Red

F1d

White

Blue

KEEP IT LIGHT !!!

F1a

All balsa light grade unless stated

F1c

F1b

R9
Fin fairing comprising 3mm liteply
between 10mm hollowed balsa blocks

Section through
Malcolm hood

R8

F14

White light

Plank fuselage with 2.5mm balsa, 10mm wide

at front, tapered as appropriate towards tail

Motor mount
3mm liteply
0.4mm birch ply facing
Pre-bend top planks to maintain very
slight curvature between F4 & F5

F6
ab

2.54mm balsa planked cowl.

Lowest planks should be narrow (4mm) 0.4mm ply facings
& will require twisting as well as bending.
Note distinct change in cross-section
between F3 & F4

Hollowed balsa cowl front.

(Not laminated to avoid glue line)

R10

Install elevator snake & self-closing clevis

before fitting tailplane platform

R7

R6

Light blue band

F6c

F7

Fin sheeting 1mm balsa

F8

R5
F4

F3

F9

F5

F2

F1
abc

R4

R3

R2

R1

6 x 0.8mm brass horn silver soldered

to 1.5mm piano wire.
Note angle of horn with
elevators at neutral

Glassfibre spinner made around

shaped foam core & screwed to
3mm birch ply back-plate

Liteply/balsa
sandwich

Scale panel line

Aluminium tube

First 3 planks 10 deep parallel

Hollowed balsa each

side of liteply keel
(B & B construction)

28mm tail-wheel (scale)

25mm commercial size

Liteply fairing
Hollowed laminated balsa

1mm balsa edging to keel to ease

blending with adjacent balsa blocks
Hollowed block balsa below lowest
planks each side of liteply keel F13
FUSELAGE CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
Build lower half of fuselage over plan.
Remove from plan .
Add upper part of formers & sub-assemblies 2 & 3.
Plank upper half of fuselage.
Build underside of nose (b & b construction).
Add tailplane saddles.
Build wing root fairings with
wing centre-section screwed in position.

Scale panel line Fair

into
Make wing centre-section trailing edge
Pair of M5 nylon screws
integral with wing root fairing.
From 0.4mm birch ply & balsa
Fairing base 0.4mm birch ply.
Radiators
Mark position on fuselage,
Curved top surface of first fairing plank.
See wing drawing
make card template,adjust
fit,
Mask to
fuselage
& sand to blend after planking
then transfer shape to ply

Eurokit Mini Air Retracts shown.

Modify connection to keep
air supply clear of wheel-well

Carved balsa fairing

glued to wing

2mm piano wire

SECTION THROUGH FUSELAGE & FIN

underside of fairing base
fuselage using lightweight filler
OUTSIDE VIEW OF RUDDER

Modified brass screw

Solder
Brass tube

0.25mm Folded brass

14 swg piano wire axle

T9

Carburettor air intake

Hinge reinforcement 3mm balsa

F10

T8

F15

Pin-jointed leaf or
strip mylar hinges

Tap M4

F13

T7

Hacksaw off existing nipple

and seal hole with epoxy

F16

Tailplane saddles
10mm balsa (upper)
6mm balsa (lower)
2 off each)
True length shown

F12a

T6 in
Cut out top & bottom skins
pairs and use one as a template
when making leading edge

72mm main wheels (scale)

70mm commercial size

T5

F12

F11

T4

T3

T2

T1

C of G

PLAN VIEW OMMITING PLANKING & FIN

TAILPLANE HALF-SHEETED

Mould exhaust stubs from plastic

tubing heated over mandrel
Sanded chamfer
True-to-scale
wing root fairing shape

F2c
Motor clamp
(alternative)
3mm liteply

Cut here after assembly if gearbox

will not pass through motor-size hole
and use separate motor clamp

Tailplane sheeting 1mm balsa

Exhaust manifold

F4c

Sub assemblies:No.1 F3b, F4b, F5b, F6b, F10 & F11(2)

No.2 F1a,b,c, F2a, F3a, F4a, F12(2), F13 & F14
No.3 F6a, F6c, F15 & F16
No.4 F1d, F2c, F3c, F4c & F12c

