They are accepting new built Spitfires as new nowadays so there should be no problem in that.

Cheers

Cees

Hi, We dont build new Spits , you just cant do that !!! New build would mean new serial numbers, dont think the CAA would look too favorably on that !!! Every Spitfire put back in the air has provenance , you cant just create a new serial number.

Steve.

OK, if it ever see’s light under it’s wheel’s !! one day, perhaps – so what about the rest for example MV 262 ?? and TE517, complete, poss. airworthy – disappeared, then ML119, rebuild for many a long day…
was’nt SX336 around at the same time and now flying perhaps coz it’s a Seafire
how long to rebuild a Spitfire, with all the know how around ??

woodbridge, you seem to have forgotten RM927 a MKXIV whose fuselage is 90% original & under restoration. Also TE184 that is being reassembled at Booker. As for taking toooo long as in your other posting, well these things do take time.

Steve.

Okay, that’s one option, thanks! Any more out there? What do all you Spit bashers etc use to rivet the little blighters back together?

Hi Lancman, you could try atlas copco for rivet guns. I use a 1940’s one, all steel , just right for me. Newer one’s are probable alloy & steel but i prefer the older heavier type.

Steve.

Just for my edification then, the kidney bean sliders bear against the doubler of the canopy rail (through which the rail is rivetted to the skin) and the closed part of the rail forward of F11.

The rail is parallel with the skin at all times, and the outer profile of the fuselage changes shape, becoming progressively narrower the further rearward it goes, but the knuckle line remains a constant dimension despite the drg showing there to be only .15″ tolerance between the inside of the canopy frame , and the outside of the rail.

Yes Stuart the knuckle line remains constant dimention of 11″ either side of the centre line. See drg’s no’s I put on earlier posting.

Steve

As part of project managing my static Spit fus project, I now need to source some suitable canopy rails….if anyone has any leads or knows where I can get some made please let me know. These are the rails that the canopy ‘beans’ slide in and is therefore fitted to the airframe.
Obviously static originals would be best but I will take anything as I really need to ensure that when the project requires them, we are ready to go…..

for your info this fuselage will be part of a display ‘Spitfire Experience’ which will seek to show the public what the Spitfire actually means, what made it the legend etc. There will be the Spit fuz, a Merlin and lots of ‘people’ memorabilia (Spit Fund, trench art etc). I am hoping it will do a bit of travelling to non- and aviation events. The website shows embryo pictures at the moment.

Hi Rocketeer, if you pm me your address i could send you a portion of canopy rail so you could make your own. I think with some wood and a router you could produce the very thing you need, assuming your not going to fly it !!!!

Steve.

If I remember correctly S Gowans told me that they are 38″ long top hat section 1″ x 1/2″ or 1″ x 5/6″ that become rails when the skin is rivitted on to form a closure with a 1/4″ gap for the slider. I havn’t been brave enough to make any but like you would prefer something I could actually touch so that I can get it right! I see you have a genuine canopy so at least you will get the correct dimensions across the fuselage from that

Hi Robert, ref spit canopy, you wont get an accuate diamentions across the fuse from the canopy because they always spread. I think the diamention between the knuck points is 22″ , but can check that tomorrow.

Steve.

Steve,

That was SM845…..! I think that was also wrong!

I know we did considerable wrestling with big rudders at the time.

Bruce

Bruce, After I had posted that i did wonder if I was right because it was for a MKXV111 and not a X1V !! SM845 being a MKXV111

Steve