Spitfire MT719 instrument panel

2 BA for instruments and 6 BA for switches, lamps etc. Any chance in a full photo of your MkXIX panel please vacb?

Pointless Ref #48.

4BA I have, 2BA yes, but not the fibre-lock design.:apologetic:

Mark

Mark, those for instrument mounting are definitely 2BA on this original panel.

I think that the mountings for the blind flying panel to main panel may well be 4BA though.

Pointless Ref #46.

Please remind me. Single rivet fibre-lock for the Spitfire panel…4BA?

Mark

This may help regarding the 2BA anchor plates – this from a Mk XIX panel.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]219427[/ATTACH]

Thanks for being picky AM. My brain was a bit scrambled after hours of trying to read the label using a mirror held up to the screen.
Whitely Project, Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of the anchor plates but they are the single lug type using fibre locking.

Nice work Langdon!

Sorry if this comes across as “picky” but you need to correct the typo on the bottom plate – jetteson

Langdon, if you or anyone else can post a pic of the anchor plate (nut?) hopefully someone will be able to help.

Did the Spits have the Anti Glare pull up panel in all models?

Thanks Ian and Daniel for the excellent help you’ve provided. Ian I managed to sleuth out the writing on the Jettison Tank System label, there was a larger format the link you provided could be viewed in and although some of the lettering was obscured by the reflector sight I could just read it in the reflection on the port side of the wind screen, having the F.IX pilots notes helped with the text. If you enlarge my drawing you should be able to read the label.
Can anyone help me obtain the original type Simmonds anchor plates that were riveted to the panel please?
Langdon

[ATTACH=CONFIG]219417[/ATTACH]

I’d not seen this post at the time it kicked off.

I’ve an original MkIX panel and the only ID marking I could find on it was the part number stamped in very small characters on the front, where no one could see it.

That is a very detailed drawing Langdon. The MkVII Spit in the Smithsonian, EN474 has the ‘Jettison’ label installed, as well as having a split panel and some of it’s instruments mounted from the front. Unfortunately an on line cockpit photo here: http://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/multimedia/detail.cfm?id=1653
does not have the resolution to read the label. I’ve attached the best I can do from ‘At the Controls’ A book of Smithsonian cockpit photos, which is printed at a slightly higher resolution. Some of the lettering is still hidden behind the gun sight. It might be worth contacting the senior photographer at the museum, Eric F Long at the time of publication, to see if more shots were taken.

Hi Langdon, Lovely piece of work, I will try to help where ever I can and will drop you an e-mail. The plate on the top left hand is still a mystery, all I know is it refers to a Jettison tank, would love to know what it says as I could then get it reproduced, the company that made a lot of these plates during war is still in operation, they did a great job with the Boost Control plate. The only thing stopping me from calling the panel complete is that mystery label and a warning light (the type with the lug on each side) I have never seen one as yet but I keep looking.

Hello redhillwings,

I’ve never posted on this site before so please excuse my ignorance of previous posts. I found this site whilst researching instrument details for the restoration of the cockpit on EE 853, a Mk VC spitfire that served with the RAAF in PNG. Since then I have embarked on a drawing of the Mk VIII panel using info from the original post in this thread as well as an excellent photo of the panel in MV 239 prior to its restoration. the two panels are remarkably similar with the exception of the tail wheel position indicator lamp that’s missing on your panel (possibly it was not considered necessary at the time of production).

The Mk VIII panel is certainly a vast improvement on the earlier panels. The split panel arrangement would be a delight to remove compared with the Mk V. To remove the panel from EE 853 took some serious dismantling of other cockpit equipment as the panel cannot be moved with the throttle quadrant etc in place, but this would not be an issue with the split panel. If I could ask for help please, would it be possible to obtain a tracing of this panel to make sure my mounting bolt holes are placed correctly please? Does anyone know the text on the label near the top centre, also the text on the tail wheel position indicator label? Also what is the bottom left indicator lamp hole for?
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Very nice pic! I notice the new panel is also in two pieces as per the original one we have and it looks as though it has the two wedges removed on either side of the top profile, any idea why this was done?:confused:

Thanks to all who have contributed to this post, I looked at the original panel yesterday in close detail but alas I couldn’t see any stamps that were visible but there is a lot of paint and muck build up. 🙁

Does anyone have a drawing or good photo of what the plate says that is on Andy’s photo from the pilots notes? This is the one between the flap lever and the gun site. Since the holes are on the original I would to have this reproduced, found a company that can do it but I have no idea what it says!

MT719 post restoration in 1993.

Image by Terry Lawless.

Mark

Just caught up with this thread again, it would be good to see all the gen on MT818 to compare, could provide a few clues:confused:

In the meantime, later today I plan to go over the panel with a fine tooth comb looking for a number, but the problem is is that the back of the panel is layered up with paint over spray and muck which I am reluctant to remove as it is all part of the “used” feel to the panel. The whole idea was to preserve its “been there look” which is why we didn’t respray it.

Look forward to info

You are indeed a lucky dog Mark, one of the Met officers at RAF Andover tried to get me a ride when Fairey owned it, answer was an unequivical “NO.” My mum was dating the Met officer at the time and the best way to get rid of a kid for a few hrs. was to give him a bunch of rags and access to MT818!
I used to live in Houghton, saw MT818 fly many times. I never got a chance to visit it at Tillamook,seems now i would have to come back to England to visit it.

Maybe, and maybe not,, I wasnt there for the work, neither, i doubt were you. But like i said, even if one clue is gained by the examination the original poster is one step closer to answering his question.

No, but I do have the drawings and manuals somwhere for the Trainer…and I have briefly flown MT818 from the rear cockpit.

I’ll dig out the manuals…and the photographs from 1969.

Mark

Maybe, and maybe not,, I wasnt there for the work, neither, i doubt were you. But like i said, even if one clue is gained by the examination the original poster is one step closer to answering his question.