OK, some questions for the Spitfire experts here!
Assumption, which may be corrected – ‘Frame 5’ is the major frame forward of the cockpit and behind the engine?
(i) Am I correct in assuming that all Spitfires were the same length from ‘frame 5’ in front of the cockpit to the rudder post.
(ii) On Griffon Spits, this distance was to the ‘vertical’ part of Frame 5, and not the angled part at the top (which would have been further away from the rudder.
(iii) Does anyone know the actual dimension from the rudder post to this frame on the mk 14/18/19/21 etc? And from Frame 5 to the back of the spinner/end of engine?
My reason for asking is that I suspect several drawings (and several plastic kits) of the later Griffon Spits are too short in the fuselage, as they show the distance to the TOP of frame 5 as the same as the merlin aircraft.
By: DaveF68 - 6th January 2011 at 16:43
Thanks guys – now to post my findings on the modelling forums and get flamed to its!!
(Basically, Airfix mk XIX is too short, Airfix mk IX spot on and every other 1/72 60 series merlin kit I have is also too short!)
By: DaveF68 - 6th January 2011 at 13:09
Tony, John – thanks as always!
Dave Fleming
By: John Aeroclub - 6th January 2011 at 13:06
Dave
I have always used 20′ 6″ from the vertical panel line of frame 5 to the rudder post for all Mks.
For your purposes use 32″ as the spinner length tip to backplate. Backplate to F5 is 7′ 3″.
John
By: TonyT - 6th January 2011 at 12:32
Will look again tonight if I remember, in the meantime this will help with your modelling 🙂
By: DaveF68 - 6th January 2011 at 11:03
Thanks guys!
I think in 1/72, any difference between the measurements is likely to be minimal!
Supplementary question! How long should the spinner be (in terms of linear length?)
Tony’s rather helpful drawing has one dimension missing I’m looking for – the length of the engine from the frame forward to immediately behind the spinner.
Based on the ’21’ 2″‘ rudder to top of frame dimension, the Airfix kit is 2mm too short, but I want to check that it’s not just that they have the panel line in the wrong place!
I’d go and measure one, but the nearest Griffon to me is somewhat inaccessible (while strafing elephants)
By: QldSpitty - 6th January 2011 at 09:44
There are ‘Engineering’ dimensions and there are ”Packing and crating’ dimensions.
LOL and also there is “Supermarine” factory worker measurements.
By: Mark12 - 6th January 2011 at 08:06
A word of caution.
There are ‘Engineering’ dimensions and there are ”Packing and crating’ dimensions.
Mark
By: TonyT - 6th January 2011 at 03:03
Here we go, copied directly out of the MK 14 maintenance manual for you.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/Aviation/_MG_5759mk14drawing.jpg
same for the Spitful too 🙂
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/Aviation/Spiteful014.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff321/taylortony/Aviation/Spiteful001.jpg
You do realise we will be getting a MK14 and MK19 kit this year in glorious 1/24th scale.
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January 6, 2011 at 1:32 am