2009..a new year and worldwide project

First off the blocks as we are well rested and eager to get back into it.Well I am after a full on working holiday doing stuff around the place that I don,t get done usually.
Even though things havent been done in hangar for the last five weeks doesn,t mean we stop..Our drafties have been burning out their Pc,s getting things drawn over the holiday period.With the explosion of Cad software and 3D programs a talented group of guys have been in contact with us to share the knowledge of Spitfire engineering.
Firstly I give huge thanks to Dave (aka falcon24)of Simhardware fame here http://www.simhardware.org/index.html and his Spitfire cockpit project who gave us the confidence to start such a project.Next is Jeremy from Canada and his Spitfire replica..webpage is here... http://www.fighterwerks.com/index.htm who is using the latest design programs along with CNC machinery to create his plane.
One we are internally greatful is Justin who has been drawing a Spit from the inside out using Rhino.He has drawn up a solid model wing for us using the original drawings.His website is here..
http://www.spitfire3d.com/
Another guy who is helping us out is Anthony from the USA.He is teaching school kids Solidworks at school and we are helping each other out design wise.His classes work can be seen above...
Other guys who who have found us are well into their designs and adding more info in keeping the Spitfire soul alive.To finish off here is the Spit today as we start off the new year..thanks to all that have been in contact ,we are eternally greatful.
Regards Ross and the team

YouTubed!!!

In keeping up with the trend we have made a quick video of some action in the hangar.
Youtube
The young guy is John Mark our resident coke fueled volunteer who is learning the ropes doing everything from sheetmetal work to restoring or dissasembling old parts.Also good for getting bored quickly and finding him doing things we didn,t know existed.Anyway he is young and special thanks to his dad Steve for bringing up such a great lad.He also is a great volunteer and although a lot quieter does great work and his attention to detail is a great inspiration to us all..

More hammering

yep another frame and a half done..Frame 13 done and half of frame 12.Unfortunately some of the frames that were waterjet cut are done in T3 temper which means they are bloody difficult to work around the formers and lead to cracking issues.So making up the easy ones first..only one more weekend for us till we break for a much needed rest over the new year.Will keep up updates as we go..

hammerforming

A quick one as it,s late.Had a big day by getting the frames started to be cleaned up,meaning all edges polished with fine wet and dry to prevent stress raisers.Then set out the formers,assemble and start hammering..

MERLIN ARRIVES

Well the fly In flew past with a pace that took my breath away.will take me a while to get over it...BIG NEWS!!! Is that our Rolls Royce Merlin has arrived from down south.It is on long term loan and will be a big feature for the project.Big thanks to Ross Pay for lending of part of his late fathers collection.Also the long awaited arrival of all our Spit frames from the waterjet cutters.These will now be cleaned up and hammerformed to put on the jig.Any problems will be logged and corrected in CAD to be updated in the waterjet production files.

Countdown to FlyIn

Only two days to go till our annual FlyIn.Have been working feverishly to have something on display as with the jig all levelled up we are very hesitant to move it.So instead we will have a some of our more easily moved pieces on display and a nice write up on our aircrafts history.We will also be having sheetmetal demonstrations throughout the weekend to entice the handymen.
Fuselage wise we are in the process of pulling things apart ready for priming and assembly and the goal is to have the forward fuselage together in one piece soon.
Also the waterjetters have cut most of our frames so we can get our frames started finally.With the rivet holes already in position the fuselage will come together very quickly.
Also a Merlin 25 has been greatfully loaned to the project and will create much interest in time.
So if you are here for the Fly In please drop in and say hello...Till next time...

Researching our history

One part of the reproduction not many people know about is the history of the aircraft.We only know bits and pieces from RAAF movement cards,British records and other bits and pieces.We found the Squadron (54 Sqd RAF) the pilot who caused (directly or indirectly)the aircraft to come down from Darwin to 6AD oakey but one thing eluded us.Well two things.First was the aircrafts Radio Code.Second was the camouflage she served with.
A mate I am helping with other research swapped some info with one of his contacts and now we know that the code was DL-V and the paint she wore was most likely to have been British Dark Earth and Foliage Green uppers, with Sky or Azure lowers,and at that time she still wore the British code Br484..
Thank you to Buzz and to Mr.G,Birkett for the hard work in helping us out.