mR JoLLy

OK folks, having build a MK IX Spitfire with the Mick Reeves 1/6 semi kit I am ready for my next Spitfire. Might be another Mick Reeves, Might treat myself to a Brian Taylor that is uncertain.

What is certain is that I will be building a PR MK XI Spitfire (PL965) and will need to find a retractable tail wheel! In my Reeves mode I have installed his mechanical system for the main gear which is working fine. However, I now have to consider the tail wheel and wondered who knows where a good setup can be found, mechanical or air. There seem to be so few options at 1/6 scale. Any advice will be welcome.

JoLLy

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

Jolly

Lenny Sarbin over here (shinden) makes a retractable tail wheel for the BT spitty. he also makes the
mains for them.

the PRU PL695, I assume you will be doing the blue variant since it is now blue?
I have picks of the original pink one as well.

nmacwarbirds

Dear Nigel
Do you have Auto Cad, Mark (Dibble) designed one for our Thunderbolts.
I can get him to send you a drawing if you have AC.

Regards Phil G.

hellcat56

My Feedback: (21)

I agree lenny Sarbin does not make good spitfire--he makes the best
great craftsman, his gear works and looks great
My first choice
Lawrence

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

also to add here. I have a set of his mains, and fixed tailwheel. I will not be using.
I lost my new BT spitty on its maiden last week.

so, if you are interested, I can shoot you pics, and maybe a price.

fw190

My Feedback: (37)

Toddski, you should keep it in case you build even the Yellow Spitfire as Lenny sells struts that are longer. I am hoping there is another Spitty in your future....

mR JoLLy

What a great overnight responce!

Hi Phill, you seem to be able to sniff me out mate If the file is available please send it. Just confirm which version of autocad is required to view and I can take it from there .


Todd, Lawrence, Thanks for the inputs and the recommendation. If you want to offer them send me a mail or post pics and price. However, FW_190 has a point. Real bummer to loose the plane on the maiden, you could be suffering from PDSD at the moment and would regret the sale. I will not be making a definite decision on who’s kit for at lease another month or so. Plenty of time to consider for yourself.

Best suggestion, pop the pictures on now so I can see them. If you want to sell in a few more weeks then we can start talking. How does that sound ??

PL965 is currently in a hanger 150 miles from home. I am discussing with the owner, who has said I can visit to take measurements and pictures to help with my build. How fantastic is that! Todd, I do have a growing collection of pictures myself. While I am up for a bet on the pink version I want to hold true to PL965 during the war when thankfully it went down the PR blue spray line. I can find accurate colour references for the blue very easily, but the pink is a little harder to trace.

Anyway look forward to pics and the files.

nmacwarbirds

Dear Nigel
It was not hard to track you down you are the only person I know who is
building or contemplating building a MK XI.
I will get Dibble to send you the drawings this evening if he can.

Regards Phil G.

mR JoLLy

Cheers Phil. Top man

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

thanks Vic, but as you know, Mike here in town has a BT spitty kit, with gear. so even if I decided to
build another, I have access to one

Nigel, the blue looks great. I have original pics of the pink one. they where sent to me by
Allan Knights (greylfly) from here at RCU. They where pics that he forwarded to me from Geoffrey
Brown in the UK, that had built the pink spitty awhile back.

the pink was a tough color. I had mine mixed here in the States by Otto Kurdna. the color came
out spot on. if you go this route, the PRU blue would prolly be easier to do, since you have easy
access to the full scale plane.

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

Toddster!!GASP.. you lost your spit! what happened bro??

t_burley

My Feedback: (59)

yeppers Bob. I dorked it on the maiden. got look at my thread at RCSB. You will see the pretty pics and a long explanation, of what went wrong[X(]

BobH

My Feedback: (2)

Pinky, I'm gonna go look right now!

Dibble

Nigel,

Unfortunately I don't have any drawings of the retract, but am planning on drawing it up when I get the chance, when it's done I'll send it to you (hopefully in the next few days). It's a mechanical system operated by a standard servo (I used a JR 591), it can be made mostly with hand tools, but there is one slot to be cut which really needs a mill to do.


Mark.

JGrc

My Feedback: (29)

Jolly,

I built a tail retract for the Brian Taylor Mk VII using his plans. After a few dozen flights I had to modify the design, adding a spring because the bouncing of the tail in rough terrain was pulling the screws out of the former. This has been working fine now for over a hundred take off and landings.

Lenny at Shindin's has produced a few sets of this retract using the spring dampen system, unless you want to build your own.

Look forward to see your building.

J G

mR JoLLy

Mark thanks for the offer. I do have access to milling equipment so that should not pose too bigger problem. There is no rush as I am not starting the project until the new year. What version of Autocad are you using?

Experience from building one scale model has taught me that planning well in advance is a good thing!


JoLLy

mR JoLLy

JGrc sorry you must have posted while I was writing the above response to Dibble.

I did not know he had the design on his plans. Looks like I will be building the BT Spitfire this time. It just feels right having just put a Mick Reeves 1/6 Scale together. I think I will wait and see what Marks design comes out like.


Amazing really how I go from not having a clue to a selection of choices in 24 hrs

JGrc. Here is a link to my last Spitfire build when you have an hour or so spare

[link=http://www.hbc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/models/spitfire/]http://www.hbc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/models/spitfire/[/link]

JoLLy

JGrc

My Feedback: (29)

Jolly,

You have built an awesome Spit! Great work on the website too.

I think you will enjoy Taylors design very much. Also there are a number a F/G parts available for the 83" Spit in the US and one in Belgium.
Here is my link (Being Netscape it only works partime so be patient)

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/warbirdscale/

Click on MkVII and then click on Other Spitfires

Cheers,

JoseG

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

JoLLy, I have a retractable tailwheel for the Taylor MkVIII custom made by Nigel Tarvin in Canada that I would be willing to part with. I have two Taylor Spits to be built but neither is going to be an VIII so this is excess to my needs. I can get some pics for you if you like. Not sure if the shipping costs to the UK would make it impractical or not.

mR JoLLy

JGrc Glad you liked the site. I am getting good responses to it and about 10 build related questions because Mick Reeves does allegedly is not helping people enough. Heard it from a number of people now!

Your link is currently down but I will try again later.

Chad, Post the pictures. I have imported a Honda Goldwing from Florida before, this should not bother me one bit
How much will you be wanting for the unit?

JoLLy

Dibble

Nigel,

I'll try to get some photos of the retract soon, for now all I have is this one showing it in my P47 in the retracted position. If you can make it on the 23rd you can have a look at it in the flesh.

I do not use autocad as I don't run windows any more, I'll be using qcad instead, the files it produces should be autocad compatible, if not there's a demo you can download.

Mark.

mR JoLLy

Thanks Mark that really does look like a nice unit. I am only at 50:50 for 23rd so far, but will know next weekend.

Send the file when you are ready mate!

JoLLy

Dibble

Nigel,

I've just taken the retract out of my P47 so that I can draw it up, I will have to finish it today as I want to put it back and fly it tomorrow!

Here are a couple of pictures so that you can see the principle of it.

Mark.