Spitfire MkVb - Wing reinforcement strakes?

[Guest]

I'm a bit confused at the moment with the wing build on my Tamiya Spitfire MkVb.

The instructions are saying to remove the twin reinforcement strakes next to the machine gun bulge on the top surface of the wing, but studying some photos on the web I've found some MkV (does'nt say if they were "b" variant or not) that have the strakes still fitted.

Before I take the cutters and sandpaper to the wings can someone confirm if the MkVb had these or not please?

Thanks Colin.

[Guest]

Yes and no; the strakes were fitted, as a modification, from 16-7-42. From December, 1942, leaflets were issued to Squadrons, allowing them to do the work themselves, and it included the earlier Mk.I. So, if your model pre-dates July 1942, you can remove them; after that date, and especially after December 1942, probably not.

Edgar

[Guest]

Thanks Edgar, I'll try and find out when the spitfire I'm building was manufactured. But then again it wouldn't matter from what your saying as it would've been modified at some time during it's use.

[Guest]

Found this on a website giving the history of the plane..............

EN821

Vb

CBAF

M45

"45MU 16-5-42 243S 'SN-M' 27-6-42 65S 28-10-42 FACB 15-12-42 Scottish Aviation VASM 28-6-43 fuel syst mods wing stiff S Type pt MkIII IFF bomb carrier Cunliffe-Owen 4-11-43 RNDA Lee on Solent 9-2-44 as trainer 886S 3-44 808S Lee 3-44 D-Day hit by EA dived in sea nr Le Havre as pilot tried to climb out Cat Z 6-6-44 (S/L HA Cogill killed)"

Looks like it had wing stiff mods in June '43.

Guess it's time for sandpaper then as I want to build it as manufactured.

Sad to see it's demise on D-Day with S/L HA Cogill flying her.

I found this website containing details of Spitfire and Seafire aircraft built at Vickers-Supermarine and their history, might be of some help or interest to anyone building one.

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