nmayhew Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I am nearing the close on my Spitfire MkIa (Revell). I plan on posing the rudder off centre. With this is in mind, would the ailerons always be in a neutral pose on the ground, or could they be slightly at angle (and I realise they need to be offset, not both up or both down etc)? Have looked through a lot of pics but not seeing much that helps. Many thanks Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
branchline Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 Hi Nick, A favourite subject of mine, looking across hundreds of WWll Spitfire images just now for all MKs of the type, the most common pose with a serviceable aircraft on the ground pending flight is neutral ailerons, drooped elevators and rudder, often offset. Particularly with the BoB aircraft ready on the field for action, the tailwheel is also often offset. There are a few images with the ailerons slightly offset and even less with them markedly offset but overall very few and from an personal aesthetic perspective, having offset ailerons never quite looks right but OTY. Regards Brent H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmayhew Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 Thanks I went with them level in the end Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radub Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Usually, "parked" aircraft are fitted with "gust locks" that secure all moveable parts in place. So, if your model has "gust locks" all should be "straight". Anything goes without gust locks. Actually, as the name implies, a bit of wind can move the control surfaces. Before take-off, when the pilot is taking the pre-flight check walk around the aircraft, he moves by hand all control surfaces in order to check that all links and cables move freely and without snags. You can pose your model as you wish and when questioned just say "pre-flight", drop mike and walk away. :-) Radu nmayhew, D.B. Andrus and Lothar 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radub Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Before we get lost on side tracks, let me reiterate that it is possible for the control surfaces to be in other positions than "neutral". There is always a "scenario" where that is possible. Yes, the controls can be locked, yes one can wrap the seatbelts around the control stick, whatever, but movable surfaces can be moved. Trying to find a "rule" about the position of various controls by looking at photos is like trying to create a "rule" by looking at photos of houses and concluding that doors never open because they are always shut in photos. Things move. As for how easy it is to move control surfaces on a Spitfire I can tell you that I was fortunate enough to spend some time in or around Spitfires and the control surfaces can be moved very smoothly and easily by hand. Some of the Spitfires I saw were flyable and had gust locks and a variety of FOD covers for the exhausted and intakes. I can tell you that the Mustang and the Bf 109 have in-built control locks that secure the control column and rudder pedals in the neutral position with a simple "flick" - I handled these locks while seated in these cockpits and I can tell you where they are. The Spitfire does not have such an in-built device. A special bar-shaped device needs to be jammed between the seat backrest and control column in order to lock the Spitfire controls. Radu nmayhew and D.B. Andrus 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palm-tree Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Last time I sat in a spitfire, the contol column was very light to the touch about all axes but was not spring loaded in any way to return to neutral. A gust of wind could displace the ailerons if the gust locks were not installed. From the Spitfire Mk V pilot’s notes... “Aeroplane Controls 7. (a) .....Control locking struts are stowed on the right hand side of the cockpit , behind the seat. (b). To lock the control column, the longer strut should be clamped to the control column at one end and the other inserted in a key hole slot in the right hand side of the seat. The fixed pin on the free end of the arm attached to this strut at the control column end should then be inserted in a lug (64) on the starboard datum longeron, thus forming a rigid triangle between the column,the seat and the longeron. (c). To lock the rudder pedals, a short bar with a pin at each end is attached to the other struts by a cable.The longer of the two pins should be inserted in a hole in the starboard star wheel bearing (82) and the shorter in an eyebolt (89) on the fuselage frame directly below the front of the seat. The controls should be locked with the seat in it’s highest position. “ nmayhew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Palm-tree Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 http://spitfiresite.com/2010/07/anatomy-of-spitfire-cockpit.html/04n_15_025 http://spitfiresite.com/2010/07/anatomy-of-spitfire-cockpit.html/04n_15_026 a couple of pictures of the control column gust locks fitted from the spitfiresite.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonH Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 "Last time I sat in a spitfire..." That has to be my favourite phrase of all time on this forum With Spitfires, you need to take into account that, generally, we are talking RAF. In this case, everything will be lined up, polished and correct. nmayhew and D.B. Andrus 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sepp Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 Don't forget: if you're gonna depict the ailerons other than in the neutral position, lean the top part of the control column above the pivot in the appropriate direction (toward the upgoing aileron). nmayhew and MikeC 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 It depends on how the previous driver left it. I've just been looking through various books at numerous pictures of parked spits during the war and most seem to have the column forward and centrally placed. So the pics mostly show elevators lowered, ailerons neutral and rudder neutral. Of course there are photos of spits where they have been left with rudder applied and elevators level with a touch of aileron too. So the choice is yours. Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radub Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, DonH said: "Last time I sat in a spitfire..." That has to be my favourite phrase of all time on this forum I was trying to say that I was speaking from first-hand experience and I was not just regurgitating stuff googled five minutes ago. Radu Edited April 11, 2019 by Radub LSP_Matt, D.B. Andrus and Out2gtcha 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmayhew Posted April 11, 2019 Author Share Posted April 11, 2019 7 hours ago, Palm-tree said: Last time I sat in a spitfire... LSP_Matt 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Radub Posted April 11, 2019 Share Posted April 11, 2019 2 minutes ago, Jennings Heilig said: That’s because the elevators naturally “droop” by gravity, pulling the stick forward. The elevators of the Spitfire are masss-balanced with counterweights. The gravity should not affect them. HTH Radu Anthony in NZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ray Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Can't remember if I read this or what, but I thought they pushed the stick forward after parking to give them a few more inches of room trying to climb out of the cockpit. Spit cockpits are tight! DonH and LSP_K2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonH Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 16 hours ago, Radub said: I was trying to say that I was speaking from first-hand experience and I was not just regurgitating stuff googled five minutes ago. Radu No offence intended Radu, I am genuinely impressed (and jealous) that you get to sit in a Spitfire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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