With some real parts:

http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php/12672-Spitfire-IX-Project/page10
http://www.aerosimsolutions.com.au/spitfire.html

Sokol1

That is too cool, I love it!

Been quietly watching this one on the forum over there its really a remarkable pit!

More views of it here...
http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/start-finish-builds/spitfire-ix-cockpit-1-1-a-17217-24.html
A lot of other nice pits going together as well.

Amazing Work!

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

Thankyou Gents, glad you like her.

Very soon now (when I finish these crazy work hours) she will get finished off. Still a bit of wiring, installing and an inside paint job (not happy with the current green which did not come mixed anything like the paint chip!!) to go, along with a couple of custom PRU bits and pieces.



Darryl H, AKA Killratio AKA Tony Hill

Hey mate,glad to see you here...Keep up the good work.Don,t stress on the "cockpit green" too much.Have an original throttle quadrant somewhere and the green comes in three shades on the front and back plates...
For best result I think Humbrol 66 is the best bet..

G'day mate!

Yeah, I know it is a bit of a dogs breakfast but I was hoping for something close. the paint I had mixed looked good on the chip but, oh boy, probably 1/2 to 1/3 of the tone when on the skin!

I got a new colour spray pack last night and gave one section a squirt...net result..TOO dark. BUT, at least it looks a bit better than too light. And I have seen a Spit XVI with a very similar toning that Tony Bianchi was flying, so I will go ahead with it I think. A bit more "manly" than the light green.

Cheers and glad to be here...



Darryl

At last a bit of progress. 3 full days work I had set aside turned into two half days..but never mind.

Before:


The completed Landing Lamp Unit:






I am half way through a respray of the interior to this new green colour..still not quite right but as close as I am going to try to get.


I spent a lot of extra time on the LLU because of the great pictures I had access to. Thanks mate!!

It is a nice looking unit and it looks great mounted under the panel. I just have to do a legend for it and finish the painting in the area and it can go back in. Pictures then!

The radiator shutter lever has been ditched and I have ordered another which will look spot on and work of a pot for controlling radiator shutters (or cowl flaps in GA aircraft Thunderbolt etc.)

More soon hopefully.


Darryl

OK, finally some photos of the Throttle (and you can see the new better green interior as well on the last two photos..the throttle pics washed out with the flash.).

1. Closed position, Prop Pitch full fine...as you would leave the aircraft.




2. Maximum weak mixture setting with the mixture lever (left) at its full travel. The throttle can be moved forward from here but will exceed the allowable boost if weak mixture is selected. When the throttle is closed from here it takes the mixture back with it to "rich" (fully back) position, so the engine can not be run at weak mixture and low power, which causes detonation if allowed to happen.



3. The warning horn switch (rear) and undercarriage indicator power switch(forward).



4. The label for the throttle...carved with an engraving dremel bit into the wood handle I made.



5. Full rated boost with the throttle at the forward stop...if moved a little left from here it can be pushed further forward to the takeoff setting (or to full boost if the boost override cutout is flipped. I've just noticed that this setting is NOT safe as the mixture is "weak"..it should be pulled back fully...Ill catch hell from the Mechanic for that!!




6. Top view..you can see the stop on the left for the mixture at half way...also the forward stop for Rated Boost and then the slip chanel of the gate to go sideways and a little further forward into Take off Boost.





And a couple of the monitor tray now ready to be installed after the wiring is finished.

Amazing work!

Love the work you are doing Darryl, true work of love
Like the throttle explanation, never fully had the understanding how the interaction of the throttle and mixture setting worked on a Spitfire quadrant.

Thanks guys!! Glad the throttle explaination helps.

I got a heap more done over the weekend. The plan WAS to do all the wiring and make her flyable.

I had been toying with a wiring plan, a while back, that hid most of the wires. The "electrical" equipment is easy...since wires are supposed to show..but the hydraulic, pneaumatic, mechanical functions obviously shouldn't have wires hanging off them!! I hit upon the idea of running the wiring through the hyd/pneu lines. Now this will look good but, of course, means ALL those lines need to be put in place before/during wiring.

This will slow things up considerably. However it should look a treat. The first one I have done is the Windscreen De-ice (just the pipe from the tap to the bottom of the panel. So there are no wires showing at all but a beautiful "brass" pipe that runs forward.

For small diameter pipe I used 4mm garden trickle with coat hanger wire put through it, primed with polyethelene primer (an EVIL brew which you should really use a respirator for!) and sprayed with a high gloss "gold" outdoor fitting paint.

The larger pipes will be half inch copper (which I may leave natural to develop a patina, seal with a metal protect coat or spray "gold" as well).

As soon as I find the camera charger I'll post pictures.

cheers



Darryl

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last night I battled the million little problems that always plague something that is “practically finished”. But all the frustration was worth it. By 23.30 I was ready and called my long suffering wife in. I had decided to give her first flight. It was actually more fun to watch I think. Unfortunately the video battery died but I was NOT postponing.

