1:1 Spitfire K9817 Cockpit Build (3 Viewers)

[Airframes]

Excellent research and production !

 

[Tony Hill]

Thanks Wojtek and Terry.

I have been trying to decide on Sutton Harness colour. The information ranges from "Buff" to Khaki, to RAF Blue. Add to that the different apparent tones in B&W photographs and it is a bit of a minefield. (Even discounting orthochromatic film!!). In addition "Buff" in British parlance runs the range from almost white/light brown to quite yellow.

I've decided against my prefered RAF Blue as whilst I HAVE seen postwar belts of that colour, I haven't seen any definitive evidence of wartime Suttons as blue. This leads me to believe that the alleged blue of the IWM Spitfire (as per the Patrick Stephens, 1970's Airfix book) may be a postwar harness. So the various dark belts in photos could be any or all of:

a) dirty,

b) orthochromatic film and yellow,

c) khaki but more "English Uniform"

Now the problem is illustrated particularly by the first picture below where the uniform could be described (although, of course, not "officially" described) as being Khaki Uniform with Khaki webbing, Khaki puttees and Kharki helmet. The pictures following give the idea....

But putting all of that aside, I didn't like the pristine and very yellow colour of my original Sutton Harness. As it is NOT dated, I have no way of knowing it's date of manufacture, although I have seen a 1938 dated example of the same colour.

However, after two years of use, half of that wartime, I figure a liberal amount of oil and grunge will have attached themselves. So the final three photos are what the coffee dyeing has produced and I am relatively confident that it is a plausible colour. note even those three photos under slightly different lighting, give quite different impressions.

 

[Crimea_River]

Very impressive Darryl and I'm glad you cut your toenails!

 

[Tony Hill]

Cheers Andy

I have been planning this for months. I've done a lot of research before I started...you have to cut them JUST right

 

[Airframes]

Looks about right Darryl.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Great work so far Darryl!

 

[fubar57]

Very nice

 

[Tony Hill]

Thank you all very much Gents!

The end of another day:

The mixture lever now rivetted flush on both sides. The holes for the fingergrip and the pushrod still to be drilled. Primer and paint and it will be impossible to tell that it is a two piece assembly.

Next, Frame 8, the Port side of which is progressing nicely and has had the flanges hammered to be nicely even and flat. They are at a stage now where I am confident they would take the skin rivetted to them without showing too many imperfections.

...See more

 

[fubar57]

Good stuff Darryl

 

[Tony Hill]

Cheers Geo!

Awaiting the arrival of my small guillotine this week to do all of the brackets next weekend. Guillotine them then bend them in the vice pressbreak I bought. Should be quick and easy!

 

[Wurger]

 

[SANCER]

What a great job so far, Darryl.
It will be interesting to know that little guillotine and see how it works.
Very interesting thread, I follow it.

Saludos y buena semana a todos

 

[Crimea_River]

Continuing greatness...

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff Darryl.

 

[Tony Hill]

Thanks Wojtek, Luis, Andy and Terry!

Luis, here is the guillotine:

It has a cutting blade of 300mm and will cut up to 6mm steel plate.

 

[Wayne Little]

friggin' great work man....

 

[SANCER]

I know them, they are very practical and do a very good job in relatively small details.
We have a couple of those in the workshop and they are very useful for us.
Thanks for sharing the imagen, Darryl.

 

[Crimea_River]

It has a cutting blade of 300mm and will cut up to 6mm steel plate.

Should work on toe nails then!

 

[Tony Hill]

Thanks Wayne,

No worries Luis,

*rude words* Andy