F6c

Tailplane platform
3mm balsa

Upper saddle

Cut away spreader-bar

after planking fuselage

Exhaust manifold base

Lower saddle

F6a
F2c

F3c
Hole positions to suit
height of servo

F2a

F3a

F4a

F5a

F2b

F3b

F4b

F5b

F7a
F7b

F6b

Wing root fairings planked with

2.5mm balsa aft of F4.
Scrap balsa & filler ahead.
Plank fairing with ply base taped
snuggly against wing centre-section

F6f
Edge formers with 2.5mm thick balsa between lowest
part of planking and bottom edge of former
to provide glueing surface for fillet formers

F9a

F8b

F9b

During construction check relative widths

of fuselage & fin which join on this line

Fin post
(4 parts)
3mm balsa

F5f

All F-series parts from 3mm liteply

F8a

3mm sq. balsa strip 0.4mm above front edge

to support wing root fairing base

SPITFIRE
MkIX

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Scale reference
Aeromodeller Plans Service
Plan No.2740
Drawn D.H.Cooksey & G.R.Duval

First in a series of 1/9th scale W

SHEET 1

Designed by Dave Philpotts

2000
For 500/600 geared electric motors

Cross-grain balsa gun blister.

White-glue onto paper base
Note inclination of W3 then onto wing after shaping

Blend with filler

Drill 3mm holes, cut spar slots

and shape profiles of W1 & W2
together as a set of four.
Separate into pairs to finish

Wing ribs W1, W2 & W3 from 3mm liteply.

Remainder from 2mm liteply.
Make in pairs with aid of double-sided tape

Note flat underside to wing panels

84

W1
Typical of 3mm sq. balsa spar bracing
between front & rear spars.
Keep lower spars flat

3mm balsa doublers

(Not shown in plan)

90

Temporary reinforcement
during assembly

2.5mm thick balsa box around retract

unit to support underside sheeting
& end of lower spar

Cut lower front spar here to

clear u/c retract unit after
sheeting underside centre panel

Sand lightly to blend

W2
Balsa filler piece

Wing washout jig

3mm balsa

Dihedral jig

Laminated trailing edge

Balsa/0.4mm birch ply/balsa

W3

Laminated aileron
Balsa/0.4mm birch ply/balsa
Tack-glue to wing when sanding to shape

IMPORTANT! Accuracy essential.

Remove this area & check for
1.5mm sheeting allowance between
rib profile and centre section then replace.
Remove finally after sheeting
underside of centre panel.

Alignment dowels

Outboard panel sheeting 1.5mm balsa

Sand before applying

Centre section sheeting 2.5mm balsa

Notch after assemblyChamfer

to
allowance made
clear air retract tube
on top of rib

Remove shaded areas

after fitting u/c mounts

Reduce thickness of rear spars at ends

Chamfer bottom of rib Cut slots for 0.4mm ply trailing e

using junior hacksaw fitted with
metal-cutting blade

W4

Align underside rear of W11 with inboard ribs

when glueing aileron spar

Remove this area to clear retract cylinder

after sheeting underside of wing.
Part-cut beforehand

2.4mm balsa full depth of wing

both sides of undercarriage slot

Laminated wingtip
Balsa/0.4mm birch ply/balsa

Remove this area to clear wheel well

after sheeting underside of wing.
Part-cut beforehand

W5
Temporary rib-support spar.
Remove after sheeting underside
of wing

Trapan circular cutout

in underside wing sheet
before assembly

Servo access
Underside only
(Size to suit servo)

W6

W3

W2

W1

W1

W2

W3

W4

W5

W6

W8

W7

W10

W9

W12

W11

W7

Cutout to suit servo

Under-wing fairing
8mm balsa
Full length lower spar.
Top spar to W11 with shaped
sheet balsa between W11 & W12

Wings sheeted with three panels joined on spars.

With care, these two panels may
2.5mm balsa false leading edge. be cut from one 1.5 x 100 x 1000 sheet of balsa
Heat inside to assist smooth
curvature around ribs

Leave Leading Edge square

Pin-jointed leaf hinge

W8

1mm aluminium control horn.

