Spitfire Fuselage interior colours?

[GMK]

I'm looking to build the Tamiya Mk IX as a Mk VIII - are the colour call outs indicated by Tamiya for the IX (aluminum rear fuselage, RAF interior green cockpit) common for a Mk VIII?

Thanks,

Greg

[martin_sam_2000]

I'm looking to build the Tamiya Mk IX as a Mk VIII - are the colour call outs indicated by Tamiya for the IX (aluminum rear fuselage, RAF interior green cockpit) common for a Mk VIII?

Thanks,

Greg

I am not even sure if that is the right colour at all to tell you the truth. I have this picture of a MK XVI:

and it is interior green where the insructions definately show bare metal. I knwo this isn't a Mk IX, but it is basically the same as a late model Mk IX and is suposed to be factory original. Ill take a look inside the radio caompartment the next chance I get and see what colour it is in there.

If anybody has any other pictures of this are..I would LOVE to see them!!! I have this kit too and i would like to know what is going on in there.

Sean

[Scooby]

I'm looking to build the Tamiya Mk IX as a Mk VIII - are the colour call outs indicated by Tamiya for the IX (aluminum rear fuselage, RAF interior green cockpit) common for a Mk VIII?

Thanks,

Greg

Painting of the rear fuselage interior aft of the cockpit area on the Mk IX ceased as of 13 September 1943. But the practice of painting the entire interior in interior green likely ceased before that order was published. So early Spit IXs would have been all green, after the above date the unpainted aluminum rear fuselage was common.

Check the date of manufacture of your Mk. VIII's serial, I would think the same dates would be true for those aircraft as well.

[Scooby]

I am not even sure if that is the right colour at all to tell you the truth. I have this picture of a MK XVI:

and it is interior green where the insructions definately show bare metal. I knwo this isn't a Mk IX, but it is basically the same as a late model Mk IX and is suposed to be factory original. Ill take a look inside the radio caompartment the next chance I get and see what colour it is in there.

If anybody has any other pictures of this are..I would LOVE to see them!!! I have this kit too and i would like to know what is going on in there.

Sean

Sean,

I really doubt that is factory original. By the time the practice of painting the rear fuselage interior was dropped the average life of a Spit was two weeks (or was it two months). And the reason for dropping the painting was it was determined corrosion would not be a problem over such a short period of time. For this paint job to be original it would have had to be a very early build or a post war build. But I would think the aircraft went in for overhaul since then. And I don't think any XVIs were built post war.

[Edgar]

The dropping of the interior painting applied only to the IX (the Vickers ledger is very specific on that point.) With the VIII being earmarked, exclusively, for overseas service, the painting was probably retained as an anti-corrosion measure for ship-borne transportation.

Edgar

[Scooby]

The dropping of the interior painting applied only to the IX (the Vickers ledger is very specific on that point.) With the VIII being earmarked, exclusively, for overseas service, the painting was probably retained as an anti-corrosion measure for ship-borne transportation.

Edgar

I knew I'd get corrected by Edgar if I was wrong.

[GMK]

Thank you Gentlemen, most helpful. Green it is....

Regards,

Greg

[martin_sam_2000]

Sean,

I really doubt that is factory original. By the time the practice of painting the rear fuselage interior was dropped the average life of a Spit was two weeks (or was it two months). And the reason for dropping the painting was it was determined corrosion would not be a problem over such a short period of time. For this paint job to be original it would have had to be a very early build or a post war build. But I would think the aircraft went in for overhaul since then. And I don't think any XVIs were built post war.

It was built in 45, sent to storage, then used for a few years by Sir James Robb as his personal aircraft post war. it then went few a few different private owners. as far as I know, and anyone I talk to at the hanger, this has never been through an overhaul. it had a bit of damage repaired in 2001, and a new paint scheme in '02. I do know as a 100% fact that the engine installed is the original factory Engine..only one in the world that can claim that.

Sean

[Jennings]

anyone I talk to at the hanger, this has never been through an overhaul. it had a bit of damage repaired in 2001, and a new paint scheme in '02. I do know as a 100% fact that the engine installed is the original factory Engine..only one in the world that can claim that.

I don't doubt that it has its original factory engine (so does my friend's 1928 Model A pickup for that matter), but as to the former, I doubt it seriously. It might not have ever been stripped to bare metal and refinished, but it has undoubtedly undergone overhaul since 1945. If it hadn't it wouldn't have an airworthiness certificate.

J

[Scooby]

I echo what Jennings has stated. The engine was lifed for 500 hours, so it could have lasted. But major inspections, which include a complete strip-down of the paint are every eight years.

A big problem on Spits was the center spar plug. It was found that from the cordite of the guns firing, a lot of the cordite was finding a way to this location and was causing a lot of corrosion. NDT testing was missing this problem and it was only found by dis-assembling. It was a major problem.

Just looking at the tail image, I know the wiring is modern standard with current wire lugs. They were not used in 45.

Edited December 29, 2009 by Scooby

[ross blackford]

:D, I can vouch for what Scooby has said. As a trainee eleco in 1973 I worked on single seat Vampires; no crimp type connectors there, they were late 40s jets. If you wanted to replace a corroded wire end you simply cut the corroded part off, stripped the insulation back about 3/4" or so, made a donut of the wire end and then flattened it a bit, put your antiwicking tweezers over the end of the stripped insulation and soldered the rest of the exposed wire then reconnected the wire to where it was meant to go. More critical connections had solder type lug ends that were soldered to the end of the wire.

,

Ross.

[martin_sam_2000]

It may have had checks and wire replacements...but the actual structure is original. It has never been through a restoration and has never had any major repairs done. as far as we know..its the only one in the world that is airworthy and still has its original structure.

This won't last too long tho as it looks like we will have to rebuild the wings in the next few years.

Ill ask around the hanger and confirm all of this.

Sean