Any Spitfire news/workings here?

Hey guys,

I know this is an older link but I found it and hoped someone would still see it. I have a 1/5 scale Dave Platt Spitfire kit (full kit) with Dave Platt main gear. It's NIB and never been touched (except for pictures), I wanted to build it but I went and had a stroke in 2004 and lost the use of my right hand. I see DP only offers short kits on his website, what is something like this worth? I plan to list it here on RCU hopefully this weekend and finding a FAIR value seems to be my biggest hurdle. So, I thought I would ask the guys who knew, the experts. Guys help me out if you can.

David

Don't quote me, but I believe the retracts were in the $250 to $350 range back in the 1980's.
The plans were about $45. The spinner was about $40. All of the fibre glass parts, ie. wing fillets, oil coolers, cockpit interior, static 4 blade prop came to about $100+.
I have the spinner for the 4 blade dummy prop and the 4 blade dummy prop. I may even have the spinner for the functional prop lying around somewhere.
I cut the kit myself so I don't have any idea of what the kit cost was. Financially, times were tough for me. I thought I'd save money!
It didn't work that way. I built it piecemeal and it took 2 years. I should have bought Dave's kit.
I spoke to Dave on a couple of occasions. He is a great guy. He's easy to talk with and very friendly. Maybe you could give him a short call and ask what he thinks is a fair market value.
Best wishes, Ron

Don't quote me, but I believe the retracts were in the $250 to $350 range back in the 1980's.
The plans were about $45. The spinner was about $40. All of the fibre glass parts, ie. wing fillets, oil coolers, cockpit interior, static 4 blade prop came to about $100+.
I have the spinner for the 4 blade dummy prop and the 4 blade dummy prop. I may even have the spinner for the functional prop lying around somewhere.
I cut the kit myself so I don't have any idea of what the kit cost was. Financially, times were tough for me. I thought I'd save money!
It didn't work that way. I built it piecemeal and it took 2 years. I should have bought Dave's kit.
I spoke to Dave on a couple of occasions. He is a great guy. He's easy to talk with and very friendly. Maybe you could give him a short call and ask what he thinks is a fair market value.
Best wishes, Ron

The fair market value will be what someone is willing to pay for it, ultimately. Set a price and an OBO and see what you get.

Sebo & BobH,

You've both been a great help to me. At least I know what the "ballpark" is. And Bob you're right a fair price is what a willing buyer and seller agree upon. What I was looking for (and got here) was was a "range" or an idea of what was acceptable. RCU has always been the place to turn to for good advice or ideas because of guys like you. Thanks again!

David

David,

I have a DP Spitfire kit, too, and I can tell you that the complete kit originally sold for $439. This would be for the wood kit and the accessories together. Sadly, Dave's retracts weren't the best so the price on those might not be what you spent for them. (I bought a set of Robart retracts for my Spit.)

The Platt complete kits haven't been offered in quite some time and each should carry an added value as a result. If everything is in good shape, I'd offer the kit and accessory pack for auction on eBay with a minimum bid of your choosing and see where it goes.

Good luck, David. I hope this helps.

Al

I agree with you 100%. EBAY. Set a minimum that you will accept and let the auction go from there. Dave Platt kits are hard to find. You have a rare item there. The Platt Spitfire isn't a beginners build but is a relatively easy plane to build. By the way, I still have the retracts.

EBay was a good idea. I went ahead and put it on RCU because the guys are so great here and I got 3 offers the first day. I'm pretty sure that it's sold and the guy (Brian) seems so nice. His wife is from England and his father-in-law was a draftsman with the RAF. That's real hard to beat in my book. You guys helped me a lot and I thank you all. I will continue to watch this forum as the Spitfire is my son's favorite plane. I hated to sell the DP Spitfire but my son has no interest in building, only flying!

David

I am building a PICA kit (its my second one - I never got to fly the first). I have managed to squeeze a Yellow (I think) cockpit kit into the fuselage now that I am starting on that side of things, but before I go much further I was wanting get get more of the "running" gear and side panels into the space. The idea of trying to work on a cockpit once the kit has been buit gives me the heebie jeebies and from my past experience getting it in their first and then adequately protecting it from damage diring the rest of the build is worth the trouble. Does anyone know where to get side panel kits from or any other cockpit details.

Ken