Tamiya's big Spit

[Ripaman]

Thanks Larry, I've been waiting for some information on some of the plumbing on the Merlin. To be honest, I think I'm being a little too crazy with it now but having come this far I might as well get it as right as I can. I had a deadline too but that's out the window now as well. Hopefully I'll have what I need soon and I can "git 'er dun"! Any chance you know where the tachometer cable connects to after it leaves the cylinder head? Thought I had it figured out but apparently not!

 

Cheers,

Wolf

 

Hi Wolf, Very very nice work as always just love the detail you are putting into this Spit

Your statement above says you are waiting for some info on plumbing, I have got a book Spitfire LF.MK.1X in detail #26 by WWP (Wings & Wheels Publications) and on pages 78 and 79 it has some drawings of the plumbing is this what you are after???, also it has some very nice shots of both sides of the engine on pages 74, 75, 76 and 77, the engine they are showing is a Packard Merlin 266. If you want send me a PM and I can show you.

 

Also I don't think you are crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Best regards

Richard

[Guest KingK_series]

Hey KingK, to be honest it could quite possibly be a combination of my scratch-built duct being slightly oversized and the Tamiya rad trough could be a bit shallow but it's not really noticeable once the plane is wheel side down. In fact it's almost impossible to see the gun heating ducts without a light. Glad you like it though. One thing to note from your pic, it looks like the set up used on a Mk V or earlier airframe.

 

Cheers,

Wolf

 

 

True

 

it's actually K9942 the oldest surviving spitfire airframe, the ducts on a IXc are obviously different and do not cross the fusilage, however the point I was trying to make is the rad is way too shallow in the Tamiya kit ---- worse are the wheel wells which are given a false cieling, whole load of the detailing in the leg wells is missing or inaccurate too.

 

But the main point is proportion - think cockpits - when the inside cockpit wells are fitted as in the lower section of the Tamiya or in so many resin kits you have a too thick plastic fusilage wall plus the cockpit wall, to represent a single ally skin in the real thing - that makes the cockpits and wheel wells and rad ducts the wrong proportion, which then affects the detail and the space it exists in -

 

Spent a lot of time underneath and inside Spits and still tavelling to look at them, the detail adds a lot of character to me, but internal proportion is just as important as external dimensions -

[JayTee]

True

 

it's actually K9942 the oldest surviving spitfire airframe, the ducts on a IXc are obviously different and do not cross the fusilage, however the point I was trying to make is the rad is way too shallow in the Tamiya kit ---- worse are the wheel wells which are given a false cieling, whole load of the detailing in the leg wells is missing or inaccurate too.

 

But the main point is proportion - think cockpits - when the inside cockpit wells are fitted as in the lower section of the Tamiya or in so many resin kits you have a too thick plastic fusilage wall plus the cockpit wall, to represent a single ally skin in the real thing - that makes the cockpits and wheel wells and rad ducts the wrong proportion, which then affects the detail and the space it exists in -

 

Spent a lot of time underneath and inside Spits and still tavelling to look at them, the detail adds a lot of character to me, but internal proportion is just as important as external dimensions -

 

And for those wanting to go to the bottom of the radiators - or the wheel wells for that matter (and a lot more) - the book Spitfire Mk.IX & Mk.XVI Engineered by Paul Monforton is highly recommended. It contains such a vast amount of detail - hundreds of wonderful large colour photo's, a huge amount of detail drawings and actual measurements of the real thing (done by the author himself) - that ones build project could easily be stretched for years. A rivet counters dream I would say If, on the other hand, you are after plumbing in front of the Spit's firewall, that's the area this book is not covering.

[Wolf Buddee]

Absolutely right JayTee. The Monforton book is an awesome reference but if you're looking for engine plumbing details, it's not going to help. It also doesn't have any detail information on the gun heating ducts, not even drawings. The only reference I had for scratch-building mine was a photo I was sent of the stbd side duct and drawings I was sent of the gun duct arrangements for both sides.

