Warbirds in my Workshop

David Glen BSc (Hons) MSc, Model Maker, Journalist and Author

Formerly Spitfire in my Workshop

Spitfire Mk IX Diary


The sliding canopy frame

Monday, 20th April, 2020

The frame for my Spitfire’s sliding canopy is made of metal (litho-plate and 0.5 mm aluminium sheet) glued and screwed directly to the underlying clear...
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Vac-forming the canopy

Tuesday, 14th April, 2020

As outlined in my last diary entry, work to produce my Spitfire’s bubble canopy began with the carving of an accurate wooden pattern and the...
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Sliding canopy – the vac-form tool

Wednesday, 7th August, 2019

It is more than a year since I commissioned Colin Essex to carve the pattern for my Spitfire’s blown canopy. Colin is a true craftsman...
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Installing the pilot's seat

Tuesday, 11th June, 2019

Broadly speaking, installation of the pilot seat of my model mimics full-size practise:  The seat, pre-mounted on its sturdy support assembly, is lowered carefully into...
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The pilot's seat completed

Tuesday, 11th June, 2019

Back in December last year I commented on my decision to have the pilot’s seat of my model 3D printed, thereby skating around some particularly...
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Painting the rudder and elevators

Friday, 19th April, 2019

With the completion of the various components of the rudder and elevators comes the painting stage: Two or three coats of grey acrylic automotive primer...
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Empennage fixtures and fittings

Friday, 19th April, 2019

Fabric work on the rudder and elevators concludes with the installation of the several metal fixtures and fittings: principally the trim tab horns and rudder...
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Rib stringing and taping

Wednesday, 17th April, 2019

After the disaster in November with the rudder and elevators it was not until March of this year that I psyched myself up for a...
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Failed fabric

Tuesday, 9th April, 2019

As has become customary of late, I abandoned my workshop over most of the winter, having ended 2018 on a new and especially morale-sapping low: ...
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'Printed' pilot's seat

Thursday, 20th December, 2018

Anyone who has read my book, ‘Spitfire in my Workshop’, will know that I made the pilot’s seat of my 1:5 scale MkI from sheet...
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Mustang in my Workshop

A book to inspire, encourage and empower the enthusiastic model maker to scratch build a masterpiece.