'Grace' type two-seat Spitfire in 1:32

[LSP_Kevin]

This is really coming together quickly now, Iain!

 

Kev

[MustangManiac]

You've made this look way too easy lain!

 

Looks very nice and I look forward to seeing more.

 

Brady

[monthebiff]

Very, very nice iain, some well thought out and careful cuts there and really looking the part as you start getting everything back together!

 

Regards. Andy

[Gazzas]

Nice!

[DonH]

Getting better and better with every step.

[KiwiZac]

^ What they said. Part of the joy of following this build for me is seeing how neatly everything slots into place. Brilliant planning on your part!

[Iain]

Thanks everyone - your comments really appreciated...

 

Part of the fun in model making, for me, is the challenge of working out how to do something potentially complex in a simple way - a kind of 3D chess. I can go quiet on a project for quite a while whilst I think things through and this project is a case in point. There's a total of about 3 months thinking, research and planning in the mods I've made - which is probably way overthinking it - but has resulted (I think) the simplest way to mod the fuselage correctly...

 

And probably why projects like Connie, my He219 etc., take me soooo long! 

 

I'm now at the 'what the hell do I do on the inside' part - how to use what's provided in the kit, along with some scratch-building, to get an accurate interior.

 

Customer is a pilot - interior has to be as good as I can make it.

 

Iain

[RLWP]

[Phartycr0c]

Great work Iain. you appear to be having a better time with this than I am with my FLY Hurricane. (Yep the first one for next years display) 

[brahman104]

Looks great Iain! So much better than my feeble attempt with the airfix kit years ago!

 

Clever and workable solution for the conversion 

 

Cheers,

 

Craig

[LSP_Ron]

Really clean work Iain.  Looking good

[Brad-M]

A lot of excellent work Iain. The two seater isn't my cuppa, but you are putting in a ton of work so congrats on a nice clean build so far. Out of curiosity, which merlin engine was used in the real one?

 

Cheers

Brad 

[Iain]

I cannot go into full detail on this specific project Brad - but for the purposes of this build I'll go with the Merlin as it comes in the Tamiya kit, with some detailing, and the Rolls Royce cam covers.

 

Generally 60/70 series Merlins are used on the two-seaters: I'm aware that one two-seater currently flies with a Merlin 70, another with a Packard built 266 (Packard built 66). These days it's all down to what is available when a specific airframe is restored/converted.

 

As some may have read between the lines, I'm working with a company specialising in full-size Spitfire rebuilds/restorations on this project and have access to a lot of engineering data - they supplied the drawings posted earlier, and have provided access to a real TR Mk 9 fuselage for photos and measurements.

 

Regards,

 

Iain

[Brad-M]

Hi Iain, I was just curious since you had to move the cockpit forward, whether there was still room for a 70 series engine or not. I'm not quite sure what the Tamiya merlin is supposed to represent; perhaps a 66 series?

Thanks and good luck with your build.

Brad

[Iain]

Hi Brad,

 

There is no change in the firewall position, so I recon a 70 would fit?

 

On the full size airframe the front tank (behind firewall) is smaller - and there is additional cross-bracing - some of which goes through the tank. Fortunately I don't have to worry about that as it won't be seen! 

 

I'm still working out how to sort the internal structure on the model - will post some images when I have it fully sussed.

 

I suspect you are right about kit being a Merlin 66, but haven't spent any time working out for sure!

 

Iain