Drill holes for glue to key

W9

Leading edge from

2 laminations of 3mm balsa

for this length

3mm sq. against gusset & rib

Exit holes for servo leads &

u/c. retract tubes in top surface

Cut lower spar here after

3mm hard balsa gusset
boxing in around retract
unit
(Replaces
lower spar in this area)

Wheel-well from 2 laminations of 1mm balsa

glued together using impact adhesive.
Grain vertical.
Cut slot to clear u/c. leg and retract cylinder

Spars 3mm sq. hard balsa

1.5sq. balsa local reinforcement

W10
2.5mm balsa full depth of wing
each side of undercarriage leg aperture.
Start by making card template

PLAN VIEW OF WING

UPPER SHEETING NOT SHOWN

Wing centre section assembly jig

2-off 10mm balsa

Cannon from aluminium tube & balsa

W12

Use in conjunction with 2 lengths of

3mm dia. piano wire approx. 250 long

Alternative shrouded hinge design.

Requires 5mm thick fin post.
Also applicable to tailplane

CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
FOR TAILPLANE & FIN
Pin half-thickness leading & trailing edges
over plan.
Add front facing-piece (fin only).
Add one half of ribs.
Sheet one side whilst maintaining flatness.
Add other halves of leading & trailing edges.
Add other halves of ribs.
Cut centre away after
Sheet remaining side.
planking wing root fairing
Sand to finish

R8

Sand slots for hinges before glueing

both halves of spar together

R10

R9

Radiator cowl sides

2.5 balsa
grain

WING CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES

Build centre section complete with
u/c mounts & sheeting.
Assemble L.H. panel ribs, spars & bracing
with 5mm packer under lower rear spar.
Add aileron spar
Sheet underside centre bay.
Glue L.H. panel to centre section.
Add laminated trailing edge.
Add false leading edge.
Sheet remainder of underside of wing.
Add wheel-well & reinforcement to W3.
Add cannon support & servo access.
Provide for u/c. air & electrics.
Sheet upper surface of wing with
washout jig under rear spar position.
Add leading edge laminations.
Add wingtip core & sheeting.
Sand & finish.
Repeat for R.H. panel.

W11

Wing root fairing base

0.4mm birch ply
(True length shown)

Round-off to 'soften' edge

T9
R8

T8

Rudder trim-tab core

0.4mm ply
R7

T7
Elevator trim-tab core
0.4mm ply

Carburettor air intake

Hollowed block balsa
Pin jig to wing using balsa
packing such that cowl sides
Radiator cowl assembly jig
will be o
at 90
to cowl bottom.
3mm balsa
Pin cowl sides to jig.
Cyano cowl sides to wing.
Remove jig.
Sheet underside of cowl

R6

T6

R5

Rudder perimeter frame

0.4mm ply

T5

R4

T4

T3

R3

Elevator perimeter frame

0.4mm ply

Horn seat
R2

Rudder horn
1mm aluminium
Retract unit mount
2 layers of 3mm liteply
between 0.8mm birch ply
(Total thickness 7.6mm)

R1

3mm balsa between T1 & T1

T2

T1

Seat horn on 3mm balsa above R2

then edge with balsa to support covering
Rudder post
5mm balsa

Fin & rudder ribs

1.5mm balsa

Tailplane & elevator ribs

1.5mm balsa
(Two sets required)

CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
FOR ELEVATORS & RUDDER
Glue leading & trailing edges to one side
of plywood perimeter frame.
Add notched half of ribs.
Part sheet one side whilst maintaining flatness.
Add other halves of leading & trailing edges.
Add other halves of ribs.
Part sheet remaining side.
Sand to finish

Wing-tip core
0.4mm ply

SPITFIRE
MkIX

First in a series of 1/9th scale WW

SHEET 2

Designed by Dave Philpotts

2000
For 500/600 geared electric motors

F11

F6f
F6f

F2c

3mm liteply
grain

F1c

F6c

F3c

F11
F6b
F9

F12a
F12a

F9b

F12

F6a

F12

F1b

F8
F13
F3
F2

F16

F7
F5

F4
F1a

F5f

F5f

W1
W4

W5

3mm liteply
W2

2mm liteply

W11

2 off each

2 off each
W6

grain

W7

grain

W12

W3
W8

T9

T7

R10
R3

T8

T7

T8

R8

T5

R2

W10

W9

Paste templates onto wood using glue stick

T2

R7

T5
T2

R1
R6

T3
T4

R9

T3

R5

T9
Fin & rudder ribs
1.5mm balsa

T1

T6
T6

R4

T1

T4

Tailplane &
elevator ribs
1.5mm balsa

SPITFIRE
MkIX

First in a series of 1/9th scale WW2 aircraft

SHEET 3

Designed by Dave Philpotts

2000
For 500/600 geared electric motors