Greetings All,
The return of our very own Mark 12 from the wild hinterlands has inspired me to get the scanner out and back to functioning nick. I spotted this old photo in a pile of other such flotsam, and it has me stumped.
On the reverse I wrote only “F.21”; no date and no location. Now, I am sure this Spitfire was photographed in Bangkok (the only part of the country in which I have ever set foot), but when? The year must be something like 1987-88… that sort of number. Certainly it is a Griffon type Spit, so a Mk 21 perhaps?
Can anyone shed any light on this machine and its identity, please? [Apologies for my usually dreadful photography…]
By: Denis - 25th January 2013 at 21:26
Thank you Mark, I now consider myself to be edumacated:D
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th January 2013 at 19:11
Is the answer ‘buried in a crate in Burma’ and ‘last week’?
Maybe, maybe not…:p
By: Mark12 - 25th January 2013 at 19:07
For the uneducated among us, could you explain a little? 🙂
Seven close tolerance steel bolts attach the wings to the fuselage.
At the time of first assembly, at the works, all seven holes in the stub spars and spar booms are bought up to base diameter in unison using the ‘standard’ reamer. Standard diameter bolts are then fitted.
Should any one hole be damaged during an assembly or dis-assembly, ex works, the hole is reamed oversize by .004″ and an appropriate larger bolt fitted. Holes can be reamed oversize in .004″ increments up to at least .024″.
This oversizing has to be recorded and a dedicated data plate is attached to the fuselage and the wing, adjacent to the holes. Prior to this plate being attached both the RAF serial and the cockpit or wing construction numbers are stamped in the designated boxes.
Over the years these plates have been invaluable in givng serial provenance to a number ‘orphan’ Spitfires/projects.
Mark
By: Denis - 25th January 2013 at 18:33
oversize wing bolt plate
Mark
For the uneducated among us, could you explain a little? 🙂
By: Mark12 - 25th January 2013 at 14:23
This Spitfire has been in various locations within the Thai Air Force Museum.
I have seen it on a number occasions over the years having first removed panels in March 1980 to view the oversize wing bolt plate and reveal the RAF serial – SM914.
I would suggest your image was taken c.1994.
Mark
By: Robert Whitton - 25th January 2013 at 14:07
Its an F XIV
http://peterlewisdesign.tripod.com/thaimuseum/spitfire.htm
By: jbs - 25th January 2013 at 14:06
FR Mk.XIVe SM914
On static display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum, Bangkok / Don Muang International Airport
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January 25, 2013 at 2:01 pm