Supermarine Spitfire I (oz7988)

About this Plan

Supermarine Spitfire I. Radio control scale model fighter.

Quote: "For WWII buffs, this Spitfire will add the ultimate class to your stable of aircraft. It's a real beauty.

The requirements behind the design of this model were to provide a means for the average modeler to be able to build a good scale Spitfire with a relatively simple structure, and possessing excellent handling characteristics. It also had to be capable of standing up to the rough and tumble of everyday flying as well as the average sport or aerobatic design. Add to this a requirement for a retracting U/C arrangement, which could be fitted into the wing by practical methods, and would utilize any commercial unit.

Taking the fuselage first, the obvious complexities lie with the engine cowling, spinner, and canopy. By using a ready-made cowl, molded canopy and spinner, the remaining structure becomes only slightly more. It is with the wing that really all the design and handling problems lie. To make the wing fly well at slower speeds with the highly tapered elliptical planform, a fair amount of washout is mandatory. The problem is to design a simply constructed wing with easy to build washout and incorporating any type of retract system.

The most practical method is to use a foam wing, but how can this be utilized and still keep to the beautiful elliptical shape? This then is the crux of the model design.

Tthe procedure is fundamentally to cut a parallel chord wing to the root section but including the washout. The bottom skin is cut to the elliptical shape and glued to the foam. The foam is then trimmed back to the lower skin and the upper surface taper sanded in. This may sound rather fraught, but in practice it works very well. The outer panels minus the tips and center section are only some 24in span. Using a large sanding block with the root and tip ribs as a guide, the shape can quickly be formed. Adding the LE and upper skin then locks the washout..."

From RCM magazine, issue 04-90, is Rob Millinship's Spitfire Mk I. Regards,

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction