90% Scale Airworthy Spitfire Replicas

[C VEICH]

I was under the impression that it was pretty accurate to scale. Where does it differ?

Pretty much everywhere.

[bdk]

Yeah, the pilot is too big...

[DarenC1]

As much as I like the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.26B, it is a bit "cartoonish" from some angles. Still, I wouldn't say no if offered one!

They used to make a single-seat version at 75% scale, the Mk.25, which looked really nice, and was a good shape, but discontinued it in favour of the bigger two-seater model.

The best Spitfire replica I've seen is probably the 80% Mk.I that was flying about Canada a few years back. There's a nice little 70% job, too, that's been around for a long time.

[Wildchild]

Does anyone know how much the kits start at? My dad's about ready to break down and buy one.

[Steve Pierce]

$168K for the airframe and $46K for the engine. Very complete kit with lots already assembled from what I saw.

http://www.aopa.org/sunnfun/2012/120327 ... n-fun.html

[Mark Allen M]

$168K for the airframe and $46K for the engine. Very complete kit with lots already assembled from what I saw.

http://www.aopa.org/sunnfun/2012/120327 ... n-fun.html

Now that seems extremely expensive to me.

[Stephan Wilkinson]

.

Now that seems extremely expensive to me.

Hardly. Very much in line with what I paid to build a Falco some years ago, adjusting for current dollar value. Though I'll bet the Falco is a far more complete set of kits (subkits).

[Mark Allen M]

$168K for the airframe and $46K for the engine. Very complete kit with lots already assembled from what I saw.

http://www.aopa.org/sunnfun/2012/120327 ... n-fun.html

Now that seems extremely expensive to me.

I would be thinking T-6, T-28, T-33 in that $$ range. (Courtesy Aircarft Sales)

[The Inspector]

$168K for the airframe and $46K for the engine. Very complete kit with lots already assembled from what I saw.

http://www.aopa.org/sunnfun/2012/120327 ... n-fun.html

Now that seems extremely expensive to me.

I would be thinking T-6, T-28, T-33 in that $$ range. (Courtesy Aircarft Sales)

If you think $168K is pricy, check the list price on a new Pawnee Divison straffer (CESSNA 172)

[Mark Allen M]

If you think $168K is pricy, check the list price on a new Pawnee Divison straffer (CESSNA 172)

More like "over 200K" but what's an extra 50K, and is there an extra seat in the back of that thing?

[Saville]

There are some people that are local to me who are building beautiful and "SPOT ON" 80% Sptifires. They're gorgeous and the only difference you'll notice is the size of the pilot, otherwise it's almost exactly to scale. I should visit them in Pitt Meadows and provide you guys and gals with pictures of their work. They're using wood for the main construction material, but darn, they're pretty airplanes!

Cheers,

David M

Hi David,

When you say '"SPOT ON" 80% Spitfires', do you know if that includes the cockpit width? Is the cockpit 20% smaller than the original? That would be really small - a tight fit for a lot of people.

I have read that scaled a/c most often deviate from the fuselage width because the volume varies as the cube and scaled cockpits are just too tiny.

thanks

[C VEICH]

The "Tally Ho" 80% scale Spitfire replica is probably the best I've seen. If there are disrepancies they are very minor.

http://www.spitfirebuilder.4t.com/custom2.html

Ross Fergusun's Mk.XII was pretty spectacular as well, although it does suffer a bit more than the Tally Ho airplane in terms of accuracy.



Unfortunately, both of the above replicas have been wrecked and are not yet flying again.

[DarenC1]

Not the best pic of the Tally-ho Spitfire Mk.I, but....



Got to love the Ross Ferguson Spitfire, though. That's as near as dammit scaled down exactly (approx. 70%) externally.

[Kyleb]

Hi David,

When you say '"SPOT ON" 80% Spitfires', do you know if that includes the cockpit width? Is the cockpit 20% smaller than the original? That would be really small - a tight fit for a lot of people.

I have read that scaled a/c most often deviate from the fuselage width because the volume varies as the cube and scaled cockpits are just too tiny.

thanks

I bolded the key point. An 80% scale cockpit has 80% of the width, 80% of the height, and 80% of the depth. It nets about 50% of the volume of the original. That makes scaled replica fighters a challenge.

I think the 90% replica is very nice. Sure, the cockpit has been moved forward to permit a jump seat, and the spinner isn't right, but the airplane is very recognizable as a Spitfire.

[warbird_patrick]

There is always the Marcel Jurca MJ-10 and MJ-100 plans built:


MJ-10 = 75%


MJ-100 = 100%