Full scale Allison powered Spitfire on its way

We surely don’t want to end the year on a sour note.

John Marlin’s MB5 ‘tribute’ does obviously depart from the original design in some fundamental areas, OK , all areas, but even if it does nothing but raise awareness of the Martin Baker design, it has served a purpose, and if he has enjoyed doing it, so much the better.

This thread has some photos which illustrate the challenges of replicating an extinct design.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?124401-John-Marlins-MB5-replica

A Mustang wing and tube-frame fuselage, slightly resembling that of an MB.5 from a distance.

Thanks, DazDaMan…So it’s a Jurca MJ-100 Spitfire…found a little data on it: http://www.pilotfriend.com/experimental/acft3/93.htm
and this earlier thread http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?97955-Wooden-Spitfires

Suppose the Martin Baker MB-5 would be a good one to do (from scratch) 🙂

What, like this?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]234213[/ATTACH]

(Although I don’t think it was purely from scratch?)

She looks odd with no guns or cannons but i bet she handles beautifully?

Thanks, DazDaMan…So it’s a Jurca MJ-100 Spitfire…found a little data on it: http://www.pilotfriend.com/experimental/acft3/93.htm
and this earlier thread http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?97955-Wooden-Spitfires

Suppose the Martin Baker MB-5 would be a good one to do (from scratch) 🙂

Are there any published reports on the performance and flying qualities of the US built replica (Allison engine. flush rivets)….did it use the original wing section or a ‘laminar’ flow section like the P-51….did it use the unique? wing spar construction of the Spitfire?….would be nice to see some facts instead of the embarrassing UK vs. US/Spitfire vs P-51 spat (though I always wondered if the P-51’s prop was superior to the Spitfires….were there ever comparative trials just on the props?)….bit of an eye-opener…if that can be built from scratch (zip/zilch?) what extinct types could be done?

The airframe is a welded steel tube fuselage with aluminium skin, with wooden wings. Hence the “flush rivet” appearance. I would imagine the wing section is the same as the original, though I could be wrong on that.

The prop is a cut-down DC-3 job.

If that is the Jurca one, Bob DeFord has been operating one in Arizona for quite a few years now. It is quite a regular attendee at fly-ins and airshows on the West Coast.

There’s another one at Santa Paula. Not sure if it’s still in crates though.

Almost any extinct type ‘could’ be built from scratch given a lot of money, patience, persistence and a successful outcome to the current CAA ‘kill the gold plating / red tape’ initiative.

And it would be greeted here with howls of “It’s not a Fockescmitt Tempfoon, it’s a replica and I simply shan’t look at it”

Moggy

Are there any published reports on the performance and flying qualities of the US built replica (Allison engine. flush rivets)….did it use the original wing section or a ‘laminar’ flow section like the P-51….did it use the unique? wing spar construction of the Spitfire?….would be nice to see some facts instead of the embarrassing UK vs. US/Spitfire vs P-51 spat (though I always wondered if the P-51’s prop was superior to the Spitfires….were there ever comparative trials just on the props?)….bit of an eye-opener…if that can be built from scratch (zip/zilch?) what extinct types could be done?

Git!

I’d appreciate to bits given the chance.

Very nice.

Moggy

Well if I remember rightly Moggy you already done one aircraft to bit’s!! (Sorry couldn’t resist)………………..

This machine deserves to be appreciated.

I’d appreciate to bits given the chance.

Very nice.

Moggy

Because I am still basking in the afterglow of Christmas cheer and cracker jokes; and nobody else has asked; the childish little boy inside just has to ask.

Will it be at Legends..?

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/imitation-is-the-sincerest-form-of-flattery.html and i bet i is alot more fun flying in it than sitting at a keyboard moaning it doesn’t look quite right 🙂

I feel very fortunate to have had opportunity to see Mr. Deford’s Spitfire replica on numerous ocassions and while it won’t fool the hard core afficianados it certainly is a fine accomplishment, IMHO.

That is an excellent way to phrase appreciation of this fine replica Chad.

I have no doubt that Mr Deford has a heck of a lot of fun flying this full scale V-12 powered beauty.
I’m O.K. that it has a 3 blade prop. I’m O.K. that it doesn’t look exactly the same from 500 feet.
I would be comfortable, going out on a limb, saying that Mr Deford is pretty comfortable with that too, and the extra $million or so that is still in his bank account.

This machine deserves to be appreciated.

Andy Scott

I feel very fortunate to have had opportunity to see Mr. Deford’s Spitfire replica on numerous ocassions and while it won’t fool the hard core afficianados it certainly is a fine accomplishment, IMHO.

It is unfortunate yes, but court cases to recover what is owed are costly and have been on going for nearly a year and we can’t work on it currently so its going up for sale in January. For want of thread creep though, comments are best left until it comes on the market.

A great shame though, hopefully I can finish it for whoever buys it.

FB

Aww heck ! Rotten news to end the year with. Some people seem to be missing the ‘basic decency’ gene. :apologetic:

Hope 2015 is better for you. I look forward to seeing the Hurricane finished, perhaps it can still be by you.

I feel the baby Hurricane isn’t up to any of these, but is a lot of fun! Unfortunately, due to a dire financial situation leading on from a customer doing a runner after not paying his invoice, that machine will be up for sale in the New Year ;-(

FB

Here’s the French example, F-WGML.

Can’t help but think the nose looks too long on this one, though.

I agree. A fantastic achievement, which actually looks a bit more like a Griffon Spit than an earlier mark.