I know the basic Spitfire fuselage only changed with the introduction of the Teardrop canopy, but would a post-war Spitfire Mk XVI have the same canopy as the F.22/24, 3-poke wheels and were the underwing symmetrical radiator housings handed or identical?
Regards Rad.:)
By: Bruce - 2nd January 2012 at 18:48
and the radiator fairings are indeed handed – although they look very similar, one cant fit a port one on the stbd side for example….
Bruce
By: Mark12 - 2nd January 2012 at 16:20
Hi, Mark- happy new year for starters & thank you for the prompt reply!:)
I should have been a bit more specific about the underwing radiators,:o I am aware the Griffon ones are larger, but it was actually those on Mk IX’s – Mk XVI’s I mean’t-ooops!!!!
Regards Rad.
Carry over, to the best of my knowledge.
Mark
By: Radpoe Meteor - 2nd January 2012 at 16:10
Some commonality of major parts but certainly handed as assemblies.
The radiators and housings for the Griuffon Mk 22 are totally different to the similar looking installation on the Griffon Mk XIV. The Main and Intercooler Rads and Main and Oil Cooler Rads are side by side on the XIV but one behind the other on the 20 series wing.
Mark
Hi, Mark- happy new year for starters & thank you for the prompt reply!:)
I should have been a bit more specific about the underwing radiators,:o I am aware the Griffon ones are larger, but it was actually those on Mk IX’s – Mk XVI’s I mean’t-ooops!!!!
Regards Rad.
By: Mark12 - 2nd January 2012 at 13:51
Radiator housings, on the same Mark, were not handed; actual sizes of the housings varied between Marks.
Some commonality of major parts but certainly handed as assemblies.
The twin radiator packs, Main and Intercooler and Main and Oil Cooler, and respective fairings for the Griffon Mk 22 are totally different to the similar looking installation on the Griffon Mk XIV.
Mark
By: Mark12 - 2nd January 2012 at 13:43
Wartime, and immediately after, XVIs had four-spoke wheels, though there were two diameters, probably 10″ & 12″. The three-spoke was designed for the 22/24, but found its way onto still-flying earlier Marks, later on.
Radiator housings, on the same Mark, were not handed; actual sizes of the housings varied between Marks.
I have all the drawings from Dunlop somewhere. The five spoke wheel was 10 inch. The four spoke wheel, now with split rim, was 10.25 inch. The three spoke wheel was 12 inch and there was a later 13 inch three spoke for the Seafire 47.
The objective was to incorporate better and larger capacity brakes and brake cooling. Revised aspect ratio of the tyre ensured it still fitted the wheel well.
There is a compatibility section of wheels, tyres, inner tubes and brakes in the AP for the XIV and I suspect also for the XVI.
Mark
By: Edgar Brooks - 2nd January 2012 at 12:50
Wartime, and immediately after, XVIs had four-spoke wheels, though there were two diameters, probably 10″ & 12″. The three-spoke was designed for the 22/24, but found its way onto still-flying earlier Marks, later on.
Radiator housings, on the same Mark, were not handed; actual sizes of the housings varied between Marks.
By: GliderSpit - 2nd January 2012 at 11:32
5 minutes is really quick!
By: Mark12 - 2nd January 2012 at 11:30
I know the basic Spitfire fuselage only changed with the introduction of the Teardrop canopy, but would a post-war Spitfire Mk XVI have the same canopy as the F.22/24, 3-poke wheels and were the underwing symmetrical radiator housings handed or identical?
Regards Rad.:)
Same canopy.
Three spoke 12″ wheels the same, although wheel and brake sizes were reduced latterly presumeably to prevent ‘pecking’ due to CoG changes.
Underwing radiators totally different in every respect.
Mark
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January 2, 2012 at 11:25 am