Large Model Association Forum

Good Morning,

I am looking to build a 33% scale Spitfire in the coming year. I have some idea of the practical problems and investment in time and was looking for some advice from those who might be willing to share their knowledge, or point me in the right direction. At the moment I am in the process of doing my research and looking at the best methods, materials and resources.

I am not looking for the plane to actually fly, so there is no requirement for an engine or radio controlled equipment. However, the airframe and cockpit needs to be strong enough to support the weight of a person up to aged 5-6 years. Unfortunately, I have no skill in metal work/aluminium and would be looking to make the plane from some form of timber. The plane also needs to be as far as practicable accurate in all details , e.g working canopy/undercarriage etc.

My initial questions are as follows

1. Plans - My initial idea was to buy a smaller scale plane or plans and "upscale" the measurements. However, I can see possible problems with accuracy, are there resources that sell larger scale plans for such models. ?

2. Materials - I am looking to make this from whatever are the best forms of wood or similar that would give the optimum between strength and weight. Has anyone any advice as to the most suitable?

3. Useful tools - I have the usual mix of hand and power tools, however is there anything else that has proved useful for other members.

4. Time scales - Obviously this is a difficult question and I suspect that the answer is several hundred hours of work and depends on my skill level, however a rough guide might give me some means of planning my work rate.

5. Any other useful information. - This is just an initial request for advice, but if anyone has any other advice or useful pointers I will be more than happy to listen.

Many thanks

Eric Storey

Eric

Best of luck with your project.

There are various plans available for good model Spitfires.......probably the most accurate is by Brian Taylor at 83" wingspan (A Mk.VIII IIRC). These plans are available via Traplet Publications. Enlarging these plans is not an issue. You need to have them digitally scanned then enlarged to your desired scale before re-printing. DO NOT simply have them photo copied & enlarged.......'roller' type photo copiers suitable for copying large drawings such as these are well know to stretch/distort plans rendering them inaccurate.

Another excellent source of Spitfire information is Monforton Press. They offer a fantastic book and set of scale drawings of the original (not a model) Spitfire.......

http://www.monfortonpress.com/

.....I used these drawings heavily on a 1/4 scale project a few years ago.

Timber selection......if this has to carry a small child, formers, ribs & skinning would be predominantly birch plywood with spars & longerons from pine (or similar). Saying that......being the proud owner of a 6 1/2 yr old son (almost 1.2m tall), there is no way he'd fit in the cockpit of a 33% Spit.......if this is your requirement, you'll be looking closer to 50% scale I'd have thought.

Tools......sounds like what you have should be fine (as long as it includes a medium size bandsaw & a decent disc sander)

Time scale.......this really depends on the level of detail & functionality you want to include, the the 1/4 scale version pictured below was around 1800 hours start to finish. (these things always take a lot longer than you may originally think)

Hope this helps.....

Phil

Hi Eric.
I'd be very happy to advise you on all aspects of RC Spitfire's as I'd like to think that after producing them commercially for 22 years, that I have covered all detail and set up for successful flying characteristics.
Crucial to all sizes of Spitfire are CG position, power, washout and a practical wingloading so's not to end up with a flying brick.
A good starting point would be a look here www.supermarineworks.com
Feel free to contact me on the details supplied on website.
Best Mike.

Mike ,
Its a static model he wants to build ,
Euan

Great idea, but I doubt that a 5/6 year old child would fit in a 33% Spit.
An adult sitting in a Spit only just has room to move. It is quite a small airplane.

Euan
Half scale for your 5 yr old Eric Ken is right.

Lot of work just to seat a child in for 12 months, they grow out of shoes quick enough!

Phil Clark and other contributors,

Many thanks for your input, your Spitfire looks amazing and is certainly the sort of standard I would be looking for, I will see you in 1800 hours time. :-)

Having just downloaded the Monforton Press E book... I think I will make that 2500 hours.

Unless the child has not been born yet, allowing 2500 hours to build the project means the child may well be way past 5 by the time it is finished !!!!!!
Maybe you should go for 1/2 scale or larger to allow some growing room !?
J

Just a thought, but outside Biggin Hill RAF Chapel there is a Spit and Hurrie (I think they are glass fibre), a bit smaller than full size. I may be worth finding out who made them, and seeing if they had any parts that were made, but didn't get used for some reason.

I remember James Wotsit (the one with the hair) from Top Gear did a programme where a group of scouts made a very large Spit by replicating an Airfix model much bigger. The TV Props people may still have it.

Cheers
Steve

The James May 'Airfix' Spit was 1:1 scale and was for a few years displayed at RAF Cosford.

There are a couple of companies making 'Gate Guardian' Spits & Hurris.........VERY expensive!!!!!!

Phil

These guys may be able to help?
http://www.supermarineaircraft.com/our-aircraft