Spitfire Mk Iv

Discussion in 'Modelling' started by GUMALANGI, May 15, 2005.

  1. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    I didn't know they used Spits on carriers.

    They were called Seafires in the FAA service
     
  2. Kiwiwriter

    Kiwiwriter Very Senior Member

    They were called Seafires in the FAA service

    Yes, they were a knockoff of the land-based Spit, with folding wings. They had fragile undercarriages, and more Seafires were knocked out by prangs than by enemy bullets. They also had a short fuel endurance, so they were mostly used for CAP. Carrier captains were annoyed at having to turn into the wind every couple of hours to swap out the CAP.

    Other than that, they were outstanding fighters.:)
     
  3. kfz

    kfz Very Senior Member

    Hi - yes, what a super Spitfire! If only my own efforts were even half as good....

    You may be interested to know that the Spitfire you have modelled is an early Mk Vb of 457 Sqn (RAAF), circa mid 1942, at which point it would have been flying fighter sweeps over France and the low countries - Rhubarbs, Rodeos, Ramrods, Curcuses, etc.....

    Keep up the modelling.

    Adam


    didnt the Vb have extended wingtips and pressurised cabin for high alitudes. Thats just a plain old mk V isnt it????

    Kev
     
  4. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    didnt the Vb have extended wingtips and pressurised cabin for high alitudes. Thats just a plain old mk V isnt it????

    Kev

    the B model was a standard model. You are thinking of the Strato-Spit VII which were designed to intecept JU86Rs flying over Britian. See Pierre Clostermanns The Big Show chapter called Tusle in the Stratosphere for a description of their use.


    [​IMG]

    Mk VII



    [​IMG]

    MkVB
     
  5. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    It wasn't as much of a problem as with the BF-109 and I haven't heard any problems with ground loops with the Spitfire. It was a bit tricky for carrier ops but other than that there wasn't that much of problem with the gear. Morse could maybe add more.

    heres a quote from RPB Beamont

    Taxying was blind ahead and it was necessary to swing the nose continuously from side to side to see the way. This at once drew attention to the differential wheel brakes which proved soft and "sponge" especially when taxing down the prevalent gusty wind. A tendency to rock away from the wind on the narrow-track undercarriage added to the feeling if insecurity and the Spitfire was certainly less easy to handle on the ground that the Hurricane
     
  6. kfz

    kfz Very Senior Member

    the B model was a standard model. You are thinking of the Strato-Spit VII which were designed to intecept JU86Rs flying over Britian. See Pierre Clostermanns The Big Show chapter called Tusle in the Stratosphere for a description of their use.


    [​IMG]

    Mk VII



    [​IMG]

    MkVB

    I must be wrong. I thought the mkV was the basic airframe and the Va was the clipped low altidue (clipped wing single stage charger) desert varient and the Vb was the high altidude extended tail surfacer and wingtips (as above).

    Maybe its a unofficail designation...??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

    Below site (no idea how accurate seems to indicate a high altude Mk5 but does not give any details.

    http://www.spitfiresociety.demon.co.uk/whatmark.htm#MkVI
     
  7. morse1001

    morse1001 Very Senior Member

    I must be wrong. I thought the mkV was the basic airframe and the Va was the clipped low altidue (clipped wing single stage charger) desert varient and the Vb was the high altidude extended tail surfacer and wingtips (as above).

    Maybe its a unofficail designation...??? :confused: :confused: :confused:

    Below site (no idea how accurate seems to indicate a high altude Mk5 but does not give any details.

    http://www.spitfiresociety.demon.co.uk/whatmark.htm#MkVI

    The VI was a high altitude version as well, basically a modified V. However, you are thinking of the Vc! tropical version.
     
  8. Gnomey

    Gnomey World Travelling Doctor

    Good page on the Seafire: http://www.supermarine-spitfire.co.uk/supermarine_seafire.html

    When is talking about the clipped wings morse I thing he means the "LF" versions, like this one:
    Spitfire MKVb LF
    [​IMG]

    As for for the high altitude ones there were the "HF" Spitfires
    Spitfire MKVIII HF
    [​IMG]
    Sources on right click
     
  9. jimbotosome

    jimbotosome Discharged

    the B model was a standard model. You are thinking of the Strato-Spit VII which were designed to intecept JU86Rs flying over Britian. See Pierre Clostermanns The Big Show chapter called Tusle in the Stratosphere for a description of their use.
    MkVB
    How do you pressurize a plane with a sliding glass canopy?
     
  10. jimbotosome

    jimbotosome Discharged

    They were called Seafires in the FAA service
    How do you store a plane on a carrier that has such a large wingspan and wings that do not fold? The elevators would have to be huge wouldn't they (the carrier elevators that is)?
     
  11. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Grease comes to mind... Good question though. Was it rubber seals or what?
     
  12. jimbotosome

    jimbotosome Discharged

    [​IMG]
    Beautiful view! What are the protruding things on the leading edges of the wing?
     
  13. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Guns?
     
  14. plant-pilot

    plant-pilot Senior Member

    How do you pressurize a plane with a sliding glass canopy?
    A loose hollow rubber seal that is inflated when the aircraft is preassurized, forming a seal, but does not impeed the movement of the canopy when deflated.
     
  15. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    Oh i see. As the altitude climbs and the pressure drops, the air within the tube expands, therefore creating an effective seal. When the altitude drops, the pressure increases and the tube deflates. Nifty.
     
  16. plant-pilot

    plant-pilot Senior Member

    Oh i see. As the altitude climbs and the pressure drops, the air within the tube expands, therefore creating an effective seal. When the altitude drops, the pressure increases and the tube deflates. Nifty.

    Um no, the aircraft pressurization system inflates the seal. It has to be stronger that the ambient pressure and form a two way seal.
     
  17. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    My idea was better.
    So what if the pressuriser fails? Never have worked out what would happen to the pilot. Would he be wearing an oxygen mask as par for the course, or would he be relying on the pressurised cockpit?
     
  18. Gnomey

    Gnomey World Travelling Doctor

    The are the ends of the Hispano cannons (inner) and those either for the 50 cals or another set of Hispanos (outer)
     
  19. jimbotosome

    jimbotosome Discharged

    The are the ends of the Hispano cannons (inner) and those either for the 50 cals or another set of Hispanos (outer)
    Duh, for some reason I was thinking the guns on the Spit were recessed.
     
  20. Kitty

    Kitty Very Senior Member

    I think they wer on earlier marks. I recall seeing photos of cloth patches over the guns before the flight, and then when they returned the patches are torn and tattered after the guns are fired.
     

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