1/72 Scratchbuilt Spitfire Parts by Marcin Witkowski

1/72 Scratchbuilt Spitfire Parts

Gallery Article by Marcin Witkowski

While working on my F-14A Tomcat model I decided that my documentation was not sufficient for my needs and that the Tomcat will have to wait. At this time (1998) I got access to a very good aircraft operating manual of the Spitfire. And so the idea to build this model in 1/72 scale was born, especially that it is a very popular plane in Poland. Our pilots fought with these aircraft in World War 2 along with the British pilots. I came to a conclusion that my model has to be different from any model built so far. As far as I know no one has ever built a model in this scale not using a kit.

Click on images below to see larger images

My model will differ from all plastic models because it will have all the elements of the real plane including the imitation of the engine. Don’t ask whether it will be able to fly. The model will contain all the elements of the real plane and most of them such as propeller, undercarriage!!! all rudders (in co-operation with stick and pedals!!! ) will be moving.

On the pictures you see couple of the elements I made till now. It is the propeller and tail wheel system. The blades of Rotol propeller I made of copper by filing comply to the real profile. You won't be able to find anything like that in any kit that you can buy. As you can see each blade has a special ending to fasten in the propeller spinner. The blades will be connected and they will co-operate so that they will have changing stroke of position!!! The propeller spinner was made of tin and the nave was made of copper. The propeller looks great but it’s turning even better.

The next element that you can see on these pictures is the tail wheel system. This system has got every features of the real one!!! The wheel tire is made of rubber, it’s turning and twisting. The strut has little spring inside what makes the system almost like the real one. These are not all elements which I did but the rest of them has to wait for finishing just like the work on the Spitfire because now I’m sweating on the F-14 model. In my case (slow work) it will probably cause that I will start to continue the work on the Spitfire in few years. Please write me if you have any questions.

Marcin Witkowski Poland