Building the Supermarine Spitfire

Work Log 3

12 Apr 07

Prepared, pilot drilled and clecoed Left and Right Inner Flap Components. Trial fitted to Rear Centre Sections in preparation for shaping after fitting Outer Wing Sections. 4.4 hrs.

17 Apr 07

Fitted Outer Wing Sections. Measured Wing Alignement. Drilled Rear Mounting Holes. Measured Inner Flaps to size. Checked Aileron, Outer and Inner Flap Trailing Edge Alignment. Removed Outer Wing Panels. 4.8 hrs

21 Apr 07

Commenced prep of Cowl Flap Components and Fibreglass Engine Cowls. 3.6 hrs.

02 May 07

Prepared, drilled, deburred , etch primed and riveted Cowl Flap Control Cable Firewall Panel and Cowl Flap Control Cable Support Mount. 3.8 hrs

03 May 07

Trimmed Engine Cowls to size. Drilled and deburred Nose Cowl Joiner Straps. Clecoed Cowls together to check fitment and alignment. 5.5 hrs

21 May 07

Enlarged hole in Front Engine Cowl for access of Electric Variable Prop Components. Continued with Cowl alignment and measurement. 3.5 hrs

22 May 07

Finished drilling Pilot Holes of Nose, Upper and Lower Cowl. Clecoed together to check alignment. 4.6 hrs.

31 May 07

Riveted Nose Cowl to Upper and Lower Joiner Strips. Fitted Anchor Nuts to Upper and Lower Joiner Strips. Screwed Upper and Lower Cowls to Nose Cowl for final alignment. 6.6 hrs.

06 Jun 07

Cut out Engine Oil Dipstick Access Hatch in top Engine Cowl. Prepared Hatch Frame Components and drilled Rivet Holes. 3.6 hrs.

07 Jun 07

Dimpled, Etch Primed and Riveted above components. Fitted Anchor Nuts. Cut out Engine Oil Cap Access Hatch in top Engine Cowl. Prepared Hatch Frame Components and drilled Rivet Holes. 4.8 hrs

09 Jun 07

Dimpled, etch primed and riveted all Components of Oil Cap Access Hatch. Fitted Anchor Nuts and Zsus Fasteners. Cut out Water Tank Access in top Engine Cowl, prepared all Components, drilled, etch primed and Riveted. Fitted Anchor Nuts and Zsus fasteners. 5.4 hrs.

10 Jun 07

Fitted Anchor Nuts to Fuselage for Rear Upper Engine Cowl attachment. Trimmed stbd side of Top Engine Cowl to facilitate Exhaust Stacks. 6.5 hrs.

11 Jun 07

Fitted Anchor Nuts on Fuselage for Rear Lower Engine Cowl attachment. Trimmed Port side of Top Engine Cowl to facilitate attachment of Exhaust Stacks. 3.5 hrs

13 Jun 07

Prepared all Components for Forward Lower Engine Cowl attachment. 2.8 hrs.

19 Jun 07

Prepared, drilled, deburred and clecoed remaining Components of Engine Cowl Flap. 3.6 hrs.

21 Jun 07

Cut out access in Lower Engine Cowl to faciltate Cowl Flaps. Test fitted for alignment. 3.5 hrs.

25 Jun 07

Further trimming of Cowl Flap access and alignment. Prepared, drilled and test fitted Cowl Flap to Lower Cowl Rubber Seal Retainer. Cut, trimmed and test fitted Rubber Seal. 4.3 hrs

27 Jun 07

Etch primed all Cowl Flap and Frame Components. Riveted all together onto Lower Engine Cowl. 4.5 hrs.

28 Jun 07

Prepared Stbd Cowl Panel. Drilled holes for Stiffener. Mated edges of Lower Cowl and Side Panel. Drilled both for edge reinforcement. 3.6 hrs.

02 Jul 07

De-burred, Etch Primed, dimpled and fitted Anchor Nuts for Zeus Fasteners to Stbd Engine Cowl. Trimmed further around Exhaust Stacks. 3.8 hrs

10 Jul 07

Trial fit of Radiator into Lower Cowl. Check alignment.Trimmed Radiator Rear Mounts to fit Firewall. Fitted Radiator Forward Mounts on Engine Mount Frame. 4.5 hrs

11 Jul 07

Finished Stbd Side Panel Upper Joiner Strips and fitted. Trimmed for Exhaust Stacks and trial fitted for final alignment prior to riveting Stiffeners on Lower Cowl to Side Panel Joiner Strip. 4.7 hrs

12 Jul 07

Prepared Port Side Engine Cowl. Drilled Upper and Lower Joiner Strips. Pilot Drilled Cowl Edges. Trimmed around Exhaust Stacks. Trial fitted for initial alignment. 4.6 hrs.

14 Jul 07

Riveted Stiffeners to Stbd Cowl Panel and Etch Primed. Drilled, deburred and dimpled Stiffeners for Port Cowl Panel. Fitted Anchor Nuts for same. 4.3 hrs

15 Jul 07

Etch Primed Port Side Cowl Panel Components. Fitted Rear View Mirror. 4.2 hrs

17 Jul 07

Measured and marked Prop Spinner for Blade Cutouts. Fitted Retaining Rings on all 1/4 turn Fasteners on Side Engine Cowls. Riveted Stiffener to Port Side Cowl 5.5 hrs.