After a 10 minute briefing on procedures etc, she went through the startup drill (with minimal prodding) and that beautiful Merlin roared to life. Takeoff was “interesting” but basically safe. The U/C “up” was flawless, no Spitfire wobble at all….bi7ch!!!! 







There followed a 32 minute flight where she chased a few AI around Biggin Hill, beat up a small field nearby (not sure which, but they will have rung the authorities by now  ), tested the instruments and after an aborted first circuit made a very passable “wheeler” landing back at Biggin. The brakes unfortunately proved very effective at the end of the landing run .... but nothing a new prop won’t fix. 

She is definitely a fan now and I got the nod of approval on my building. Seeing the War Office get so excited about something like that is a rare privilege indeed!

So then it was on to the advanced air test. It all felt quite natural getting her started. The temps came up fairly quickly as the engine was still hot from Tracey’s flight, so a quick taxi was in order (thankfully the ground run tests had honed my skills on the brakes). Without much pre-flight (Fuel, mixture, prop pitch, elevator trim, temps and throttle ) I let off the brakes and eased the throttle forward at about the same rate as my right leg. A bit of right aileron as well. When the tail came up though she gave a kick to the left and I needed to boot in more right rudder. (I have read where some pilots use their feet rather than setting the rudder trim, as you have to retrim immediately after takeoff in any case and the rudder forces are not huge …I tried this and think it is probably the method I will adopt permanently…you just need to watch the kick as the tail comes up..standard tailwheel flying stuff really). In what seemed like a heartbeat she was airborne and it was time for the U/C. A little bit of porpoising (and a raised eyebrow from the War Office!) and we were off. +6 Boost and 2650 and she climbs like a homesick angel. Level off at 5,000 just under 2 minutes later. Time for a HASEL check. That done, into the test.

The controls are great. Full stop. The aircraft should be and is, VERY sensitive in pitch. Very small movements fore and aft are necessary OR in fact desirable. The total travel is only about 22deg full forward to full back. In tests they found that in a steep turn, a backwards pull of only ¾ of an inch is enough to induce pre stall buffet. The A2A model is not quite that severe but almost. Tight turns are a joy though.

Next came a couple of lazy slow rolls. For me as an aerobatic pilot, flying a roll without feet on the rudder pedals is counter-intuitive. But the Spitfire does this admirably. I could almost hear the “aaahhhhh’s” from people on the ground 

Then I tried some square rolls. WOW!!!!!! The first was spot on with perfect 90deg angles and a nice little “cough” while inverted. The next two I got cocky and missed the angles by 5-10 degrees….oh well. Not the aircraft’s fault.

On to the Cuban eights as a pre-requisite for a full loop. First one worked a charm and I used a normal half roll off the top of both halves. The second was also great and I threw in spirited square half rolls for good measure. The cockpit handles it all very nicely.

A loop was next and that went off without a hitch, although you need to be very careful on the pullout as the whole world gets grey pretty quickly. (note to self, rig a G Meter somewhere).

I left the Stall Turn until after all this, as they are not all that easy. I find that in the Spitfire there is a nasty surprise (the model, I wonder if the real one is the same?) The fact that the controls remain effective right down to the stall means that it hard to judge when to do the “turn” part of “stall turn”. The first one I fell into through too much rudder authority and was lucky to avoid a spin. The second I tail slid out of because I held on too long (…not a nice feeling in real life). The third was perfect.

I’ll leave the “Upward Charlies” until I get a better feel but want to get at least two in a row out of her.

Last but not least was a shallow dive at full boost reaching 390mph from 6,000ft. As fast as I wanted to go first up and ending at 1000ft. Then I dodged trees back to Biggin for a “run and break”.

The circuit was a bit wide but the speeds were spot on and she settled into a perfect three pointer at 65mph.

WHAT A BUZZ!!!!!!!!

A few shots, video asap.

The office.


From rear starboard quarter


Panel



Pipe detailing, right hand side.



Landing Lamp Unit and Compass


Helmet and Masks

Congratulations with the first test flight!

Congrates on the maiden flight. It's a work of art.

Too bloody perfect Darry....I applaud you sir.

Falstar, nice sentiment...but not quite right....here we go:

Congrats on it all coming together so well! I think I've looked at these pics of your Spitfire pit 3 times today. Great work!
Derek

Thanks all for your comments. The encouragement and motivation I have been given right along has been fantastic.It has been an interesting project and I will post some video on Youtube as soon as i can work it all out.

There are a few cosmetic bits left to do and any changes that need to be made when the Accusim pack comes out.

It has been a wild ride...now I just have to find some time to fly her!!

Fly Her?! You mean all that stuff works j/k! It's an impressive work of art and a unique simpit, truly one of a kind.

What a fantastic work you have done. congratulation
And you have a wife , willing to climb into the cockpit, nice.

WOW, thats all I can say right now!!!!

