Iain Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Have been commissioned to build a 'Grace' type two-seat Spitfire model in 1:32 - based upon the superb Tamiya Mk IX kit and my client has kindly given permission for me to post progress here. Photo by Darren Harbar, via Eastern Daily Press This is a complex project and will have to create a lot of things from scratch, but will have assistance in terms of drawings and details from one of the UK's leading Spitfire engineers. As an example of the changes the front 'pit is moved foward by 13.5 inches on the full-size airframe, and the rear canopy is not the standard Spitfire 'bubble' (it's longer) - so it's not as straightforward as first meets the eye. Aiming to complete the project early in the New Year - but in order to make a start with some of the more straightforward work, I've commenced with that glorious Merlin: Rocker covers have been replaced with the excellent Barracuda items which feature the Rolls-Royce name. Small gaps in assembly now filled and should start getting paint on later today... This project will take priorty over my other builds. Blue Skies! Iain TorbenD, Zero77, Gazzas and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 What a great project, I never realised that the real aircraft had the cockpit moved forward, you live and learn, will be watching this one closely Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorbenD Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Oooh! Looking forward to seeing this one come off Iain Torben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dora9 Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 I was in Duxford around 2005, 2006 and as I was leaving the museum, I heard the distinctive growl of a lonely Merlin late in the afternoon and it was the Grace Spitfire taking off. What a sight! So yes I will be watching this build! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brahman104 Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 Nice! Many years ago when I didn't know what I was doing I tried to make one out of the big airfix kit..... needless to say it didn't end well. I have no doubt yours will be an absolute gem when it's done though! Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted September 23, 2017 Share Posted September 23, 2017 That's a very kool project Iain! Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted September 24, 2017 Share Posted September 24, 2017 Perhaps the most graceful of all the two-seat Spitfires, I look forward to following your progress! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Posted September 26, 2017 Author Share Posted September 26, 2017 Thanks for the interest folks... Agreed Tony - definitely the best looking of the two-seaters. Just getting my head around the ignition harnesses I need to make up - I will post some more images soon. Iain Tony C 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wunwinglow Posted September 26, 2017 Share Posted September 26, 2017 Watching! Nice project! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Interesting and challenging - good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexM Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 This will be interesting. Sounds like surgery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssculptor Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 What was the purpose of the original two seater Spit? Training? How many were produced? It is so well designed that it keeps the beautiful looks of the single seat Spit. Lovely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MustangManiac Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 Awesome project Iain, I want to do one of these myself eventually. I have seen Ben from Firefly models: http://www.firefly-models.com do one of these on commission too. It's under his projects tab on his website. He had talked about maybe producing a resin conversion set for the Tamiya Spitfire Mk IXc kit. I'm definitely interested in watching you build this especially if you are going to be in contact with the Spitfire's UK engineers. Cheers, Brady Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted September 27, 2017 Share Posted September 27, 2017 (edited) What was the purpose of the original two seater Spit? Training? How many were produced? It is so well designed that it keeps the beautiful looks of the single seat Spit. Lovely. ML407 was built as a single seater and I believe is credited with kills during D-Day. It was later purchased and converted by Nick Grace into It current configuration though I'm unsure if this was before his accident and then completed by his family, or before! I'm pretty certain that there is a dedicated website for the Grace Spitfire! The RAF did not use two seaters and those built, known as the T.9, were for international Air Forces (the Irish Air Corps being one) and I think that it is these that were built with the raised rear bubble canopy whilst some recent restorations Mk.IX's, have been converted into two seaters by their owners. This is all from memory and could of course be total rubbish, so check before quoting me Edited September 27, 2017 by Tony C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cees Broere Posted September 28, 2017 Share Posted September 28, 2017 Correct Tonyboy, Nick Grace restored and designed the non-standard two-seater canopy configuration on ML407, which has later been copied by other restorations. It was based on the Russian field modification IIRC. Cheers Cees Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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