Battle of Britain film Spitfire replicas.

Lot of National Trust places have exactly the same restrictions – lots of rare things which could be showcased, in pictures, by email, to collectors who aren’t bothered where the item/s came from – and you just know that an aviation museum isn’t treated in the same security fashion as a bank vault!
So, what am I bid for this genuine Spitfire replica…?

Flood.

I to was puzzled at the ‘No photos’ at the B of B museum,

In keeping with common practice, on grounds of both security and copyright, we regret that no cameras, video recorders or any other types of recording equipment (including notebooks) are allowed in the Museum.

In common with who ?

Is it just me , but do so many replicas ‘full size models’ ? warrant such care & wouldn’t it be the case that ‘less is more’ eg a couple less models oops I mean replicas on display in the hanger would mean those left could be better displayed rather than them squashed up facing away from you ?

With parts from over 600 crashed aircraft, haven’t they got enough parts to build at least 1 real aircraft ?

Sorry for being so cynical, but NO photography makes me ????

Here’s a shot of one of the camera shy Spit replicas.

Steve

It is true. Just take a look at their website.

http://www.kbobm.org/

That said it did provide a link and pic to my ‘thread starting’ question re the wing strakes on the replicas – they clearly did have them.

Mark

Originally posted by PerfectPic Co.
dont expect to visit the kent bob museum at hawkinge and photograph the bob film replicas you get frisked before you get in absolutely no cameras are allowed – there are loads of welcoming signs all over the car park about the perils people face if they happen to have a camera on their person

Are you serious? Sorry if my question sounds a bit harsh, but this sounds utterly ridiculous if true.

I guess you take your mobile phone and snap them then!

dont expect to visit the kent bob museum at hawkinge and photograph the bob film replicas you get frisked before you get in absolutely no cameras are allowed – there are loads of welcoming signs all over the car park about the perils people face if they happen to have a camera on their person

AR213 had strakes on the stb. and nothing on the port during filming. The OTU shots with the multicoloured nose show no strakes on the port. The stb. wing is not visible.

TomW in his current rebuild of this aircraft’s wings has told of the replacement wing and even the aircraft that donated it I believe.

Mark

I seem to recall reading that AR501 was still serving fairly late in the war, long after most other MkVs were replaced, and was repaired or rebuilt with the strakes and a later engine – probably when it was converted to a LFVc. Obviously it does not now have the Merlin 46 it was built with – would this have also changed when the strakes were put on?
As to AR213 and wing strakes – a brief glance through the net found this –
http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/spitfire/into_act.htm
a poor quality image which seems to show that it did not have strakes on the port wing when photographed at Boscombe Down (1990?). Interesting to wonder if, had the engine, prop, and possibly wing strake modifications had been done in wartime what mark this Spit would be classified as?

Flood.

While we’re on the subject of wing strakes, why is it that AR213 has them on one wing (starboard, I think) only?

AR501 had the strakes in the film.

In the EQ-L shot you have the key identifying elements of AR501:-
Three blade prop.
Six exhaust stacks.
Later windscreen.
The later extended horn elevator
The overwing strakes.

Added to this AR501 and P7350 were used latterly together in some further obscure filming as ground dressing in the BO codes.

That said, the prop does look a touch broad for a DH unit and if the replicas carried the strakes I think will mark this one down as a replica for the time being.

Many thanks.

Mark

You got me there!

There are so many differences – no two, even from the same batch are alike!

BM597 was very different from EP120, and they were both very different from AR614 – all Mk 5’s but all different!

Cheers

Bruce

But AR501 DOES have them now, as the pic shows.

When they did the restoration of AR501 in the ’70s, I don’t think they would have fitted them then, would they? If there’s a period shot of ‘501, this might show whether she had them fitted in ’68 or not.

OK, I will try and use a bit of logic here!

We know that BM597 was the mould master for the replicas.

We also know that BM597 has the strips fitted.

It is therefore logical that the replicas would have them.

As an aside, I am not sure that AR501 would have had them, as AR614 certainly did not have; the C wing being more akin to the E wing, which doesnt have them.

Cheers

Bruce

Mark12

Have just had a look at the Battle of Britain 60th anniversary publication done by Key Publishing, as I remembered there was a feature on the Kent Battle of Britain Museum (which I plan to go to next year!) which houses a number of full-sized Spitfire, Hurricane and Messerschmitt replicas, some of which were used in the making of the movie.

The photo of one of their replica Spits does indeed show the reinforcing strips on the upper surfaces. I think this was one of those used in the movie, so could we probably assume they all had them?

Plus, although I’m not sure if it’s just me, but the tailplane on the Spitfire in the photo looks a touch droopy.