Anyone Built A Really Big Spitfire?

[TorqueVR]

I've been looking for a "project" to keep me occupied for some time and decided to built a big Spitfire (static - not an RC flying version). Having researched plans I've come across three firms that do 1:5 scale kits which have 83" wingspans, which is bigger than I was thinking but as they supply the main wing and fuselage components in pre-cut ply that'e the way I've decided to go. I'm OK-ish at model-making and woodwork and I'd probably make a dogs dinner of cutting out my own

The firms are DB Sport & Scale and Belair Digital in the UK and Fokkerc in the US. They seem to be fairly comparable, but has anyone any experience of these firms?

Here's the DB


and here's the Belair

[Lost ranger]

The ultimate is probably this.

https://www.spitfireclub.co.uk/the-mk26b-spitfire

[TorqueVR]

Lost ranger said:

The ultimate is probably this.

https://www.spitfireclub.co.uk/the-mk26b-spitfire

Nice idea, but as my wife vetoed the idea of rebuilding a Land Rover I think that'd go down like a lead balloon!

[AER]

https://3dlabprint.com/shop/supermarine-spitfire-m...

[caterhamnut]

AER said:

https://3dlabprint.com/shop/supermarine-spitfire-m...

That may not be quite what he is looking for - but it is very impressive (the model and the 'concept')
Looks good in flight as well.

[Auntieroll]

Have a look at Mick Reeves kits, they are very close to scale and good value.

[IJWS15]

Look at Large Model Association

[Halmyre]

Lost ranger said:

The ultimate is probably this.

https://www.spitfireclub.co.uk/the-mk26b-spitfire

Why a 90% version? You surely can't be gaining any great advantage over full-size.

[Lost ranger]

Halmyre said:

Why a 90% version? You surely can't be gaining any great advantage over full-size.

The extra weight would mean that getting vaguely Spitfire-like performance would require a much more expensive engine rather than the modified car engines used in these aircraft. If you were going that large you might as well build a new restore an original real Spitfire.

[Evangelion]

Halmyre said:

Why a 90% version? You surely can't be gaining any great advantage over full-size.

According to their website, the previous version was 80% - I suspect they only went to 90 so that they could get two people in.

[Chris Hinds]

Worryingly I'm going back to RCM&E about 20 years ago, but there's a model by CARF (they were called Fiberclassics at the time) which is a Fiberglass 1:4.2 scale Spitfire IX. The construction technique means there's tons more scale detail in the skin so it looks much more real than other models. Of course construction is a bit different to a DB Sport & Scale wood kit (similarly the Mick Reeves kits are all wood too), but I've always coveted one since I read the build articles. One day I must buy a kit to add to the collection!

https://carf-models.com/en/products/spitfire

Original review model used a ZDZ 80cc inline twin if I remember rightly...

[TorqueVR]

Auntieroll said:

Have a look at Mick Reeves kits, they are very close to scale and good value.

Thanks. I hasn't discovered Mick Reeves but their 1:5 Mk IX seems to be just what I want. I'll probably give them a call.

[P5BNij]

TorqueVR said:

I've been looking for a "project" to keep me occupied for some time and decided to built a big Spitfire (static - not an RC flying version). Having researched plans I've come across three firms that do 1:5 scale kits which have 83" wingspans, which is bigger than I was thinking but as they supply the main wing and fuselage components in pre-cut ply that'e the way I've decided to go. I'm OK-ish at model-making and woodwork and I'd probably make a dogs dinner of cutting out my own

The firms are DB Sport & Scale and Belair Digital in the UK and Fokkerc in the US. They seem to be fairly comparable, but has anyone any experience of these firms?

Here's the DB


and here's the Belair

I'd love to see one of these larger scale Spits realistically weathered like this...

[loskie]

There's one in Moffat. Is this big enough for you?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotl...

[TorqueVR]

Auntieroll said:

Have a look at Mick Reeves kits, they are very close to scale and good value.

Thank you. That looks good and having spoken to them I think this is the way to go. Can't get decide if to build the fuslage from wood or go for the epoxy version. The wood will give me more to do but the epoxy one will be a better job and comes with the panel and rivet lines already done. Will mull it over.

[Garemberg]

I know a man who did a very good one to one scale - absolutely fascinating.
https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/...

[cati]

if you want to go super detailed - this thread is worth a read and i believe he has written a book about the build . it is based on a `HPH fibreglass kit. but you could try a similar approach with a mick reeves kit

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/top...

[mph999]

Does this win a prize.

3/4 scale, and yes it flies .... just add a pilot

[mph999]

mph999 said:

Does this win a prize.

3/4 scale, and yes it flies .... just add a pilot

I should add, it was built by the friend of a chap in the model aircraft club I'm in, took something like 10 years to complete.

[mph999]

The video is on Facebook, but a closed group, so hopefully a screenshot will do ...