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Homebuilt Spitfire

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Comments

  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by MVP
    That is awesome Merlin[8D][^]

    Thanks, Jeff.
    Good to see you posting. Thought you had gone west!!
    Say hi to MV for me. Mom died a year ago today so I have no reason to go there
    anymore.
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for the correction. That photo is a lot clearer than the video. I'm glad; it was the wing that made the Spitfire what it was after all.

    So...if it's for sale, do I have to ask?
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • Don McManusDon McManus Member Posts: 23,690 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab

    So...if it's for sale, do I have to ask?


    I believe it is the XP Talon that is for sale, Rocky, not the Spitfire.
    Freedom and a submissive populace cannot co-exist.

    Brad Steele
  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Thanks for the correction. That photo is a lot clearer than the video. I'm glad; it was the wing that made the Spitfire what it was after all.

    So...if it's for sale, do I have to ask?


    Rocky, the video was of my XP-TALON, NOT THE SPITFIRE!
  • NeoBlackdogNeoBlackdog Member Posts: 17,268 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by allen griggs
    I thought I was the King of Do-It-Yourself. I have built log cabins by hand, I built my own stone fireplace all by myself, out of two books. Doesn't smoke and heats great.
    I built a Goldwing ultralight from a kit, foam and fiberglass composite construction, and flew it to 6,000 feet above the hard, red Georgia clay, and lived to tell about it.

    But you built a Spitfire. Damn.

    That'd be damn tough to 'one-up'...
    Pretty impressive.
    I love the minion in the gun barrel!
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Merlinn, I took off and landed the Allegro myself today, the instructor was hands off so I am close to soloing in that bird. You might not be able to call it YOUR XP TALON much longer....[;)][:D][:p] How much transition time will I need for the TALON??[:0]
  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Originally posted by bpost
    Merlinn, I took off and landed the Allegro myself today, the instructor was hands off so I am close to soloing in that bird. You might not be able to call it YOUR XP TALON much longer....[;)][:D][:p] How much transition time will I need for the TALON??[:0]
    [/quote

    Only enough time to transition your money into my account!!
    Good luck on your solo..
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ahhhh, no WONDER it didn't look perzackly like a Spitfire. I didn't want to seem like a Richardhead so I only commented on the wings.

    So....how much does an XP Talon go for these days?
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Rocky Raab
    Ahhhh, no WONDER it didn't look perzackly like a Spitfire. I didn't want to seem like a Richardhead so I only commented on the wings.

    So....how much does an XP Talon go for these days?


    It is being represented by an outfit called worldwide warbirds. You can also Google Vic's Aircraft and see the ad there.
  • Rocky RaabRocky Raab Member Posts: 14,493 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thank you, friend. It WAS tactless of me to ask in public.

    And then I watched the TwoYube clip again and saw the price in your comments. Thanks!
    I may be a bit crazy - but I didn't drive myself.
  • texaswildmantexaswildman Member Posts: 2,215 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Merlin - that's amazing! I can barely build a fire..... [:D]
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Merlinn, Your skills are humbling. The care, attention to detail and mind blowing craftsmanship your pictures show during construction are something as rare as hens teeth. [^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^][^]

    What beautiful aircraft you have built Sir; may they fly well into the next century!

    I will play with my Qucksilver GT400 and smile thinking of all the gas I am not burning compared to those beauties. [:)]
  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by merlinn
    Forgemonkey, sorry. I was having trouble responding after our back and forth.

    I had to use 2 n's at the end because Merlin with one n was already taken.
    Also, this Spitfire is powered by the Allison V-1710 engine. More reliable and easier to come by than the Merlin-Rolls Royce or Packard engines.










    I may be able to get you the username Merlin with one n if you are interested. The original user has never posted after registering over 10 yrs ago.... (You should be able to edit it yourself, but if not let me know.

    (Oh and very nice work by the way!)
  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    quote:Originally posted by merlinn
    Forgemonkey, sorry. I was having trouble responding after our back and forth.

    I had to use 2 n's at the end because Merlin with one n was already taken.
    Also, this Spitfire is powered by the Allison V-1710 engine. More reliable and easier to come by than the Merlin-Rolls Royce or Packard










    I may be able to get you the username Merlin with one n if you are interested. The original user has never posted after registering over 10 yrs ago.... (You should be able to edit it yourself, but if not let me know.

    (Oh and very nice work by the way!)


    Thanks, Captn. but I have used it on other forums with 2 n's also and am used to it.
  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Flying Clay Disk
    First off, fantastic work. But, I guess I'm missing something...

    The plane in the video is not the same plane as in the picture on this thread. And it the plane in the video does look smaller than the pictured plane (plus, it has a different tail number). Which one is yours, or the one you built? Or, are they both yours?

    Maybe I just missed something in the thread.




    You missed a lot Diskman. I built the Spitfire for a friend in Arizona and own the one in
    the video and it is for sale.. Wanna make me an offer?
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Merlinn, are any original drawings for the Mk IX Spitfire available to the public? I have often wondered why building warbirds was not more common the interest in them is huge.

    Eight and a half years is a long time to devote to building something. What were some of the most difficult pars to build? How reliable will the Allison be for the long term?
  • merlinnmerlinn Member Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by bpost
    Merlinn, are any original drawings for the Mk IX Spitfire available to the public? I have often wondered why building warbirds was not more common the interest in them is huge.

    Eight and a half years is a long time to devote to building something. What were some of the most difficult pars to build? How reliable will the Allison be for the long term?


    This Spit was built from plans by Marcel Jurca, a French designer. It was not built like the real one. The fuselage uses a steel tube structure surrounded by aluminum bulkheads and outer skins. The tailfeathers and wings are all wood. The Focke Wulf-190 I built was the same way. 8 1/2 years is a long time but you know what they say-- all good things take time. The whole project was a challenge. The plans were very crude, hand drawn, details all over the place and many aspects left up to the builder and many mistakes needed correcting. This version had never been built and I wore out a fax machine discussing changes with Marcel who spoke broken English. He did visit and I had a chance to meet him once but he died before it flew.
    The Allison is supposed to be very reliable but this one has had its share of small problems. I originally designed a rear seat with a hatch for entry but Bob wanted more gas, so I built a 40 gallon tank in that space. We later learned that a feller could kneel behind the tank and lean over the top so yes, I have been for a flight in it.. What a rush!!
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