This article, now revised and updated, provides a complete photo reference to the layout and operation of the Spitfire cockpit.
The aircraft serving as our subject is Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb BL628 YO-D, recently completed by Avspecs Ltd in Auckland, New Zealand. Due to the fantastic quality of the restoration work which took full 30 years, the cockpit of this Spitfire conforms almost entirely to wartime production standards. For this reason, the following photographs can serve as reliable reference to the cockpit layout of the production Spitfire Mk. V.
Click to enlarge images
Definitely the best photographic documentation of the Spitfire´s cockpit I have seen yet and a feast for every model builder.
I am in the preparation of build a cardboard model of Spitfire MK Vb trop, S/N ER821and this reference comes in extremely just at the right time. Thanks a 1000 times!
Ferret_64,
I’m also glad to have it back as I understand that this has been a very popular feature with modellers of all kinds. Alas, my old photo galleries proved a bit problematic when I first migrated the site to WordPress and so it was dropped off. Today, I have finally figured out how to do this kind of thin with my WordPress theme, so more is hopefully to follow…
Cardboard model sounds interesting, which brand?
The MK. Vb trop is a Halinski kit: http://www.halinski.com.pl Sadly, it is presently out of print.
They are widely regarded as the finest cardboard kits available anywhere due to their very high detailing, very realistic paint including some subtle weathering and excellent fit. Definitely not for beginners, but highly rewarding once you have mastered the tricks of the trade.
I just wanted to say kudos for this article – perhaps the most outstanding photo essay of a Spitfire I’ve ever seen (and I’ve got lots of Spitfire books on my shelves to look at). Bravo and thanks!
Superb photos and an incredible resource for accurately modeling a Mk VB cockpit and adjoining areas! Thanks for the wealth of information-you really made my quest to accurately depict Stanford-Tuck’s Mk VB considerably easier!