Sorry, another Spitfire question…..

Sheetwise it has taken only 5 sheets of 2024-0 to get all our frames cut plus a lot of the smaller parts can be nested in the scrap areas.Time taken to cut out is about an hour on the waterjet cutter.Another replica is here…
http://www.fighterwerks.com/index.htm

I think that they might have to up the fuel capacity from 68 gallons, if they are going to run an Allison.

there is another way, build a 100% replica for about 10% of the cost of the real thing, there’s a company in the states called SAC, build a full size replica out of wood & stick a v-12 Allison in it. OK may not be the ideal way to go, but at least it will look the part.
remember the replica K5054 a while back, same concept – a real shame what happened to it

IIRC this is the aircraft which was donated to Solent Sky in their old guise of whatever their name was, Southampton Hall of Aviation or something. That was a nice replica which I would have loved to see flying which it did at one time. Actually powered by a Jaguar V12.

Sheetwise it has taken only 5 sheets of 2024-0 to get all our frames cut plus a lot of the smaller parts can be nested in the scrap areas.Time taken to cut out is about an hour on the waterjet cutter.Another replica is here…
http://www.fighterwerks.com/index.htm

there is another way, build a 100% replica for about 10% of the cost of the real thing, there’s a company in the states called SAC, build a full size replica out of wood & stick a v-12 Allison in it. OK may not be the ideal way to go, but at least it will look the part.
remember the replica K5054 a while back, same concept – a real shame what happened to it

The K5054 replica wasn’t the same concept – it was a one-off, with a modified Jaguar car engine to power it. The SAC aircraft could be described as a development of the idea, with more power. The 100% scale Jurca Spitfire is similar, but much more varied in its forms, since it can be built numerous ways depending on the builders’ whim (metal fuselages seem to be the in thing).

And, I’m told, G-BRDV cost something like £100K during its construction phase (1980-1991).

there is another way, build a 100% replica for about 10% of the cost of the real thing, there’s a company in the states called SAC, build a full size replica out of wood & stick a v-12 Allison in it. OK may not be the ideal way to go, but at least it will look the part.
remember the replica K5054 a while back, same concept – a real shame what happened to it

I think you will find in the current state of play, a true 100% replica will cost about about 130% of the real thing. 😉

Mark

there is another way, build a 100% replica for about 10% of the cost of the real thing, there’s a company in the states called SAC, build a full size replica out of wood & stick a v-12 Allison in it. OK may not be the ideal way to go, but at least it will look the part.
remember the replica K5054 a while back, same concept – a real shame what happened to it

Prop hubs…

Definately a big point in regards to cost..Finding a hub is hard but then to xray it and get it certified to fly is the biggest challenge.

Thanks Bruce,

Again assuming that money is no object and taking the undergarriage legs and pintels as examples: Probably not particularly challenging to re-manufacture these days, however what is the position with regard to certification for use in an aeroplane by the CAA etc if made by a competant engineering company who doesn’t necessarily make aviation components?

Pintles I would agree – billet, grain flow etc.

U/C legs – very challenging but not yet necessary.

There are still enough undercarriage legs, of the fifty odd variations, out there that can be recovered, with new axles and details.

Prop hubs are likely to be the biggest issue. A number of new four blade hubs were manufactured at horrendous cost some years ago and ‘industry’ is not likely to step forward again.

Mark

As fas as I’m aware, such items can be made by any non CAA certified engineering co. but, traceability and accountability are the watch words, the material used, must be of the correct spec,(with paperwork to prove this), and the work signed off by a CAA accredited engineer, who, unless he is happy with the work (i.e authorised it in the first instance), will not do.

There isnt much that hasnt been mastered by the support industry for Spitfires these days!

Most of the electrical equipment and instrumentation is common to other aircraft, and can be found in aircraft as diverse as the Auster and Vulcan! The only thing that hasnt been manufactured that I can think of is Undercarriage indicator lamps.

There are a few other things that havent been covered – notably the undercarriage selector, undercarriage legs, and undercarriage locks. It may only be a matter of time however!

Thanks Bruce,

Again assuming that money is no object and taking the undergarriage legs and pintels as examples: Probably not particularly challenging to re-manufacture these days, however what is the position with regard to certification for use in an aeroplane by the CAA etc if made by a competant engineering company who doesn’t necessarily make aviation components?

Ummm like this??

Stuff you need is a dream and the conviction to keep on going.
Oleos for the correct Mark you are doing,pintles,locking mechanism,tailwheel shock and strut,wheels..mains and tailwheel,tyres,bellcranks for F11 and tail,undercart hyd block,hydraulic rams,pneumatic rams,air bottles,control column uni joint,merlin,engine mount castings,instruments,canopy,armoured windscreen,mirror,seat,ummm anyone else????:dev2:

There isnt much that hasnt been mastered by the support industry for Spitfires these days!

Most of the electrical equipment and instrumentation is common to other aircraft, and can be found in aircraft as diverse as the Auster and Vulcan! The only thing that hasnt been manufactured that I can think of is Undercarriage indicator lamps.

There are a few other things that havent been covered – notably the undercarriage selector, undercarriage legs, and undercarriage locks. It may only be a matter of time however!