Youch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

I'm unhappy

I received this kit this morning. I wish to build a dio with my spitfire etc and, as the gun access points on the wings are exposed, thought this kit would be ideal. No ammo! Just people, a chock and an oil can. I know that the box says personnel but I was misled (the single chock and the oil can are not personnel).

So - does anyone know where I can get some ammo of the style shoiwng in the image below please? 1/48 scale.

Thanks

Aidan

[stona]

Can't help with the ammo,but your Spitfire's ammunition was loaded in boxes which were in turn loaded through the bottom of the wing. The guns were accessed from above to feed the relevant ammunition belt into each weapon and to cock them.

Cheers

Steve

[Dave W]

Creative models limited sell 1/48 ammo belts made by 'Aber'.Have a look on their web site.Reference no. ABR48A05

[Guest]

I'm unhappy

Thanks

Aidan

Good news day then Aidan ?

What about making it your self Aidan. I would get perhaps cocktail sticks if they are near the size or balsa. Use a sharp pencil sharpener to make the profile. May not in the end look right but worth a try.

Laurie

[Guest]

Good news day then Aidan ?What about making it your self Aidan.

Laurie

WHAT??????????? Make it myself? ME????????

I'm deeply stupid Laurie (as well as being a nutter) - I can barely stick two peices of plastic together! Thank for you confidence in my but it's severly misguided!

Best wishes

Aidan

Youch!

[Dave W]

If I were you I'd buy some Aiden.I could probably make some 1/48 ammo boxes.But the belts?.No chance.id end up with bits stuck to my fingers and my tweezers!.If it was 1/2 scale I could do it.

[stona]

I thought this would be a good place to post some Spitfire arming photos. Hopefully Aidan and others might be inspired!

The first couple show the ammunition boxes for a Browning .303 armed Spitfire being loaded into the wings.

This nice colour shot shows the boxes,they are clearly aluminium.

Once the boxes were loaded the armourers could load and cock the machine guns.

Cannon were loaded from the top.

I reckon this protective "ladder" could be scratch built.

Have fun!

Steve

[mossiepilot]

Just cos I'm interested, if the ammo was loaded in boxes, why is there two access holes in the lower wing, one with a swinging cover and one with a removable cover.

I only ask because the first shot shows two access holes, one square and one oblong, and the second shows square-ish covers hanging from the wing. It sorta looked like two versions, til I studied the images and saw the covers on the grass.

So, what could be seen with both hatches open, and if the guns were loaded and cocked from the top, why two on the bottom.

Sorry if the question seems confused, just want to know what all the holes are for please.

Tony.

[papa 695]

Just cos I'm interested, if the ammo was loaded in boxes, why is there two access holes in the lower wing, one with a swinging cover and one with a removable cover.I only ask because the first shot shows two access holes, one square and one oblong, and the second shows square-ish covers hanging from the wing. It sorta looked like two versions, til I studied the images and saw the covers on the grass.

So, what could be seen with both hatches open, and if the guns were loaded and cocked from the top, why two on the bottom.

Sorry if the question seems confused, just want to know what all the holes are for please.

Tony.

I would think the longer thinner slats are where the guns are and the square ones for the ammo boxe's

[stona]

I would think the longer thinner slats are where the guns are and the square ones for the ammo boxe's

I think that's correct. The boxes fit across the wing if that makes sense. Each of the two large flaps opened to a space for two ammunition boxes,one behind the other across the wing. One fed a machine gun inboard,the other fed a machine gun outboard of their stowage space.

I'll investigate further,I must have some drawings somewhere!

In the meantime I did find this.

http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675053155_Spitfire-airplanes_RAF-ground-crews_prepare-ammunition_load-ammunition

Cheers

Steve

Edit From the http://spitfiresite.com/

I'm sure there was a post from someone wanting some info on the Bf 109 E,it seems to have disappeared which is a shame as I looked up the answer for the enquirer. Maybe he worked it out anyway

[mossiepilot]

Thanks for the info guys, and sorry I've hi-jacked your thread Aidan.

Also the big screw driver in the Erk's hand in photo four reminded me of one my Dad had in his tool box when I was a kid. He was an engine fitter for !4 squadron in 1946, just after the war.

BTW Aidan, is your Spit a machine gun or cannon one, because cannon shells being that much bigger might be easier to scratch build. but the only ones I can find so far are in 1/32 from MK108 Ammunition Belt Flexible on ModelDesignConstruction - don't know if these are any use or can be bashed in something you can use.

Tony.

[Guest]

Thanks for the info guys, and sorry I've hi-jacked your thread Aidan.Also the big screw driver in the Erk's hand in photo four reminded me of one my Dad had in his tool box when I was a kid. He was an engine fitter for !4 squadron in 1946, just after the war.

BTW Aidan, is your Spit a machine gun or cannon one, because cannon shells being that much bigger might be easier to scratch build. but the only ones I can find so far are in 1/32 from MK108 Ammunition Belt Flexible on ModelDesignConstruction - don't know if these are any use or can be bashed in something you can use.

Tony.

Hijack away Sir!

I'm afraid I'm not expert on ordnance. It's the MK 16 spitfire.

Aidan

[mossiepilot]

Your Spit is a Packard built Merlin 266 engined and and has two Hispano 20mm cannons,

Supermarine Spitfire (late Merlin powered variants) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - see the variants section to find yours.

A 20mm connon shell is about 7 ins (180mm) long and about 1 and a bit ins (25-30mm) round, so for 1/48 scale some 0.5mm round rod cut into 3.75mm lenghts and taped together should do the job.

A bit, possibly an understatement, labourious to do, and having just looked at my ruler and the size these shells would be I'm not sure I would want to scratch individual shells either. I'll keep looking on the net :goodidea:

Tony.

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I saw on an american site that some guys use zip ties to simulate ammo belts use a heat source to carefully shape them , I used it on my B17 and they looked passable, may be worth a try as well.

Adrian

[Guest]

An idea Aidan

Make a few shells to scale out of whatever (balsa, cocktail sticks etc)

Glue them together as they would be in a belt

glue a cocktail stick end on to the top of the assembly

Get a strip of plasticene and press the assembly into a long line in what ever shape you need

Then pour a mixture of diluted PVA glue and poly filler into the mould you've made

When dry prise off the plasticene and paint as required, the PVA will give a better smoother surface to paint and will add to the strength of the filler mix.