Modelling the Armament for Spitfire Mk I

[Guest]

My 1/72 Airfix kit does not include any parts for the four .303 machine guns (I think that is what they are) on each wing. I cannot find any after-market kit for these nor a clear closeup photo nor a drawing.

Anyone any ideas please?

[Ian M]

http://spitfiresite.com/

Ian M

[Guest]

Thanks. A valuable source, especially the Castle Bromwich production line. One photo showed 19 fully assembled Lancaster fore-ends.

I saw some pics of Spit. guns and it would not be difficult to scratch build a couple. However, I have only just noticed that of the many photos of models of Spits. that I have seen, not one has any armament, so I will probably follow that practice.

Another point please. My Airfix 1/72 Mk I spit. has a small hole on the top of the fuselage, mid way between the front of the cockpit and the aft end of the exhausts. Airfix provide no part to go there. Also, I have never seen a photo of an original Spit nor a model that has anything inserted in that hole. What is it for please?

Thanks.

[Ian M]

I think that the hole you are referring to is Airfix's take on the filler cap for the petrol tank. It does look a bit off. I tend to fill it, then scratch a ring in the still soft filler to mark the position. Or cut a bit of stretched sprue to fit the hole.

I think the reason you never see photos of a Mk1 with the cannons is because they where placed inside the wing, fireing through a hole in the leading edge. There is normally a red patch on the wing. This was actually fabric tape that was used to cover the hole. when the guns where fired they judt shot through the tape. So ready to go no holes, just come back after a sortie, holes in the tape.

Ian M

[stona]

Machine guns Ian,but you knew that

The doped fabric over the gun ports served to prevent the ingress of debris on the ground and cold air once at altitude. Spitfire guns were heated by warm air ducted from the exhausts,not electrically as on many US aircraft.

The fabric patches would also serve,on the ground to indicate that the weapons had been armed and presumably cocked. It might not be a brilliant idea to stand in front of them,particularly with an idiot pilot fiddling about in the cockpit.

After a mission they would,as Ian said,give a clear indication whether the guns had been fired,or not.

The machine guns'ammunition boxes were loaded from the bottom but the weapons accessed by the armourer and cocked from above.

Cheers

Steve