Spitfire SL633 is alive!!!

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:27 pm

Peter, do you know if the round exhaust stacks are what that plane had from the factory? Not that it is a big point, either way.
Also are there any of the fluted type being produced now anywhere?

Does anyone know who the two men in blue servicing the oil are? Filling the oil tank is pretty easy when the cowling is off, it can be hard to find a funnel to fit through that small oil filler door.

I wrote a PM to the museum and got a nice one back from John, and it seems they are pretty busy with it these days. I wish I was busy with one like that!

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:53 pm

Hello Bill,

This Spitfire was originally fitted with the flared 'fishtail' exhaust stacks when in arrived in Czechoslovakia in August 1945.

The the UK Spitfire 'cottage industry' supplies new build of both types of exhaust stack for the Mk IX, round and flared.

PeterA

Czech Spitfire · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:01 pm **Posts:** 4

Hi all,

I was very surprised when I saw SL633 in Czech camo. It´s a pity that she has some historical mistakes.

1) all Czechoslovak post war Spitfires (72 LF Mk.IXe) had clipped wings
2) also all (except PL250) had pointed rudder
3) SL633 had 4-spoked wheels
4) SL633 as JT-10 had no wing armmament - only special covers shorter than cannon blister, also on place of MG
5) SL633 as JT-10 had blue spinner and red letter "K" with black shadow (right down) under nose
6) focused on Merlin 66 - there were no logo "Rolls Royce" on rocker covers

history of SL633

06/1945 delivered to 312 sq.(Czech) with British roundels and fin flash (among a/c of batch SL594, SL625-35, SL648-57, SL660, SL662, SL664)
02/08/1945 flight to Czechoslovakia (started in Manston) as DU-K with Czech roundels without white outline on wings and Czech flag on fin (a/c had complete weapon system 2x Hispano, 2x Browning 12,7, 2x underwing bomb racks, central auxillary tank, gyrosc.gun sight Mk.II, gun camera), white spinner
beginning 1946 white outlines on wing roundes added, fin flag changed to Czech roundel with white outline, DU-K changed to JT-10, deleted all weapon system, blue spinner
1948 (December ??) sold to Israel
1954-55 sold to Burma after inspections and overhauls carried out in the workshops of the Bedek company

regards

Mike

spookythecat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:21 pm

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

That flag in the mirror was too good to pass up. As you can see in the second to last shot, the flags of all the countries "Grumpy" stopped in are hanging on the hangar wall.

This is the paint scheme it will stay in. A couple mods John mentioned were having extra fuel in place of the internal cannon bits and something about the toe on the landing gear being more set up for a runway than grass. Bill may be able to chime in better on that.

I wish I could get out of work to see the first flight which last I heard was scheduled for Thursday. I believe John said John Romain was coming over for that.

Czech Spitfire · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:01 pm **Posts:** 4

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Peter, do you know if the round exhaust stacks are what that plane had from the factory? Not that it is a big point, either way.
Also are there any of the fluted type being produced now anywhere?

Does anyone know who the two men in blue servicing the oil are? Filling the oil tank is pretty easy when the cowling is off, it can be hard to find a funnel to fit through that small oil filler door.

I wrote a PM to the museum and got a nice one back from John, and it seems they are pretty busy with it these days. I wish I was busy with one like that!

SL633 has rounded exhaust factory mounted.

Mike

spookythecat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:35 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Does anyone know who the two men in blue servicing the oil are?

They are 2/3 of the Duxford crew that came over to put it together. I didn't get their names but the 3rd gentleman is Billy Kelly.

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 2:59 pm

Czech Spitfire wrote:

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Peter, do you know if the round exhaust stacks are what that plane had from the factory? Not that it is a big point, either way.
Also are there any of the fluted type being produced now anywhere?

Does anyone know who the two men in blue servicing the oil are? Filling the oil tank is pretty easy when the cowling is off, it can be hard to find a funnel to fit through that small oil filler door.

I wrote a PM to the museum and got a nice one back from John, and it seems they are pretty busy with it these days. I wish I was busy with one like that!

SL633 has rounded exhaust factory mounted.

Mike

51fixer · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:03 pm

Czech Spitfire wrote:

Hi all,

I was very surprised when I saw SL633 in Czech camo. It´s a pity that she has some historical mistakes.

regards

Mike

Mike,
Welcome to WIX.
Don't know if there is a language barrier here but the tone of your post is somewhat adversarial.
We are all welcome to our opinions, please be respectful of the time, effort and money it takes to do this Warbirding thing.
Not all aircraft restorations are done to the level of perfection that those on the sidelines might demand, but are done to the demands of the owner.
I am surprised you failed to mention it lacks the original cowling fasteners that are such a major PITA to operate.
The big accomplishment is that there is another flying Spitfire.
Hope they enjoy her.

spookythecat · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:17 pm

JohnTerrell wrote:

Recent chatter seems to indicate you may have an opportunity to do the same with a certain Fw-190-A5 coming to the FHC, sometime soon.

I'm looking forward to it!

Plus HFF has a DC-3 coming soon as well.

Czech Spitfire · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:01 pm **Posts:** 4

PeterA wrote:

Czech Spitfire wrote:

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Peter, do you know if the round exhaust stacks are what that plane had from the factory? Not that it is a big point, either way.
Also are there any of the fluted type being produced now anywhere?

