Author Topic: Please fix the Spitfire Mk IX (Read 1038 times)

Karnak · « **Reply #45 on:** August 20, 2002, 10:17:39 PM »

MiloMorai,

The info I have says that up to the Merlin 63 or 66 not all Spitfires recieved the fix. Some of the Spitfire F.Mk IXs suffered from neg G cutout.

The only reason to add that to the AH Spitfire Mk IX would be to weaken it so as to push people to fly other things.

MiloMorai · « **Reply #46 on:** August 21, 2002, 05:39:35 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Karnak
MiloMorai,

The info I have says that up to the Merlin 63 or 66 not all Spitfires recieved the fix. Some of the Spitfire F.Mk IXs suffered from neg G cutout.

The only reason to add that to the AH Spitfire Mk IX would be to weaken it so as to push people to fly other things.

For the second part, understandable.:

For the first part, are you confusing with the Bendix type injection carb? In fact, the neg-G fix (special washer and a revized needle valve) was retro fitted to the early Merlins. Now, is no big deal but would like to see some proof.

cheers

funkedup · « **Reply #47 on:** August 22, 2002, 04:14:54 PM »

http://www.spitfiresociety.demon.co.uk/engines.htm

Quote

One of the great problems as discerned by pilots was the tendency for the carburetted engine to cut out under negative 'g'. Luftwaffe pilots learned to escape by simply pushing the nose of their aircraft down into a dive, as their fuel- injected engines did not cut out under these circumstances. By 1941 Miss Tilly Shilling in Farnborough had developed a partial cure for the problem. A diaphragm across the float chambers with a calibrated hole allowed negative 'g' manouvres, and was fitted as standard from March 1941. Sustained zero 'g' manouvres were not sorted out until somewhat later. In 1942 an anti-g version of the SU carburetor was fitted to single and two-stage Merlins. 1943 saw the introduction of the Bendix-Stromburg carburetor which injected fuel at 5psi through a nozzle direct into the supercharger and was fitted to the Merlins 66, 70, 76, 77, and 85. The final development was the SU injection carburetor which injected fuel into the supercharger using a fuel pump driven as a fuction of crankshaft speed and engine pressures, which was fitted to the 100 series Merlins.

funkedup · « **Reply #48 on:** August 22, 2002, 07:11:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Rokkit
The Spit XVI with clipped wings and bubble canopy IS the Mk XVI (44)...bring it on!

Nice post once again Rokkit. And if HTC wants to model that one, Northolt Wing can provide some detail photos.

palef · « **Reply #49 on:** August 22, 2002, 11:37:08 PM »

Have to agree with Rokkit here. The LF Mk XVI would just about close the circle on the Spit marks, and also give a part-US spit as the Merlin in this version is a Packard built one.

Wonder if it would get mistaken for a SPIT14 if tagged SPIT16?

palef

thrila · « **Reply #50 on:** August 23, 2002, 12:06:57 PM »

Spit16 tag?! hell, give it the generic "spit" tag.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #51 on:** August 23, 2002, 05:14:12 PM »

Just to clarify on the revised bubble canopy on the XVI. This wasn't seen in service until late March, early April 1945. It was also fitted to some IXs and XIVs. It was not in use in 1944. The XVI's were the same high profile back of the IX in 44. Clipped E-wings with hard points for bombs or rockets on the wings and under the belly for a drop tank or bomb. Merlin 266 engines rated for low alt work.

Suited best for low alt and ground attack work, or at least used that way.

Definately a different Spit then the Merlin 61 engined C winged versions of 42-43. By the end the IX and the XVI were basically the same and being used for the same purpose as the targets in the air had all but dried up for them.

I had a chance to talk to a Spit IX driver who was shot down and made a POW while dive bombing German Sub pens with 500 pound bombs. He was still mad about it 50 years later. His point being they didn't know what else to do with them so they sent them out to bomb the sub pens with the 500 pounders just bouncing off, just to keep the pilots busy.

Dan

funkedup · « **Reply #52 on:** August 23, 2002, 07:26:59 PM »

Those Spits also did a hell of a lot of close air support and interdiction work.

Here's a typical 2TAF Spit XVI from 44-45, from 308 Sqn:
http://www.raf303.org/308/photos/spitxvi.jpg

And some logbook pages from one of the 308 Sqn pilots. Check out the sortie rate (high) and duration (short). Pretty good bomb trucking service they had set up.

http://www.raf303.org/308/photos/JMierzejewski-Logbook-Oct44.jpg
http://www.raf303.org/308/photos/JMierzejewski-LogBook-Final%20Combat%20Flight.jpg