Thanks guys. We've had some more fun flying her over the weekend. I'll have some video on youtube directly.

Well, no video yet but a whole lot of fun. A mate has an Irvin Jacket, so we just couldn’t resist…. It makes the whole cockpit shrink VERY quickly and you start to get a feeling for what it must have been like to sit squeezed into the Spitfire for hours. It also explains some of the “put the Spitfire on“ rather than “get into the Spitfire” which many pilots describe.

Unfortunately even in mid winter, as it is here now, the jacket is intolerably hot, so I just couldn’t wear it for long periods. In summer you would literally boil your brain.


I now have a whole new understanding of some of what Spitfire pilots faced. Maps on knees and trying to stay on course whilst barely having room to move and heaven only knows how the hell you look over your shoulder to see behind!!


Video as soon as possible, probably on Sunday.


When they will see the pig half-man:
Noise, song, battle, fighting in the sky perceived,
Nostradamus

Ready to go.


Chocks away



Easy turns.


Throwing her around


Hanging in the straps



Pre landing checks


Turning final


Short final


Having a ball flying this baby. It’s a pity I have to work during the day!!

Awesome pit. Almost too good for just FSX need to figure out a way to get it working with Storm of War when it's released...

That is just fantastic! After all the hard work you've put into project I am glad to hear your having this much fun. Thanks for posting the updated photos!
Derek

Thanks guys!!!!

Yes, SOW or IL2 is on the list of "wants" but I have no computer skills to speak of. I know there is one guy doing an interface with FI gauges and IL2. Even if the panel doesn't work, I will still fly it using the stick, rudders throttle and any switches that can be assigned.

BUT the big "wish" is for the A2A Spitfire Accusimmed....managing that big Merlin with kid gloves really appeals.

It is fun just haring around for now. You have to love an aircraft that you can set at 4lb boost, 2650rpm (about 2/3 throttle!!!) and do any aerobatics you like. The real aircraft generates about 100hp per 1/2" of throttle and as the throttle on the sim was built off Supermarine drawings, it is very close to that also.

I just have to beat this video software and I will post some video of the controls, visuals and the gauges all working. Hopefully by the weekend I will also have the Undercarriage lights and Low Volt Light working.


Cheers again for the comments and encouragement!!!

Nice job!! Damn, I bet you that it took a complete afternoon to hang the pit on the cealing haha

Thanks J.A.K. And no, we cheated and put the ceiling UNDER the pit!!

Now that's innovative thinking!



Bloody awesome 'pit Darryl.

Thanks mate! She did come up a treat I think!

beautiful cockpit!

Needs the gunsight.

8)

Thanks, appreciated.

and yes, I have a sight...but with the sight model on screen and the real thing doubling up, it is intensely annoying whilst flying. So the sight is just for display. AND the reticle is useless (read "invisible") against the bright screens of the LED.

First rough video. A lot of room to grow with the new video software but this is my first attempt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVfeiBX7Aww

Concentrates on visuals and a few gauges rather than an overall view of the pit.

Brilliant pit and pretty good flying too

Bunbury hey! are you from Western Oz?
Regards Bob

Bofman,

thanks! The Spitfire takes some getting used to but if you "fly the numbers" she sets down right every time.
In the air of course she is a pussycat.

And affirm, Sandgroper.

The latest video guys.....this time just the instruments and the cockpit.

It starts with a general look around, preflight check of the switches, levers etc then moves on to startup, warm up checks (the radiator temp needs to get to 60 or 70 which gives time to check the flaps, adjust the elevator trim and set the Altimeter to airfield height). Next is the preflight mag check, CSU, idle check (very important in the Spitfire, as excessive idle RPM can make it VERY difficult to land) and then, as temps are getting warm, takeoff. The video ends with gear up and set 0 boost 2400 RPM.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFJHBSX9Ps0

Hope you enjoy it. Next will be a video that combines "in cockpit" and "on screen" views.

Bring it on....I had the headphones on when I clicked the link. The sound quality blew me away. Make some more vids PLEASE

Some of the latest work:



















Swaging work was new to me, so very interesting and challenging. The Droptank gear was built by Aerosim Solutions and is a masterwork

Work still progressing on the final detailing and some new conversions/PRU equipment.


When A2A releases the Mk V she will form the basis of the sim.

Pretty damn cool. Love the Spitfire

It really doesn't get much better than that.

Thanks Gents!


And...I left out the photo of the completed Slipper Tank Control....the sim and the real thing (just painting to go now.






Have just put her all back together after having a running battle with the rudder freezing up(now won I hope) so this weekend there will be pics of her at the current stage, assembled. The conversion to Mk V is almost complete and the PRU gear should be fitted within weeks, Camera Selector by right foot, Type 35 Controller where the gunsight would go and even a Mudflap Release Lever by the right shoulder.

The only thing holding "finished" up now is the door mechanism which I am having a delay in getting the last parts for.

That is a Beautiful pit Congrats