1/32 Revell Spitfire MKIIa

[Totalize]

Turbo, Gnomey, Geo, Jan, Andy,

Thanks for checking and having a lookee see.

 

[fubar57]

Not saying right or wrong but from "Aero Detail #8 - Spitfire Mk.I~V", ".......the L-shape pipe in front of the radiator fairing is the fuel vent (photos 125&129)......".

 

[Crimea_River]

David the angle of the prop blades varied anyway as the pitch was adjustable so I don't think there would be any setting that is right or wrong. That said they would likely be set at fine pitch (low angle of attack) for taxiing.

 

[Crimea_River]

Oh, and here's the best drawing I have of a Mk I:

 

[Totalize]

Thanks Andy I will go with that and some period photos of MKII's on the ground.

 

[Totalize]

Not saying right or wrong but from "Aero Detail #8 - Spitfire Mk.I~V", ".......the L-shape pipe in front of the radiator fairing is the fuel vent (photos 125&129)......".

Geo, yes this is one of my references. Also, not that Eduard is correct either but their very nice 1/48 MK IX which Steph just built has instructions for this vent and the instructions state to put it in front of the starboard radiator only. I looked at Steph's MK IX and he has this vent/sprayer on the starboard radiator. Maybe Steph can comment.

Steph's build.

Eduard 1/48 Spitfire IX (late)

 

[Crimea_River]

Detail shot from a local Seafire"

 

[Tony Hill]

Sorry to come late to the party on this one...lovely work on the rivets !!!

Firstly, yes, the vent pipe in the radiator is a fuel pressure vent. I suspect cold air, under pressure from the fuel tank helped cool the radiator (however marginally it might have been, better than wasting it to atmoshpere when the Baby Spits need ALL the cooling they can beg borrow or steal!!!)

The pipes Terry pointed out under the fuselage are oil and fuel drain pipes..in the case of the fuel drain, coming from the engine driven fule pump.

I hasten to add that before the Mk V, the pilot did not have a cock control to pressurise or normalise the tank. This became increasingly necessary with higher ceilings.

Airscrew wise, below are the main Spit II Rotol details. ..and, as Andy correctly points out..fine pitch to taxi. 28/30 odd degrees.

 

[Crimea_River]

Excellent input Darryl and thanks for clearing this up. I only had schematics in my possession that showed the presence of the vent and was unable, with just that, to confirm its positioning in front of the radiator.

 

[Totalize]

Awesome stuff guys. A big thanks to you Darryl.

Regarding the Rotol prop. As I perhaps mentioned earlier I assembled the de Havilland prop that came with the kit and the blades could pass for a 30 degree angle. So I will use that part and eyeball the blades in place.

Cheers,
Dave.

 

[le_steph40]

Geo, yes this is one of my references. Also, not that Eduard is correct either but their very nice 1/48 MK IX which Steph just built has instructions for this vent and the instructions state to put it in front of the starboard radiator only. I looked at Steph's MK IX and he has this vent/sprayer on the starboard radiator. Maybe Steph can comment.

I'm not a specialist, I can only write you what I found in my books:
- Aero Details #27 "Spitfire Mk.VI-XVI" p37, photo 113 => the "L" shapped nozzle is for spraying antifreeze on the core.
- Model Mania #5 ""Spitfire IX-XVI" p54, photo 143 => Radiator set under the starborad wing. The narrow inboard section is the intercooler radiator. The wider section is one of two for the engine cooling system. In front of it is de-icing liquid outlet - to prevent icing of the radiator section when cut of (at some stages of flight only one radiator section was enough for engine cooling, and it was this starboard section that was off in the such case).

 

[Totalize]

Thanks for your inputs Steph. Darryl provided an excellent drawing showing the l-shaped nozzle is the fuel vent.

Guys, I have primed the spit and she's ready for some paint but I am considering using masks from Maketar to do the roundels, fin flashes and code letters. The question I have for you RAF experts is What colour should I used for the yellow, red, and blue parts of the insignia's and the grey for the squadron codes. I don't use enamels so those are out. Acrylics or Lacquers would be the preferred paints of choice for me. Any suggestions?

Here's the MKIIa I decided on. The picture says Authentic Decals but mine are from Xtradecal. She's from No. 41 squadron RAF spring, 1941. I am thinking of doing a fictional spit from this squadron ie. do like an EB-X, change the serial number to some number in the P804X series and add some kills on the side of the aircraft. Just something different for a change.

 

[Tony Hill]

My pleasure David,

P804X will clash with real Spitfire production numbers (if it matters to you)
Finding a number near that which isn't a Spitfire but may be something else is easy enough (P8001-P8009 for instance)

If you like I can try to find a number nearby which doesn't clash with anything? Jack Bruce's book has all of them.


(As an aside..not a happy little bunch the P804X serials..... the list reads like a bio of Henry VIII wives )

 

[Crimea_River]

David, all I can tell you is that the letter codes would be in Medium Sea Grey and you can get specific acrylics for that. As to the insignia colours, I can provide you with modern Federal or British Standard equivalents but that won't help you with paints. Most likely, you will need to mix some colours to get something close so your best bet may be to select some decals whose colours you like and mix up some paints to match those.

 

[Wurger]

You may use..

Gunze C or H series: 326-roundell Blue, 329-Yellow, 327-insignia Red

Vallejo Model Air 71091 Signal Blue - FS35044.
Vallejo Model Color 70982 Cavalry Brow - FS30109 or Vallejo Model Color 70957 Flat Red.
Vallejo Model Air 71078 Gold Yellow - FS33538 or Vallejo Model Color 70953 Flat Yellow - FS33655.

for letters: a grey colour.
Vallejo Model Air 71049 Medium Sea Grey

 

[Wayne Little]

Great info.

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff Darryl, thanks for clarifying that vent. And good input re the paints too.

 

[Totalize]

My pleasure David,

P804X will clash with real Spitfire production numbers (if it matters to you)
Finding a number near that which isn't a Spitfire but may be something else is easy enough (P8001-P8009 for instance)

If you like I can try to find a number nearby which doesn't clash with anything? Jack Bruce's book has all of them.


(As an aside..not a happy little bunch the P804X serials..... the list reads like a bio of Henry VIII wives )

Hi Darryl,

Thanks very much for the input. The X was my attempt at a placeholder for a number such as P8041, P8042 or something along those lines would be fine. I suspect the Spitfires in this series were MKII's?

 

[Totalize]

You may use..

Gunze C or H series: 326-roundell Blue, 329-Yellow, 327-insignia Red

Vallejo Model Air 71091 Signal Blue - FS35044.
Vallejo Model Color 70982 Cavalry Brow - FS30109 or Vallejo Model Color 70957 Flat Red.
Vallejo Model Air 71078 Gold Yellow - FS33538 or Vallejo Model Color 70953 Flat Yellow - FS33655.

for letters: a grey colour.
Vallejo Model Air 71049 Medium Sea Grey

Thanks Wojtek, Thats what i am looking for. And as Andy has said I could always mix the colours too.

 

[Crimea_River]

I have a different FS reference than Wojtek for the blue, so for what it's worth:

Insignia Blue - FS35056 or BS381-110 Roundel Blue