Tamiya 1/72 Spitfire I (looks odd)

Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules

Looking at this, that cutout on the model is not correct.
 

Attachments

  • Spit gun.jpg
    30.6 KB · Views: 46
  • Spit wing.jpg
    17.7 KB · Views: 46
I have seen a recess on guns like that but it wasnt on a Spitfire. Maybe it was done on a prototype at the start?
 
SirFrancis said:
Looking at this, that cutout on the model is not correct.
Click to expand...


C'est la vie. The kit is one of the older sets offered by the Tamiya. What was correct 20 or more years ago is not adequate these days. Such details are easy to correct so no trouble with that should be.
 
Wurger said:
C'est la vie. The kit is one of the oldest sets offered by the Tamiya. What was correct 20 or more years ago is not adequate these days. Such details are easy to correct so no trouble with that should be.
Click to expand...
Well I haven't bought the kit yet. I prefer the classic 8 gun flush look anyway, so I could look around for a different kit...
 

Ok, I dunno...still looks a bit odd. Even the gun that protrudes the most should 'float' inside the recess. I know everything is fixable...but I'd rather just do OOB with no fiddling around.
 
Judging by pictured of the assembled models I would say it looks quite good and can be made as the OOB. For a such building the accuracy of the model is fine.
 
Even looking at this photo of the classic flush guns, the gun ports look so much bigger than what I remember on models.
 

Attachments

  • Spitfire1602a.jpg
    170.6 KB · Views: 45
I think you are right.

Anyway .. here a couple of enlarged shots of the wing leading edge of the early spitfire Mk.I of the no. 19 Squadron RAF. These can come in handy. Also it has to be mentioned that the outboard guns were moved further back into the wing on later Mk.I so that it was easier to apply fabric patches over the gun ports. Therefore the Tamiya kit is not the early Spitfire I but the late one ( also called Mk.Ia ) that got a couple of modifications including the moving back of the guns.







the source: the net.
 
Found this post from 'Selwyn' back in 2012
The main reason for the removal of the long flash suppressors was because the guns were freezing and failing to fire at high altitude during interceptions. Heat was already provided to the guns (hot air ducted from the radiator I believe) through internal wing ducts but with the barrels always open to the elements this was innefective.
The solution was to redesign the flash suppressors to ensure the gun muzzles did not project from the leading edge, and introduce the gun patches. These, by sealing the gun ports stopped the guns overcooling, and enabled the gun heating system to be effective. I beleve that initially patches were also placed over the case ejection ports on the underside of the wings as well.
Selwyn.

Another post indicated this happened in early 41. But that would mean all Battle of Britain Spitfires had protruding flash suppressors. Which I can't accept yet. More research to do.
 
This from JMChladek in 2012

I see that the birds from 1939 to at least the early fall of 1940 had protruding flash suppressors on the outer wing guns, at least before the red arming tape covers were added in early 1941.
 
Found this from Stona 2020.... which is more to my opinion. But if anyone can find any clear evidence of approx date of deletion that would be great...must.... have .....the truth....

The suppressors were deleted very early, I don't have the date to hand, but certainly before the BoB period.
 
As memo serves it had been discussed somewhere before. I agree with the post above. If we have a look at the BoB pictures with Spitfires it can be noticed that many of them had the modifications introduced already in 1940. But there were still those with the protruding barrels.
 
Like most upgrades I suppose it took a while to get around to all aircraft.. Actually I should find out what squadron the Tamiya kit decals cover. Then some BOB photos of that squadron should shed more light.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Similar threads

Valom 1/72?
Replies
1
Views
621
Wurger
C-130A in 1/72?
Replies
12
Views
1K
TISO
T
Airfix 1/72 Handley Page Hampden....
2
Replies
36
Views
3K
Wurger
Tamiya Extra Thin - Quick Setting
Replies
2
Views
515
Wurger
John Godfrey's P-51 decal availability in 1/48
Replies
1
Views
352
le_steph40
Menu
Log in
Register