Question for Real Life Spitfire gurus...

[Airscrew]

did you ask Natedog or Superfly?  maybe they have that data available from when they made the Spit models.   Also Cavaunghs flight museum has a spit.

[Brooke]

If you guys can't find a reference, one other technique you might be able to use is historical photographs.  If you find one that shows the wheels, you might be able to measure the diameter and some other part of the photo (like nose-to-tail length of the plane, length of the cockpit glass, hight of the tail, etc.) and use that to establish what the wheel diameter is.

[Kurt]

Originally posted by FBBone
Kurt, lets have some pics when you've finished it!  I'm building the Corsair from TopFlite at this time, and will be starting the P-51 sometime mid-year '07.

Will do FBBone., You do the same.  Corsair's are always worth looking at!

[Kurt]

Originally posted by Brooke
If you guys can't find a reference, one other technique you might be able to use is historical photographs.  If you find one that shows the wheels, you might be able to measure the diameter and some other part of the photo (like nose-to-tail length of the plane, length of the cockpit glass, hight of the tail, etc.) and use that to establish what the wheel diameter is.

Yeah, I've thought about that, but its sufficiently rough that I may as well just eyeball it.  I have lots of good photos, but none really give a good since of scale.

I'll either hear from one of the museums, (the CAF guys are very helpful) or I'll just go out there to the musuem and look at it.  I'm sure they'll let me get the numbers off the tire if I ask politely... Again they are super nice... Last time I was there they offered to let me into the P38 cockpit if I would come after hours (they wouldn't do it during hours because then everyone wants to).  Once they realize you're a true warbird geek (not just Joe Lunchpail) they really open up to ya...

[Airscrew]

OK, I looked, Dans right, manual has a lot of information but not the tire/wheel dimensions.  It does say main Wheels are Dunlop A.H. 2061.  and tail wheel is Dunlop A.H. 2184/IX.   I tried searching with that information and didnt find anything helpful.

Ya know its a freaking manual, like an owners/Chiltons manual, you'd think they'd have instructions on how to remove and repair the wheels.

[Kurt]

Originally posted by Airscrew
OK, I looked, Dans right, manual has a lot of information but not the tire/wheel dimensions.  It does say main Wheels are Dunlop A.H. 2061.  and tail wheel is Dunlop A.H. 2184/IX.   I tried searching with that information and didnt find anything helpful.
 

I was able to determine based on your post and searching Dunlop Aircraft tires that they still manufacture a spitfire tire (same tire for Hurricane incase anyone needs to know) part number IKTEN17..  Unfortunately they don't specify dimensions... Just 'Size 7.5-10.5' Now, since I know thats not inches, and I know its not meters, I find myself stumped. (could be width).  And I learned that the tire weighs 19 pounds.

I was unable to find any reference to that part number on any search except by going to the Dunlop site.

My rough measurements from drawings say the tire is around 24 inches.  But none of these drawings can be considered difinitive scale drawings.

[Brooke]

Originally posted by Kurt
I was able to determine based on your post and searching Dunlop Aircraft tires that they still manufacture a spitfire tire (same tire for Hurricane incase anyone needs to know) part number IKTEN17..  Unfortunately they don't specify dimensions... Just 'Size 7.5-10.5'

If a tire is 7.5-10.5, then I suspect 7.5" is the tire width and 10.5" is the wheel (hub) diameter.  This measurement doesn't give tire diameter.  (This according to the Dunlop manual:  http://www.desser.com/DM1172.pdf ).

[Sindon]

I have a spitfire tail wheel in my garage, I'll measure it at the weekend  

[Airscrew]

Originally posted by Brooke
If a tire is 7.5-10.5, then I suspect 7.5" is the tire width and 10.5" is the wheel (hub) diameter.  This measurement doesn't give tire diameter.  (This according to the Dunlop manual:  http://www.desser.com/DM1172.pdf ).

You could be right but 7.5" sure does sound kinda of narrow.  

Originally posted by Kurt
I was able to determine based on your post and searching Dunlop Aircraft tires that they still manufacture a spitfire tire (same tire for Hurricane incase anyone needs to know) part number IKTEN17.. Unfortunately they don't specify dimensions... Just 'Size 7.5-10.5'

wtg on finding that.  I never thought to search Dunlop's website.  I kept searching on the Dunlop + spitfire + tires.  
I might be reaching a bit on the logic but if Dunlop still makes the tire, then somebody out there is selling it.  Maybe a call directly to a Dunlop aircraft tire dealer may get you your answer too

[Kurt]

Originally posted by Airscrew

I might be reaching a bit on the logic but if Dunlop still makes the tire, then somebody out there is selling it.  Maybe a call directly to a Dunlop aircraft tire dealer may get you your answer too

They are in the UK, I'm not making an international call for this

I just got off the phone with CAF Camarillo, one of the mechanics is supposed to call me back.  I'm hoping he's over there with a ruler as we speak.

[Kurt]

Thank you everyone for your efforts...

The Southern California Wing of Commerative Air Force at Camarillo airport was good enough to provide me with the numbers from their Spitfire mkXIV.

The final word is...

Wheel Diameter is 12 inches
Tire outer diameter is 24 inches
Tire Width is 7.25 inches.

Thanks again to all of you for your help on this, it was the most frustrating search I've done in a while but I appreciated your enthusiasm.

If you're ever in Camarillo California, stop by at the CAF hanger and museum, they are nice guys and have lots of nice warbirds.

http://www.orgsites.com/ca/caf-socal/

[EPER]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rear-Wheel-from-a-WW2-Spitfire_W0QQitemZ300045061887QQihZ020QQcategoryZ112473QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem