1/4 Scale Spitfire Mk IX

I am about six weeks into my Mick Reeves 1/4 Scale Spitfire. Originally I had the Brian Taylor 1/5 Scale Mk IX increased to 1/4 Scale, However a week after getting the plans, I came across this MR Kit on Donedeal. So I made my preference and took the Kit. The MR's Kit was unopened, it wasn't the latest generation of Spitfire kit available from MR, but, I was happy getting the Cowl, canopy and bits and pieces that would save me a bit of time.

Power will be from my 3W-110R2 Inline, with s-bend Stainless Steel manifold and Canister Muffler down the center of the fuselage. I haven't made my mind weather to produce my own retracts or go for one of the main stream brands. As usual, all control surfaces will be controlled by Multiplex servos.

The main fuselage is molded from Epoxy with Formers inserted at various stages from the F1 bulkhead back to the tail. The wings and tail will be built using traditional methods, however this time I will be sheeting the wings in ProSkin. The Proskin is available in different thickness, e.g. 0.2mm, 0.3mm & 0.4mm.

Wings will be joined in two, held together by 2 x 25mm Aluminum/Phenolic Tubes

The first stage in the Spitfire Build was to start work on the door and sliding canopy mechanism, The locking mechanism on the door was contrusted as per full size Spitfire, as this obsiously works. Door ribs made handle was made from Aluminium and latches contructed from Brass. All together this took about 2 days.

The Canopy frame was made from laminated Carbon fibre, molded from the Canopy in the MR Kit, using a release wax to seperate.

Here you can see the ProSkin used in the construction of the flaps, with a carbon rod instead of the usual 1/4 Sq balsa and 1.5mm Fiberglass ribs. This is an extremely strong method for producing Flaps

3 weeks into the building of the wings. Together for the first time, top surface now covered in Proskin, wing tubes in place. Next job to fit the flaps and start work on the Ailerons

Ailerons and Flaps are now fitted and fully functional.

Some of the parts used to hinge the Ailerons. The Control arms are hidden internally