 

No matter how you look at it, proportion issues due to molding limitations, lack of details within certain areas, or whatever other short comings anyone might feel the kit has, I think Tamiya's model of the Spitfire has to be one of the finest kits ever released. Do with it what you may, you'll be hard pressed not to have one incredible example of a Spitfire model when you're done. My only issue so far is getting it finished!

 

Cheer,

Wolf

Edited October 28, 2012 by Wolf Buddee

[JayTee]

Absolutely right JayTee. The Monforton book is an awesome reference but if you're looking for engine plumbing details, it's not going to help. It also doesn't have any detail information on the gun heating ducts, not even drawings. The only reference I had for scratch-building mine was a photo I was sent of the stbd side duct and drawings I was sent of the gun duct arrangements for both sides.

 

No matter how you look at it, proportion issues due to molding limitations, lack of details within certain areas, or whatever other short comings anyone might feel the kit has, I think Tamiya's model of the Spitfire has to be one of the finest kits ever released. Do with it what you may, you'll be hard pressed not to have one incredible example of a Spitfire model when you're done. My only issue so far is getting it finished!

 

Cheer,

Wolf

 

Couldn't agree more Wolf, as a matter of fact in the Monforton book mention is being made that the gun heating ducts are missing.

 

Looking at the Tamiya kit it is obvious that their researchers took more than a casual look inside the radiator tubs. The kit's radiator duct contours inside the wings compare quite well with the cross sectional drawings in the Monforton book. The lack of depth (indeed not too serious) stems from the way the kit is engineered and could, if one wishes, be improved, although the effort will be hardly (if at all) noticeable.

 

Cheers,

Jan

[Bryan]

No matter how you look at it, proportion issues due to molding limitations, lack of details within certain areas, or whatever other short comings anyone might feel the kit has, I think Tamiya's model of the Spitfire has to be one of the finest kits ever released. Do with it what you may, you'll be hard pressed not to have one incredible example of a Spitfire model when you're done. My only issue so far is getting it finished!

 

 

I sure agree with you about the kit Wolf. In subtle ways, I think it is even better than the new P-51 by Tamiya, which is also awesome by any standard. Tamiya has mastered the subtle surface details, so they are visible but not overdone. It is hard to believe a model kit could get any better than these....but I thought the same about the Revell 1/32 offerings of the 1970s back in the day....so who knows?

[shepard]

ok.... ok... wich one is the real 1:1 one????

 

 

terrific....just amazing

 

Shep

[Michael931080]

Wolf, any updates on the Spitfire?

[Wolf Buddee]

Wolf, any updates on the Spitfire?

Thanks for asking Michael but unfortunately no. I've had some down time from the bench as of late but I finally have all the information I need to finish the build. It entails more scratch building, some disassembly for certain details such as removing the tach cable and relocating it, and finishing off the remaining plumbing for some of the oil and breather lines.

 

The 1st step will be a thorough tiding up of the work bench so I can find all my tools and create some space to work on! Hopefully I'll have something to post soon.

 

Cheers,

Wolf

[Guest]

Can't wait, Wolf !............Harv

[Hadge]

I'm new to this forum and I've had a long long break from building anything but I'm absolutely staggered by how incredible this build is, truly amazing and its not a kit it's a masterpiece! Unbelievable and unreal and it just looks so incredibly real. The photos look amazing on my iPad and I hope when I come to build mine I can achieve a level about 1/100 of yours as even then I will be very very happy indeed. Wow.

[A.Wolf Grant]

Jeez ! It's amazing how much you miss. I can't believe what you've done Wolf (nice name) - I'm utterly stunned by the attention to detail. Fantastic stuff and I can't wait for more.

 

Grant.

[Guest Peterpools]

Wolf

Thanks for the extra tip on using The Detailer Washes. I think my problem has been not letting them dry completely and nor adding a drop of detergent. Will be giving them another go on the Ablatros for sure.

Thanks again

Peter

[xmh53wrench]

.....such a fine line between love and hate....

 

.....guess I will take up needle point

 

 

[Shawn M]

Wolf, many thanks for your great build. It inspired my on my 1/48 build.