Author Topic: Poss Spit model errors -  (Read 1043 times)

Offline Guppy35

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Poss Spit model errors -
« Reply #15 on: November 18, 2005, 12:40:11 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Squire
So what was that Guppy a IXE wing with 4 303s and 2 20mm? Or is it a IXC with a modified wing that carries bomb racks? I beleive you posted on that before, that a few IXCs did carry wing bombs, although not as standard? N. Africa wasnt it?

The E wing was capable of carrying 2 20mm and 4 303s. Its just they normally did not. Seems thats likely the answer, especially May 44 when the E wing was coming into service but some perhaps were not armed yet with the .50 calibers.

Wheel blisters:

"According to Rolf Meum, who has accumulated 100+ hrs of Spitfire flying with the Old Flying Machine Company, Duxford, the teardrop-shaped blisters above the wheel wells correlate to a modified wheel axle geometry adapted to tarmac/concrete runway operation; the original "grassfield" undercarriage has a substantial toe-in which results in severe wear on the port mainwheel when flying from tarmac/concrete airfields. With the modification the wheels no longer lie flat in the wheel wells and need more space. This may explain why the blisters are  frequently seen on surviving warbirds and other post-war Spitfires while being rare on pictures taken during the war."

So it looks like they may be correct. Who knows as to the rarity.


E wing was a July entry at earliest and it was purely an E wing, no provisions for the 4 303s.  That was the Universal Wing or "C" wing as everyone calls it.

So this is a Universal Wing with the three hard points in May of 44.

The other photos I saw of Universal Wing Spits with wing racks were in the MTO and in late 44-45 so I assumed they were field mods, but this photo seems to imply they were doing it earlier at least in small numbers as this was from a Polish Wing that was flying lots of bombing runs in May 44 and afterwards.
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Offline Squire

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Poss Spit model errors -
« Reply #16 on: November 18, 2005, 12:55:28 PM »
Copy that.

So whats the verdict on the "E wing" then, all the pics and other info I have clearly shows the .303 hatches still there, although unused. Unused doesnt mean the bays are no longer there though.

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Fea1/201300/Fea278_Spitfire_Adel/images/mv293_6.jpg

Again this is a model pic, but you can see the outer 303 hatch in the middle of the roundel.

My book also has "plan drawings" of the E wing on both the XVI and XIV, with the 303 hatches clearly there.

So they right, or no? You sure you are not getting "no provisions" for "not ever used"?
« Last Edit: November 18, 2005, 12:59:22 PM by Squire »
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Offline Kev367th

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Poss Spit model errors -
« Reply #17 on: November 18, 2005, 01:06:44 PM »
Wish I knew.
My drawing of Spit XIVe wing clearly shows no sign of 303 hatches on upper or lower wing.

Also one more for ya's - The 20mm access cover, seen it in two versions:

a) One piece
b) Split lengthwise (slight angle) into two seperate covers.
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Offline Guppy35

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Poss Spit model errors -
« Reply #18 on: November 18, 2005, 11:18:34 PM »
I think this photo might provide a clue.  It appears the hatches were there and that compressed air bottles or something similar are in the wing under those access hatches.

Not sure what for, but clearly there is something in both spots.

In the great Flypast Forum Spit wing debate, the guys who've worked on restoring E wings say there were not gun mounts there, while they were there in Universal wings.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=20000

« Last Edit: November 18, 2005, 11:20:36 PM by Guppy35 »
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Offline Squire

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Poss Spit model errors -
« Reply #19 on: November 19, 2005, 12:09:28 AM »
Looks like the hatches are definately there. Ya they must have used the empty ports for other things I guess.
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