Blackdanter
March 4, 2015 at 11:05 am

Spitfire Instrument Panel – SRBP Question (and others).

Hi All,

I’m looking to replicate an instrument panel for a Seafire XV. The usual material for replica panels seems to be 3mm aluminium but since SRBP remains commercially available I’d like to attempt to use the correct material.

Does anyone know what the correct thickness should be (or the closest in metric!)? I’ve looked at 3mm but I have a suspicion that the material would not actually be strong enough for purpose at that thickness.

Also, I’m struggling to find repro panel labels and a Desynn fuel guage cradle. Does anyone know of a source?

There seems to be some confusion on the actual RAF stores ref for the terminal block that sits on the rear of the panel. I have 5c/432 but I’m aware that sources often stretch the realms of what is actually relevant. Does anyone know the correct part to use?

Does anyone know a source for period electrical wiring/cable? I’d like to wire everything in as acuurately as possible.

Thanks

John

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By: Blackdanter - 21st March 2015 at 10:21

Very useful thanks 🙂

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By: Blackdanter - 21st March 2015 at 10:17

Thanks all for taking the time to comment 🙂

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By: Bruce - 5th March 2015 at 17:21

I did say it was from memory – just a rather bad memory!!

😉

Bruce

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By: Bunsen Honeydew - 5th March 2015 at 17:14

I have an original panel- I’ll measure it when I can get to it.

5c/432 is the section and reference number quoted on the MkIX panel drawing

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By: QldSpitty - 5th March 2015 at 10:37

MkII panel

I have Sopwith drawings better scanned than the Spitfire ones 🙁

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By: Arabella-Cox - 5th March 2015 at 08:02

Interesting. I thought 1/4″ was a bit thick!

I think I read somewhere that the original spec. was 10SWG for the blind flying panel which is 0.128″(1/8″ to nearest fraction) or 3.25mm.

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By: QldSpitty - 4th March 2015 at 22:29

Close its 3/16th Tuffnol 🙂 Or 4mm.

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By: Arabella-Cox - 4th March 2015 at 21:31

I just made my own repro uni and duo-flex cable for our Horsa electrical loom. Was surprisingly easy after raiding the missus’s craft drawer 🙂

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By: oldgit158 - 4th March 2015 at 15:52

Hello John

PM sent

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By: Blackdanter - 4th March 2015 at 11:38

Thanks Bruce.

Interesting. Even 3mm aluminium is way off then! I’m currently looking at laser etching the labels. I just need to establish the correct content for them all (not easy from available photographic material).

I’m looking at some cable from a military jeep spares supplier which seems very similar to the cable connecting my gunsight to its plug so will probably go with that.

John

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By: Bruce - 4th March 2015 at 11:19

The material was originally a Black Tufnol – not easily obtainable now. 1/4″ thick from memory.

Repro panel labels pop up on ebay from time to time.

You will struggle to find period wiring. It was originally a cotton wound wire, impregnated with a flexible black cover.

Bruce