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A Discussion on Spitfire Vb and Vc Wing Bulges
source: Hyperscale
(thanks to Brett Green for permission)
(Bold Italics are added by the Webmaster to clarify the text or correct known errors. Some comments have been edited for clarity)
erik whipple, seeking further education
Question for Spitfire boffins...
Tue Jul 22 21:43:14 2003
Would a tropicalized Spitfire Mk.Vc have the large cannon bay fairings that look
like half a watermelon? Stupid visual, I know, but I can't think of another way
to describe them. The earliest my references show them is on the Mk. IXc.
According to my references the Spitfire Mk Vb might have either a shallow
teardrop shaped cannon bay fairing or the narrow spindle-shaped type, similar
though not identical to that found on the 'e' wings. Is there a set pattern to
the type of cannon bay covers per wing type (b,c, e) or did it vary?
Can somebody please drop some of this Spitfire science on me? Thanks in advance,
Erik
TC
Yes
Tue Jul 22 21:48:29 2003
The Vc preceded the IXc in production, and the IXc is just like the earlier Vc.
Therefore, it does have the large fairings (which were done that way because
theoretically they could have 4, 20mm cannons, though the weight penalty was
such that only 2 Squadron SAAF ever used them).
Shane Weier
...and no
Tue Jul 22 23:22:45 2003
>Therefore, it does have the large fairings (which were
>done that way because theoretically they could have 4 20mm
>cannons, though the weight penalty was such that only 2
>Squadron SAAF ever used them).
...and at least a single Mk.VIII flown by Caldwell who had the same problem but
thought it worth it because (in his own words) his eyesight was getting so bad
that he needed the big shells on target to have any chance of a kill
David Edwards
Late RAAF Spitfire VC Tropicals
Tue Jul 22 21:59:33 2003
Had the more streamlined cannon blisters, and were among the last Vcs produced
Bob Swaddling
Cannon bay blisters
Tue Jul 22 22:09:49 2003
Hi Erik
Yes, the early "c" wing had the larger (double) fairings as it was
thought that they would be armed with two cannon in each bay. That was possible
but was very heavy and seldom done. It was found that the smaller "c"
wing blister would offer much less drag and was introduced at the factory and
many a/c were retrofitted.
The "b" wing has an entirely different blister that was farther back
and to one side of the cannon. It was also continued on the underside of the
wing. This was to hold the drum type magazine used on the "b" wing. It
held 60 rounds where the belt fed magazine of the "c" wing held 120
rounds.
What tropical Spitfire are you building?
DerekPennington
Perhaps a little clarification. The Belt Feed Mechanism
Wed Jul 23 12:25:36 2003
held 13 rounds. The rest were in the ammo tank....
erik
whipple
Thanks Bob, I've got two Malta Spitfires coming up...
Wed Jul 23 05:03:09 2003
The Beurling (UF-S) and Lynch options from Victory's Empire Aces set. Also Lock,
Finucane, and refinishing my Gleed. That's it for Mk.V's in the pike. Thanks for
the information!
Graham Boak
Extra blister
Wed Jul 23 07:02:37 2003
Note that early Vcs have an additional small blister on the upper
wing covering the aileron actuator.
I'm not sure if this should include Beurling's a/c but I suspect so - it was
seen on Eagle deliveries at about the same time - and I don't know which a/c was
Lynch's, from memory. If it was a Wasp delivery then I suspect it has, too.
CharlieH
AHHHHH its been identified then
Wed Jul 23 08:47:40 2003
There has been lots of speculation over that bulge and you are the first to
specify the reason for it.
Graham Boak
I deny it!
Wed Jul 23 10:55:19 2003
i.e somebody told me - indeed, I would have said I read it here. However,
there's very little else that it could have been, out there.
If Erik is still reading these, don't forget that the inner mg is one rib
further out on the c wing.
Bruce Archer
"C" wing bulges
Wed Jul 23 07:08:00 2003
Erik,
Everyone is correct. But determining which is correct is a can of worms. The
reason for the bulges was the feed tensioner located on the cannon to keep
proper tension on the ammo belts as they entered the breech. This helped to
prevent jamming. As the "C" wing was designed to be able to fit twin
cannon per wing, a larger bulge was used, so both tensioners would have enough
clearence. This larger bulge did have a drag penalty. When in practice only one
cannon was fitted, the newer. smaller bulge was fitted.
So most Mk.Vcs and early Mk.IXs had the larger bulges. Mid-to late IXcs had the
smaller bulge and late Vcs, and those rebuilt for low level ops had the small
bulge. And most VII and VIII had small bulges, unless fitted with twin cannon,
then the larger bulge was mandatory.
Most of the Malta Spitfires with "C" wings deployed during the air
assault, were Early Vcs, and would have the larger bulges.
But, if a fitter could get a set of smaller bulged cannon bay covers, he would.
The cut down on drag, and increased the top end by a few mph.
Graham Boak
Only one kind on Vbs
Wed Jul 23 03:11:19 2003
There was, AFAIK, only one style of bulge used on Vbs. There was another below
the wing.
The universal wing was introduced on the Vc: it could have four 20mm cannon, or
2 cannon plus four .303s or eight 0.303s. I don't think the last was ever used.
Initially, as others have said, this had a wide blister to cover the breeches of
both cannon side-by-side. However, this armament made the Spitfire too heavy and
clumsy, so was rarely used after early a/c. The first tropicalised ones were
sent to Malta with this armament, and despite claims that this was only to
deliver spare cannon to Malta, actually flew in combat until the pilots
objected. (Including blue ones - yes, honestly.) I think it almost definite that
the first ones in the desert had the wide bulge - I am intending to model a SEAC
Vc, with the wide bulge.
So the wide blister was replaced by a narrow one. Vcs, early IXs and Seafire
IIcs are generally found with the wide fairing. Late Vcs, most IXs, all VIIIs,
XIIs and Seafire IIIs have the narrow. But if you have the parts, the four
cannon could be refitted.
The e wing appeared just before D-Day, where the narrow bulge moved from the
inboard side of the top panel to the outboard.
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