Edgar Brooks
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« Reply #4 on: January 29, 2010, 10:06:13 AM » |
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The "plastic" (not bakelite, or Tufnol, which is the latest favourite) seat encountered many problems of breakages, and was not cleared for use until 14-5-40. It was intended for the Castle Bromwich factory, as well, but that facility's delays probably made the seat available to Supermarine. When Cross & Scarborough were researching for their book on the Airfix 1/24 kit, they were able to inspect the Imperial War Museum's Mk.I, which had been taken down for cleaning. They advocate a black seat, in the book, which might mean that early metal seats were painted thus. However, I have a photo from a crashed airframe, and it's possible to see some green, so you have a choice(and no-one can say you're wrong.) In the photo, the armour (not fitted before February 6th., 1940, incidentally) is black. The crowbar is an odd one, since it was not fitted before February, 1941, and, even then, I believe that it was fitted behind, and to the right of, the seat (like the Hurricane,) right where it can't be seen. Edgar
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