YT 1/4 Scale Spitfire PRX1

[david clarke]

Thought I should just put a little thread on of the latest project,it's a YT Internatiolnal Spitfire converted into a Photo reconasence version.
I started by stripping the wing of it's covering and a large section of the bottom sheeting,all the old mount were cut out and put back in the correct position.
Aset of Mick Reeves electric retract were fitted along with a set of wheels,resheeted new wheel wells job done.

[david clarke]

Next job was to make the split flaps with flap indicators on the upper surface,quite a simple job but time consuming.
The hardest job for me was the large chin on the cowl,i have never attempted making glass parts before,so I thought It time to have a go.
I bought all the right gear ie mold release wax,pva etc and had a go,i cut the bottom off the original cowl got the basic shape and finished it with body filler.The results are very pleasing for my first attempt.

[david clarke]

Next on the list was the rudder and elevators,the rudder is a completely different shape,new elevators were made as the originals are not very scalein appearance they are the right shape but sheeted.Canopy next again a Mick Reeves canopy was purchased along with rails,a simple servo operated mechanism was fabricated and works reall well,the canopy position was also changed and a new screen was also fabricated.

[david clarke]

Just a couple of pictures of the cowl.

[rob ellis]

i like,.,.,. EYES OF THE EITHTH un-armed & alone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie3SrjLl ... r_embedded

[david clarke]

It's almost 12 months since my last update on this model,other comitments have just not given me time to progress with it.But over the last few weeks I have managed to get on with it,to the stage where it's painted ready for the marking,weathering etc.

[Aaron norman]

You've made a cracking job of that Dave well done. look forward to seeing it finished

[rob ellis]

hi arron,,well after just over a yr ive got it back,,,ive pretty much finished it now after pretty much re painting it after i put the decals on but then wanted to change their position & it pulled all the paint off from under them,,,,what with fading out different panels ect ,,,,the real PA944 operated by the 7th photo recon unit under the eighth fighter command out of mount farm near oxford had full rap around invasion stripes but after D day most fighter groups started to remove them from the upper surfaces,,,on some olive drab aircraft the stipes could still be seen where the white stained the olive drab,,,this was realy evident with aircraft in PRU blue,,which faded very quickly,,,,the yanks used the spit as the P38 f5 lightnings they used gave no end of problems,,,We were using the PR eleven with good results out of benson which is almost next door to mount farm,,,,so the usaaf started to use the PR version as a replacment for the F5s,,,the eleven could go to berlin & back, the only spit that could due to the complete leading edge of the wing being fuel tanks,,daves done a wicked job converting it into a PR eleven for me from the toy like YT 110" ,,,power is a da85 with a custom exhaust from dave clarke designs,,,will post pics a bit later,,,,,

[david clarke]

Thanks Aaron,i was asked just to paint the blue with some silver showing through,as you know rob really enjoys the weathering and stencils etc.I am really pleased with the results,totally transformed it from the stock YT Spit.

Dave.

[rob ellis]

Some more pictures

[rob ellis]

Few Reference Photos

[Aaron norman]

Stunning absolutely gorgeous . Make sur you get some vids of it flying . Hope to start painting the la7 soon fingers crossed

[rob ellis]

Well at last,.,.,..,after what seems to be the longest winter ever I finaly got some flying in.,,the big YT spit flew straight & true with no trim needed at all.,.,although the nose weight needs moving forward as it seemed quite twitchy on the elevators causing a really hairy takeoff.,.,It was looking great in the PRU blue with the USAAF markings,.,could of been straight out of mount farm mid 1944 ,then one of the "NEW" electric M,R retracts quit mid flight hanging down like a broken limb,.should have opted for air ones,..,.so unfortunately had to belly land it totally ripping off the underwing radiators & taking the chin scoop off & destroying the exhaust pipe,..""sorry dave"" ,,,kind of "ironic" realy as the full size PA944 had undercarriage issues.,.didn't break the prop though!!!,.,so not happy but happy..,.,or vice versa...,those retracts have worked faultlessly on the bench & terra firma.,.,but as soon as its airborne,!!!.,.., sodz law hah.,.,

[Stuart Bishop]

The 2 that im helping with we have gone with Electron retracts very nice set of units
what weight did yours come out at.

[rob ellis]

hi stuart not sure on the weight but its not heavy,.,after the mishap its now ready again for round 2 so will see how that goes,, I will weigh it as well & let you know,.,.,. any pics of the pair you are doing,,ive just sold a second one that I bought as a spare ,sort of kicking myself over that because I got it for peanuts ,but what with the 3rd scale kit taking shape, i thought if I get a second 1/4 spit it will more than likely be a reeves one,,.glass fuss,.more scale sections than this YT spit.,, its a shame they didn't put that little more effort into its appearance like their smaller stuff & im sure it would of been a better scale subject, like areas around the front of the cowl is wrong,leading edge is way outa wack,the wing cord is broader than scale, the position of the retracts mounts are "or were a joke",you gotta look hard to see it but if your doing a pair & wanna scale them up that's the areas I can see that are wrong.,,..,still with dave clarkes help its turned it into a nicer looking model & im happy with that although with what he had to do we may aswell started with a mick reeves,..,i don't wanna slate the YT but it is what it is!!
cheers rob,