31 Aug 07

Trial fit of Spinner with Propeller Blades fitted. 1.2 hrs.

07 Sep 07

Clamped Spinner to Back Plate. Adjusted alignment of Spinner. 2.6 hrs

09 Sep 07

Pilot drilled through Backplate, Spinner and clecoed into position. 2.9 hrs.

09 Nov 07

Pilot drilled through Spinner and Forward Plate and clecoed into position. 2.4 hrs.

09 Jan 08

I have been busy with a house renovation and a couple of overseas trips. Will recommence work shortly.

25 Feb 08

Removed Spinner, drilled out holes in Front Spinner Plate. Deburred and commenced fitting Anchor Nuts. 3.6 hrs.

04 Mar 08

Finished fitting Anchor Nuts to Front Spinner Plate. Drilled out holes in Spinner to 3/16 to take Front and Rear Mounting Plate Screws. Commenced fitting Anchor Nuts to Rear Mounting Plate. 3.3 hrs

18 Mar 08

Finished fitment of Anchor Nuts to Rear Spinner Mounting Plate. Test fitted Spinner. 1.3 hrs

31 Mar 08

Cut out Air Intake in Front Engine Cowl. 1.1 hrs

22 Apr 08

Commenced cosmetic fill of surface rivet heads. 2.3 hrs.

24 Apr 08

Continuing with cosmetic fill of surface rivet heads. Prepared Trailing Edge of Stbd Elevator. Applied Body Light Filler Sanded to shape. 5 hrs.

25 Apr 08

Prepared Trailing edge of Port Elevator. Applied Light Body Filler. Sanded to shape. 1.6 hrs.

29 Apr 08

Prepared Leading Edge of Stabiliser. Applied Light Body Filler. Sanded to shape. 2.3 hrs

02 May 08

Filled Reduction Gear Bearing Housing with Mil Spec Oil. Adjusted PRSU Belt to correct tension. Checked for leaks. 1.4 hrs

03 May 08

Constructed Framework to hold Brushes of Electric Variable Pitch Mechanism. Drilled and tapped holes in Reduction Gear Assembly to fix Framework. Trial fitted and painted. 2.8 hrs

05 May 08

Drilled out Pilot Holes in Port Inner Flap to 1/8". Dismantled Inner Flap Assembly. Deburred and dimpled all Components. Prepared surfaced and Etch Primed. 4.7 hrs.

06 May 08

Clecoed and riveted all Port Inner Flap Components. 1.5 hrs.

07 May 08

Drilled out pilot holes in Stbd Inner Flap to 1/8". Dismantled Inner Flap Assembly. Deburred and dimpled all Components. Prepared Electric Variable Pitch Loom. 3.7 hrs.

08 May 08

Etch Primed and riveted all Components of Stbd Inner Flap. 2.2. hrs

09 May 08

Bench tested operation of Variable Pitch Electric Motor. .5 hrs

14 May 08

Connected Electric Variable Pitch Control Loom from Instrument Panel Position through Firewall to Variable Pitch Motor, Generator and Earthed. Tested OK. 2.3 hrs

07 Jun 08

Cut out top of Fuel Tank to faciltate fitment of Fuel Sender. Reinforced same with alloy and riveted. Trimmed trailing edge of Stb Inner Flap to contour. Fitted Spar and drilled out for rivets. 5.6 hrs

14 Jun 08

Fibreglassed top of fuel tank. 3.2 hrs.

17 Jun 08

Sanded top of Fuel Tank and Undercoated. 1.3 hrs

19 Jun 08

Drilled out hole in top of Main Fuel Tank for Fuel Tank Sender Unit. Topcoated.Trial fitted Sender Unit. 1.8 hrs

24 Jun 08

Fitted Trailing Edge to Stbd Inner Flap. Shaped to align with Wing Root and Outer Flap. Prepared, drilled, dimpled and etch primed Stbd Inner Flap Hinge. Riveted into position. Drilled Flying Surface Hinges for Piano Wire Retainer. 5.6 hrs

25 Jun 08

Connected Tunbuckles to Flap and Aileron Control Rods. Cut out rear of Rudder for Trim Tab. Fabricated parts for Trim Tab. Drilled hinge, Trim Tab Skins, clecoed and test fitted. 4.6 hrs

28 Jun 08

Fabricated Mounting Plate for PTT Switch. Drilled, deburred, dimpled and applied three coats of Primer to Mounting Plate and Control Yoke Grip. Delivered Seat Back to Upholsterers. 1.7 hrs.

29 Jun 08

Top coated Yoke Grip and fitted PTT Switch. Fitted Mic and Phone Jacks for Pilot and Pax. Applied power to VHF and tested Intercom and functionaly of Radio. Works a treat. 4 hrs.

01 Jul 08

Cut out Access Hatch for Rudder Trim Servo. Fabricated Frame for Anchor Nuts.Drilled, deburred and dimpled rivet holes for same. 4.4 hrs.