “quarter cockpit” idea. It’s a neat way of displaying the key parts of a cockpit, making it accessible, and transportable.

Re the mention of ‘Salisbury Spitfires’ a slight drift but, have you had a look at

https://www.secretspitfires.com/

A recently produced film showing earlier this month at cinemas in Southampton and Salisbury. A really good worthwhile production of archive that was crowd funded.

Thanx all. The intent is to see how much I can do this week. Day one was yesterday, just about to start Day 2!

Very Nice Tony,
And Robert, your project is very impressive.
I have recently started collecting bits etc. for a Dutch Spitfire IX instrument panel. Haven’t made up my mind yet but this just might grow into a
quarter cockpit.
Keeps us posted with updates please.
Cheers
Cees

Great projects one and all.

Regards Mike