T Bolt
Colonel
Great work Darryl
1:1 Spitfire K9817 Cockpit Build
- Thread starter Tony Hill
- Start date
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- Thread starter
- #1,182
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
Thanks Glenn, she's coming along.
I may be going to take yet another "side project" detour next week now, to build the two map boxes, Ross' Mk V and mine.
All the hinges and clasps have now arrived as well as my proper 3/32 round head rivets.
I may be going to take yet another "side project" detour next week now, to build the two map boxes, Ross' Mk V and mine.
All the hinges and clasps have now arrived as well as my proper 3/32 round head rivets.
Looks great so far Darryl!
- Thread starter
- #1,184
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
The end of the weekend. A job today that had been annoying me for a while....realigning the radiator shutter lever.
After a couple of cuts and rearrangement in the spring mechanism at the bottom, the lever could be turned without jamming the spigot that engages the locking grooves in the guide at the six individual positions between "Closed / Guns Warming" and "Fully Open". Once that was organised, it was just a matter of rotating the lever until the centre line of the button was offset 1.8" from the center line at the bottom. This ensures that the lever follows a more natural course in the pilot's hand as he moves it forward and back...a VERY surprising bit of ergonomics given the Spitfire's notoriously "English Engineered" cockpit in other areas! I can't think of another reason it would be offset though?
Anyway, the plan, the two views, the old button and the new, properly rounded at the top but slab-sided button.
After a couple of cuts and rearrangement in the spring mechanism at the bottom, the lever could be turned without jamming the spigot that engages the locking grooves in the guide at the six individual positions between "Closed / Guns Warming" and "Fully Open". Once that was organised, it was just a matter of rotating the lever until the centre line of the button was offset 1.8" from the center line at the bottom. This ensures that the lever follows a more natural course in the pilot's hand as he moves it forward and back...a VERY surprising bit of ergonomics given the Spitfire's notoriously "English Engineered" cockpit in other areas! I can't think of another reason it would be offset though?
Anyway, the plan, the two views, the old button and the new, properly rounded at the top but slab-sided button.
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Great work Darryl!
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Nice!
Crimea_River
Marshal
Another good piece Darryl. I'm guessing the offset prevented the pilot form rubbing his knuckles on the sidewall
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
This is certainly taking shape as one of the most realistic sims going - nice work Darryl.
- Thread starter
- #1,189
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
Thanks Hugh, VB and Andy and Terry.
You would think so Andy, on first look, but the view is from the front and the lever is on your left, between the seat and the wall. The offset actually moves the top of the lever closer to the sidewall and the throttle unit.
Oh well, the day I understand 1930's British engineering is the day they will give me a nice white jacket and rubber wallpaper!
Terry, I really hope so! I want people to look at the pictures and REALLY have to wonder if it is an actual Spitfire..
You would think so Andy, on first look, but the view is from the front and the lever is on your left, between the seat and the wall. The offset actually moves the top of the lever closer to the sidewall and the throttle unit.
Oh well, the day I understand 1930's British engineering is the day they will give me a nice white jacket and rubber wallpaper!
Terry, I really hope so! I want people to look at the pictures and REALLY have to wonder if it is an actual Spitfire..
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Well, so far Darryl, it certainly does look real !
- Thread starter
- #1,191
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
Thanks mate!!!
Crimea_River
Marshal
Ah well, that explains the confusion Darryl. I failed to ignore logic when asking "why?". In our Mosquito restoration work, we have a saying: "It isn't broken - it's British".
- Thread starter
- #1,193
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
Andy, I like THAT line. I'm going to use it.... 50c royalties per time OK? 
(Oh, I haven't forgotten the rudder pedals, I just haven't been able to get a commitment from them as they have a large job on...I haven't even received my stuff yet! But I am sure it will be along)
(Oh, I haven't forgotten the rudder pedals, I just haven't been able to get a commitment from them as they have a large job on...I haven't even received my stuff yet! But I am sure it will be along)
Crimea_River
Marshal
No problem Darryl and don't go too far out of your way to push for an answer. No royalties on the line as we can't claim to have coined it.
- Thread starter
- #1,195
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
Cheers Andy!
A nice little pickup the other day...a correct to period Mk II Height and Airspeed Computor. I also have a Mk I but that isn't strictly correct for September/October '40. It will need a "kid gloves" clean and probably new black fill in the engraving...plus I will have to make the holder (last picture, the unit in the holder mounted in P9374). My guess is to spin the backplate and form the clips etc over a hardwood former...but we will see.
I also managed to secure a Mk I which is in beautiful condition!
A nice little pickup the other day...a correct to period Mk II Height and Airspeed Computor. I also have a Mk I but that isn't strictly correct for September/October '40. It will need a "kid gloves" clean and probably new black fill in the engraving...plus I will have to make the holder (last picture, the unit in the holder mounted in P9374). My guess is to spin the backplate and form the clips etc over a hardwood former...but we will see.
I also managed to secure a Mk I which is in beautiful condition!
Crimea_River
Marshal
Great finds there Darryl. Can you describe the function of this device? Is it for making corrections to the instrument readings?
SANCER
Senior Master Sergeant
Darryl, I'm sure that people will assume that it's real !!
The pieces you have achieved are worthy of a museum,and those you have created yourself are impressive.
I´ts a beautifull work so far.
Saludos
The pieces you have achieved are worthy of a museum,and those you have created yourself are impressive.
I´ts a beautifull work so far.
Saludos
fubar57
General
Beauty, and with Andy
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Marvelous finds, and something I wasn't aware of. I'll make a point of adding one to my next Spitfire model builds.
Like Andy, I'd be interested to learn of it's purpose and use - I'm guessing it calculated speed over ground compared to IAS at given altitude ?
Like Andy, I'd be interested to learn of it's purpose and use - I'm guessing it calculated speed over ground compared to IAS at given altitude ?
- Thread starter
- #1,200
Tony Hill
Tech Sergeant
Thank you Andy, Geo, Luis and Terry!
Luis, I'm flattered, I just hope i can keep it up all the way through.
Ok, the function of the computor:
You set the QFE (barometric pressure on the ground .. as at takeoff) by moving the side cage bottom right.
Then rotate the temperature tab on the left top to the current outside air temperature.
Next, top disk rotates until the height shown on the altimetre is opposite the "I" (right hand pointer at the top, corroded)
Now you can read off the corrected height "C" pointer.
You can also set the IAS the bottom "I" pointer and read off the corrected airspeed.
You now have a Calibrated Airspeed and Height to calculate your ground speed!
Luis, I'm flattered, I just hope i can keep it up all the way through.
Ok, the function of the computor:
You set the QFE (barometric pressure on the ground .. as at takeoff) by moving the side cage bottom right.
Then rotate the temperature tab on the left top to the current outside air temperature.
Next, top disk rotates until the height shown on the altimetre is opposite the "I" (right hand pointer at the top, corroded)
Now you can read off the corrected height "C" pointer.
You can also set the IAS the bottom "I" pointer and read off the corrected airspeed.
You now have a Calibrated Airspeed and Height to calculate your ground speed!
