Spitfire Mk1. Differences between Mid and Late

[Stew Dapple]

Both releases of the Kotare kit so far include two small square 'windows' on the clear sprue marked on the instructions as 'not for use' - perhaps that's what they are for?

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[MikeC]

5 hours ago, Stew Dapple said:

Both releases of the Kotare kit so far include two small square 'windows' on the clear sprue marked on the instructions as 'not for use' - perhaps that's what they are for?

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

Seems likely.  Let the speculation on exactly which other variants are to come begin

[MikeMaben]

Thanks men, learned something new today.

So Dennis, I'm assuming these photos show where the lights 'were' before omission ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by MikeMaben

[MikeMaben]

11 hours ago, Pete Roberts said:

Sorry Mike, should have posted an example but Dennis has covered this well above. They can be very difficult to see in photos at a distance, especially in a less than clear photo.

No problem Pete, gotta be quick on the trigger with this croud ,

appreciate the effort anyway.

[mozart]

6 hours ago, Stew Dapple said:

Both releases of the Kotare kit so far include two small square 'windows' on the clear sprue marked on the instructions as 'not for use' - perhaps that's what they are for?

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

Good morning Stew, and welcome to LSP…..it’s good to see you here! 

[Stew Dapple]

1 hour ago, mozart said:

Good morning Stew, and welcome to LSP…..it’s good to see you here! 

 

Thanks very much Max, it's nice to be here 

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[mozart]

The “Go Large” GB is lingering on, still a couple of builds in progress…….

[dennismcc]

38 minutes ago, Stew Dapple said:

 

Thanks very much Max, it's nice to be here 

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

Hi Stew, thought I had hit the wrong shortcut then seeing you here, welcome aboard.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[dennismcc]

2 hours ago, MikeMaben said:

Thanks men, learned something new today.

So Dennis, I'm assuming these photos show where the lights 'were' before omission ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They certainly are Mike.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Mark_C]

You guys are just amazing, from the depth of knowledge to the willingness to share it.

 

 

 

[19squadron]

On 12/7/2023 at 7:32 AM, BarryWilliams said:

I have a specific late production Spitfire 1 that I would like to build.  Specifically Bobby Oxspring’s X4170 that was shot down in October 1940, crashing near Capel Le Fern (not far from where the Battle of Britain memorial is now sited). Oxspring survived the war and became an ace.  I have a set of cufflinks made from that aircraft’s Meriin engine and want to display the cuffs alongside a model of the aircraft. 
 

I have been waiting for Kotare to produce a Late production version but I am getting impatient and will make adaptions to a mid-production Kotare Spitfire instead. 

Does anyone know the changes I  need to make please.  
 

 

 

 

X4170 was the second series to be fitted with the Hydraulic engine actuated undercarriage lift. The R series which preceded the X series, were the first from May 1940 to be fitted with the red Aeroplastic seat and automatic undercarriage retraction.The hydraulic fluid reservoir mounted on the starboard side behind frame 11 was moved to on the forward side of frame 5 under the engine cowl. Some cowls were fitted with a hydraulic fluid access hatch on the rear of the engine top cowl on the starboard side but not all They also lost the forward parachute flare dispenser, but gained a downward firing plessy flare dispenser with a Bowden pull trigger mounted to the left of the pilot's seat. The instrument panel was also made of Aeroplastic and painted black which gave the main panel a slight red tint compared to the blind flying panel which remained made of aluminium. All X series aircraft were fitted with a DeHavilland CS prop. Formation lights were fitted sporadically from R series aircraft and are present [but painted over] on X4590 see below, but not on all aircraft in war time pics, so you really need to find a pic of an individual aircraft to see whether it had these lights. The same is true of the downward firing Plessy dispenser, though all R series aircraft seem to have them so do most X series. Again X4590 shows where the downward firing port has been plated over.

[19squadron]

Here on the fuel tank armour of X4590 you can see the formation light position - painted over

[19squadron]

Just now, 19squadron said:

Here on the fuel tank armour of X4590 you can see the formation light position - painted over

Note the Vc type windscreen hood and electrical port in the wing fillet are post frontline squadron modifications done in 1942.

[19squadron]

Here arrowed is the Plessy Dispenser port, now plated over.

[19squadron]

Another X series aircraft in a september 1940 photograph, showing no formation lights, Pics of aircraft with them are relatively rare so you really do need an individual reference for them.

Edited December 25, 2023 by 19squadron
additional text