Astro32 Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 Got a smokin' deal on Trumpeter's Mk V on floats recently. As most of you know, the office and the engine are rubbish. Overall shape compares well against my Airfix Mk 1A so there is that. Not too sure about the floats though; they seem soo shallow in the keel but that may be accurate. Supermarine had their own ideas about float design. Not sure about aftermarket details but I'm sure what's out there can be adapted. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Getting tired of doing cars! Dpgsbody55 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Confusionreigns178 Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 I THINK that a couple of the Float Spits had NMF on some parts of the floats and fuselage, but it a long time since I saw the photos. It strikes me that you could go "super-What-If" on this kit and let your imagination run riot. How many did they build? I have a feeling it was around 10 (but memory is also very hazy on this one). I do remember reading that the floats didn't stay air-tight for very long and believe that it was a major reason for the project to be abandoned. Good luck in your build. Chris. Dpgsbody55 and Astro32 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 I wished I hadn't passed on the Suisen II (floaty Zero 21) as that would have pulled me into 1:24 which seems the right scale for single engine props. Enjoy your Spit. I'd be inclined to do a what-if Maltese-based example. Tony Astro32 and Dpgsbody55 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinnfb Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 Dpgsbody55, Brock and Astro32 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dpgsbody55 Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 I think the undersides were painted yellow as this was the common practice for British prototypes in WW2. Cheers, Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iaf-man Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 9 hours ago, Confusionreigns178 said: I THINK that a couple of the Float Spits had NMF on some parts of the floats and fuselage, but it a long time since I saw the photos. It strikes me that you could go "super-What-If" on this kit and let your imagination run riot. How many did they build? I have a feeling it was around 10 (but memory is also very hazy on this one). I do remember reading that the floats didn't stay air-tight for very long and believe that it was a major reason for the project to be abandoned. Good luck in your build. Chris. there were 5 Mk I – R6722 F Mk Vb – W3760 Mk V – EP751 and EP754 Mk IXb – MJ892 Astro32 and Pete Roberts 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Roberts Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 Floats on a Spitfire - what were they thinking. Vandalism! Astro32 and CRAZY IVAN5 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZY IVAN5 Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 3 minutes ago, Pete Roberts said: Floats on a Spitfire - what were they thinking. Vandalism! And, and the floats leaked , that's never good! They were probably thinking on using the spit the same way the Japanese used the Zero[Rufe] and were pretty successful[ at least their floats didn't leak] . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark_C Posted January 22 Share Posted January 22 1 hour ago, Pete Roberts said: Floats on a Spitfire - what were they thinking. Vandalism! Really?! Its predecessor was the Supermarine S.5, which is just be-yoo-ti-ful! I rest my case, m'Lud . . . CRAZY IVAN5, Astro32 and Martinnfb 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iaf-man Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 8 hours ago, CRAZY IVAN5 said: And, and the floats leaked , that's never good! They were probably thinking on using the spit the same way the Japanese used the Zero[Rufe] and were pretty successful[ at least their floats didn't leak] . The Rufe floats were more elegant,the Spit floats look brutal with lots of drag CRAZY IVAN5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZY IVAN5 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 19 minutes ago, iaf-man said: The Rufe floats were more elegant,the Spit floats look brutal with lots of drag Yes, and very functional too! The Japanese seemed to have a knack for designing floats and flying boats[ they weren't the only ones though]. I got to see the only Kawanishi H8K "Emily " in existence at the Kanoya air base museum in Kagoshima in 2014. It ain't no wimpy thang either, impressively armed too. I had the 24th scale Trumpy" Rufe" ,but I sold it. The fuselage wasn't right and I didn't feel up to doing the corrections on it [ fuselage was too high on the front] . Once I seen it I couldn't unseen it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iaf-man Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 6 minutes ago, CRAZY IVAN5 said: Yes, and very functional too! The Japanese seemed to have a knack for designing floats and flying boats[ they weren't the only ones though]. I got to see the only Kawanishi H8K "Emily " in existence at the Kanoya air base museum in Kagoshima in 2014. It ain't no wimpy thang either, impressively armed too. I had the 24th scale Trumpy" Rufe" ,but I sold it. The fuselage wasn't right and I didn't feel up to doing the corrections on it [ fuselage was too high on the front] . Once I seen it I couldn't unseen it. I have this kit.What do you mean-too high? Profile wise at the windscreen?Engine cowling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZY IVAN5 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 1 minute ago, iaf-man said: I have this kit.What do you mean-too high? Profile wise at the windscreen?Engine cowling? The fuselage aft of the cowling, to me , it sits too high. They also included the "roll over structure behind the pilot's head and the folding wingtips ,which the "rufe" didn't have. Those things aren't any great shakes easy to fix .It was the fuselage that I couldn't go with. To be fair the rest looks pretty good , good cockpit detail. iaf-man 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRAZY IVAN5 Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I'd like to see someone do a nice" Rufe" in 32nd. ATM I have to go 48th to get my "Rufe" fix. An Aichi "Jake" is high on my want list too. I like float planes ,they're cool! I've thought about getting the MDC conversion but that can get expensive , I'd have to get another Tamiya M2 plus the conversion ,ouch! Astro32 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro32 Posted January 24 Author Share Posted January 24 I'm not sure if there's a Griffon - powered conversion in 1/24th scale, but if so that could make an interesting and fun what - if to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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