Supermarine Spitfire

Wurger · Sep 30, 2019

Here is the enlarged part of the picture posted in #133. Please notice the lauout of the panel lines that indicates the number of pieces, the bottom cowling was made with. Especially , please pay your attention to the triangle piese with the stiffener for the mid segment.

Here is the enlarged pic of the PR IX cowling. Can you see the same triangle part and the lauout of the panel lines although the stiffener isn't attached?

Here enlarged shots of the cowling for the early and late PR XI. Please make a focus on the front shape that seems to be a little bit more rounded and made ( pressed ) as one piece. Also there is no the triangle part. The cowling seems to consist of two parts only ( the front and back ones ) although it looks like a solid one.

fubar57 · Sep 30, 2019

Also not the inlet on the top of the cowl

Sid327 · Sep 30, 2019

Wurger said:
The short carburettor intake was also used with the early PR XIs as well as the rounded tail. But you are right the fixed tail wheel says that's the PR IX. The Spitfire PR IX was very similar in appearance to the early PR XI and is confused with it very often. Also the lower engine cowling is more characteristic for the earlier PR Spits. As memo serves the PR XI got it shaped with a different way ..

The PR IX ...
View attachment 554699
the pic source: Spitfire FR IX : IFF, radios carried.

The early PR XI ...
View attachment 554697
the pic source: the Internet.

Thanks Wurger,

I am not much of a Spitfire specialist, but wondered about the photo that's all.
Most of my ''eyeballing'' comes from memory ....and that can get a bit blurry at times.

Cheers, Steve.

Wurger · Sep 30, 2019

fubar57 said:
Also not the inlet on the top of the cowl

Do you mean that one Geo?

The same can be found at the top cowl of the PR XI too. It was on the starboard only and can't be seen while looking at the port side.

Wurger · Sep 30, 2019

Sid327 said:
Thanks Wurger,

I am not much of a Spitfire specialist, but wondered about the photo that's all.
Most of my ''eyeballing'' comes from memory ....and that can get a bit blurry at times.
Cheers, Steve.

OK.