Spitfire Mk II

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/082/installed.html

This website has a picture of a Mk.IX Spinner, with a tape measure on it. I read the length as near enough 25 inches. Perhaps a little less.

How close can you get?

For the time being let us say it is 25 inches.

Add 2 inches for the back plate… a total of 27 inches.

That means the installed length of the ‘Short’ Griffon and the ‘Long’ Merlin, from firewall to front cowling diaphragm are effectively the same.

It will come down to a fraction of an inch.

Mark

http://www.ultracast.ca/products/48/082/installed.html

This website has a picture of a Mk.IX Spinner, with a tape measure on it. I read the length as near enough 25 inches. Perhaps a little less.

OK here is one I measured earlier. 😉

Griffon Spinner and back plate standing height is 32.5 inches.

Any takers to measure a four blade Merlin Spitfire spinner and back plate to see if it is more or less than 27 inches?

Mark

Will it be at Legends?

It’s not how big it is – it’s what you do with it 😉

ITS ALL ABOUT LENGTH :diablo:

The Mk XII Spitfire is 5.5 inches longer overall than a Mk IX Spitfire when both fitted with the broad chord rudder.

The XII spinner and backplate however is substantially longer than that of the Mk IX.

The profile of the Mk XII spinner appears to be identical to that of the Mk XIV.

Solution: Measure the standing height of Mks IX and XIV spinner and backplate assemblies at TFC and ARCo, and apply 5.5 inch maths.

It’ll be close.

Any bets from those who need to get out more? 🙂

Mark

OK here is one I measured earlier. 😉

Griffon Spinner and back plate standing height is 32.5 inches.

Any takers to measure a four blade Merlin Spitfire spinner and back plate to see if it is more or less than 27 inches?

Mark

Haven’t got time to gamble. I’m going out. 😀

‘Intermediate’ Spitfires

The Mk XII Spitfire is 5.5 inches longer overall than a Mk IX Spitfire when both fitted with the broad chord rudder.

The XII spinner and backplate however is substantially longer than that of the Mk IX.

The profile of the Mk XII spinner appears to be identical to that of the Mk XIV.

Solution: Measure the standing height of Mks IX and XIV spinner and backplate assemblies at TFC and ARCo, and apply 5.5 inch maths.

It’ll be close.

Any bets from those who need to get out more? 🙂

Mark

Have the Fireflies at Duxford got short Griffons? Not that it would necessarily help to measure the airframe dimensions but the engine would presumably give a rough idea.

You guys need to get out more!!!

😉

Depends on the length of propshaft(s). e.g.Griffon 57, 57A and 58 – single stage supercharger with contra-rotating propshafts, Merlin 60 and 70 series etc – two stage supercharging with single, short propshaft. Except those Merlins that were converted for use with contra-rotating props. This is all only relevant if you consider the propshaft as part of the engine. Well, they were supplied by the finest aeroengine manufacturer in the world, bar none, with propshafts.

In the context of this thread, ‘baby’, ‘big’ and shall we say ‘intermediate’ Spitfires surely the dimension that counts, with regard to the engine fit, is the longitudinal distance from the vertical face of the frame 5 firewall to the tip of the spinner.

I had more in mind the short Griffons III, IV & VI as fitted to the Spitfire Mk XII and the Seafires XV & XVII,

Mark

Depends on the length of propshaft(s). e.g.Griffon 57, 57A and 58 – single stage supercharger with contra-rotating propshafts, Merlin 60 and 70 series etc – two stage supercharging with single, short propshaft. Except those Merlins that were converted for use with contra-rotating props. This is all only relevant if you consider the propshaft as part of the engine. Well, they were supplied by the finest aeroengine manufacturer in the world, bar none, with propshafts.

So is a two stage Merlin longer or shorter than a single stage Griffon – as on the Mk XII? 🙂

Mark

I have a sneaking suspicion it is longer! 😉

Cheers

Paul

So is a two stage Merlin longer or shorter than a single stage Griffon – as on the Mk XII? 🙂

Mark

The ‘newcommer’? Need to ask the guys at BBMF nowadays about that.

What about the MkIX then? 😉

The toddler?

Cees

DazDaMan, you got it in one. The MkII and V were known as the ‘Baby Spits’ due to the smaller (by 10 litres) Merlin engines. The XIX’s, PM631, PS853 and PS915 were known as the ‘Big Spits’.

What about the MkIX then? 😉

DazDaMan, you got it in one. The MkII and V were known as the ‘Baby Spits’ due to the smaller (by 10 litres) Merlin engines. The XIX’s, PM631, PS853 and PS915 were known as the ‘Big Spits’.

Ah right, heard the Mk II P7350 (my fave Spit) being called that and just wondered, cheers for clearing that one up!

I’ve always understood that the “Baby Spits” are the single stage Merlin birds including the I, II and V

Dan