Spitfire Instrument panel

Judging from the pilots notes , it uses the Merlin 266 ,and some of the engine details list +18 boost at 3000-3050 RPM.

So a 24lbs boost gauge sounds about right , there is a 20lbs boost 6A/1427 but it would appear to be Mk VIII only.

Nice job Jason.

Regards Mike

Would the boost gauge be a +16 or + 24 ?

Here is a photo of a restored panel from a Mk XVI spitfire, the majority of the instruments came from the actual aircraft.
Hope this helps.

Regards

Jason

Lovely! Probably more likely than not capillary gauges. It would be mph. I have original pilots notes so can get a pic if not done earlier by the F F (forums finest)

Black T shirts are available at many sources but you will need to add your own holes and pass” fitness for purpose” from Mark12 before being considered for membership.

Oh and you also need to renounce membership of the human race.

Drop me a PM with an email address and I’ll send over a copy of the engineering drawing.

Waiting for countersunk BA fixings to complete installation of rear mounted pillars and instruments on this panel.

Regards
Ross

No, you usually lose your shirt when you join this club…..

Ross
I think I will persevere in that case. Do I get a T Shirt if I join the club?
Did you finish the panel that you posted pictures of, if so are there any updated photos

Do I get a T Shirt if I join the club? lol

Magic,

If it was the incorrect steel or ally copies then I was going to suggest rather than mod to cut from new but this material and thickness is close to the original SRBF so I would persevere and mod to correct (if you wish to join the trainspotter rivet counter ranks of spitfire panel display).

To most it’s an early spitfire panel “with no corrosion” and is seen as such.

Regards
Ross

Ross
Its 5mm thick and made from Paxolin

Looking at the mods you would need to do for a Mk.IX it would be simpler to correct the panel you have for a Mk.II.

Biggest area for rework is Oxygen Reg but you may get away with a small amount of butt joint material added to fill the gaps.

Most of the rest is adding extra holes and filling the extra pushbutton.

Only other major comment is Oil and Coolant temp gauges for MkII should really be round case type, rear mounted.

Pivot point for tail trim indicator needle needs moving as well.

To be pedantic what thickness and material is the panel board made out of?

Regards
Ross

[ATTACH=CONFIG]230958[/ATTACH]

Here is one I made earlier.

It’s to drawing 32934/23 Issue G

The differences on this panel to the picky of the panel in the MkII pilot’s notes are:

Reflector Sight On/Off switch deleted.
No panel cut out for clock, surface mount fixing holes only.
Landing Lamp switch deleted.

The errors in the panel you have are:

No Fuel Gauge Contents pushbutton (recessed)
No Cartridge Start indexer provision.
No Generator On/OFF Switch.
No cable feed trough holes for Sight Dimmer/socket
No rectangular cut out to allow flap actuator pipework to be installed from front of panel.
Oxy reg cut out wrong shape completely
No fixings for rear mounted terminal block and cable support below oxygen reg.
U/C was two hole fixing for all marks not 4 hole.
No fixings for compass deviation card
Cannot tell but cockpit dimmers should be rear mounted with countersunk fixings.
Mag cut out should be narrow rectangle for toggles only not large square to accept rear of switch.
No notches for upper skin stringers
Two pushbuttons instead of one

Regards
Ross

Been a bit of a novice what mods would need to be done to make it a late MK9.

Ross, Yes of course, Oxy reg is completely wrong for early Spit, and that will complicate matters if trying to turn the clock back so to speak.

I think you might be better off considering it as a late Mk 9, or 16, and modifying accordingly.

Bruce

So if we concentrate on the layout do we think this is a largely a MKII
I have a collection of earlier instruments which we be more in keeping with a MKII but I haven’t fitted them in case it was a later panel.
I was going to fit the usual yellow and blue coloured temp gauges but wanted to confirm the MK
Has any one got a decent picture or plan of a MKII panel

It’s a hybrid “not quite MkII/MkV”

Oxyreg is very late Mk not Mk8 for MkII/V

should have two compass correction cards for MkV, one for MkII

Two push buttons are wrong for MkII with cartridge start (indexer missing for starboard bottom).

Fuel pressure gauge ok for MkII up to Issue G but became lamp later and for MkV.

No landing lamp switch (but correct for Mk II, issue G as long as reflector sight switch deleted as well)

Tank gauge pushbutton missing – needed for all marks until twin gauge came in.

Mag switch should be reverse mounted.

Generator switch missing.

etc
etc
etc

Ross

Its a bit of a bitsa.

However, as it doesnt have a space for the supercharger panel, its for a short engine aeroplane. The presence of a fuel pressure indicator would push towards Mk 2, although that could be modded out with a lamp. The clock is also wrong for early aircraft; they tended to have the larger faced clock, inset into the panel.

I would tend towards a Mk 5, with some reservations. Most of the instruments are incorrect however.

Bruce

Thanks Andy, that will give me time to save up ! and of course there will be an array of instruments on offer i’m sure?

Jules

If you can wait until 26 March at Shoreham, Julian, I do know Downland Aviation will be there!

There is also a good company called Spitfire spares who also sell good quality panels

The nicest ones Julian are lazer cut by Downland….I can get you contact if you pm me. They are also good value!