Does anyone know who the two men in blue servicing the oil are? Filling the oil tank is pretty easy when the cowling is off, it can be hard to find a funnel to fit through that small oil filler door.

I wrote a PM to the museum and got a nice one back from John, and it seems they are pretty busy with it these days. I wish I was busy with one like that!

SL633 has rounded exhaust factory mounted.

Mike

My mistake, in WWP book Czechoslovak Spitfires on page 27 it seems to have rounded (compare with same view of JT-5 TE524). But your photo is true. In WWP is about 6 photos of JT-10. But not all CZ post War Spits had fishtail exhausts, rounded was mounted for example on TE570 or TE565.

Czech Spitfire · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 1:01 pm **Posts:** 4

[quote="51fixer
Mike,
Welcome to WIX.
Don't know if there is a language barrier here but the tone of your post is somewhat adversarial.
We are all welcome to our opinions, please be respectful of the time, effort and money it takes to do this Warbirding thing.
Not all aircraft restorations are done to the level of perfection that those on the sidelines might demand, but are done to the demands of the owner.
I am surprised you failed to mention it lacks the original cowling fasteners that are such a major PITA to operate.
The big accomplishment is that there is another flying Spitfire.
Hope they enjoy her.[/quote]

Hi Rich

adversarial ??? of course not. Sorry for my english. I´m very glad of new flying Spitfire even in our camo. Better were "historical difference" ?
ad cowling fasteners - I´m a modeler and my "job" is surface difference or visible difference. I don´t know anything about these. Also all (almost?) Spitfire in flying condition have bulge over wheel well. Is this "change" necessary?

thanx and once more sorry for my comment

M.

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 4:48 pm

Czech Spitfire wrote:

Hi all,

I was very surprised when I saw SL633 in Czech camo. It´s a pity that she has some historical mistakes.

5) SL633 as JT-10 had blue spinner and red letter "K" with black shadow (right down) under nose

Mike

Hello Pete,
Well, about SL633´s spinner colouring and the reason why it was so, I already explained to M. Parr last year. By that time was spinner coloured correctly. I don´t know who is such an advisor in controversy, but he provides absolutely wrong and amateur rumours. Well, I need to explain so called spinner problem again.
At Manston, when Spits were repainted in to Czech AF colours since start of August 45, there were chosen three national colours which has our flag (Blue, red, white). These shades were also applied on the spinners of a/c of each squadron. Three units - three colours! So all former sky blue ones were overpainted, no piece had remained in its original painting. For 312 Sqdn. was chosen white colour, others used red and blue spinners. So that CO´s machine SL628 (HL)got its spinner painted in three mentioned tones what expressed that this plane belongs to the CO of three squadrons with such coloured spinners.
When re organisation of Czech AF at the start of 1946 came into being the colouring of Spit spinners has been changed under the Air Force HQ Order. No.1 Air Division (Letecka divize) yellow, 2 LD blue, and 3 LD white. Opposite to others came 2 LD at Ceske Budejovice - Plana by its own way. Blue overall were repainted, under order, only Spits of LP 5 (former B Flight). Spits of LP 4 were differed by its spinners where remained back platform in white with front part in red.
Best regards,
Zdenek

Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:07 pm

Rich, I saw the cowl fasteners of the aftermarket screw in type, but didn't think it was worth mentioning. It really doesn't affect the flying or servicing of the plane and it only makes a small difference in the outside appearance. Now if you are going for Osh grand champion it would be a small deduction, if the judges noticed this.
Personally, I like the original type cowl fasteners. Obviously they worked fine when the planes were new and in service. I have read of and talked to some RAF ground crew and never heard them complain about the fasteners. The are almost like a Dzus. It can be a problem now getting them set up right, but there are new ones made by Microscan on the Isle of Wight, and they are like the originals, as far as I know.
It also helps to be British. Ray can, if needed , have the cowlings off, By Himself, and be done in time for tea. The side ones are pretty easy, the top harder and the bottom just takes some time.
And usually they only need to come off about every 35 hours for an oil change, etc. Otherwise normal fluids can be topped off through the access panels.
Are the 51 cowls any problem to take off, I have never done one?

PeterA · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:16 pm

Bill Greenwood wrote:

Rich, I saw the cowl fasteners of the aftermarket screw in type, but didn't think it was worth mentioning. It really doesn't affect the flying or servicing of the plane and it only makes a small difference in the outside appearance. Now if you are going for Osh grand champion it would be a small deduction, if the judges noticed this.
Personally, I like the original type cowl fasteners. Obviously they worked fine when the planes were new and in service. I have read of and talked to some RAF ground crew and never heard them complain about the fasteners. The are almost like a Dzus. It can be a problem now getting them set up right, but there are new ones made by Microscan on the Isle of Wight, and they are like the originals, as far as I know.
It also helps to be British. Ray can, if needed , have the cowlings off, By Himself, and be done in time for tea. The side ones are pretty easy, the top harder and the bottom just takes some time.
And usually they only need to come off about every 35 hours for an oil change, etc.

Just in case you guys were not aware?

Griffon and Merlin cowling fasteners are totally different in design. Supermarine type for the Mk IX TE308 and Amal type for the MK XVIII SM969.

PeterA

Jim Beasley · **Posted:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 8:49 pm

And the Amal type make it an hour long project to install the cowling ....

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