[ Duplex ]
[ Duplex ]
The plane sculpture is a 1.5x scale replica of a Mk Vc spitfire , fabricated in duplex stainless steel grade 1.4462 .
With a range of Merlin to Griffon engines and wing configurations , there were 24 marks in all with many sub-variants for specialist purposes – photographic reconnaissance , for example – and Mitchell designed an aircraft to serve in every theatre . Top speeds of over 440 miles ( 710 km ) per hour and ceilings of 40,000 feet ( 12,200 metres ) meant the Spitfire instilled confidence in its pilots , and brought new hope to the nation .
Challenging fabrication Due to the double curvature of the forms , cutting and manipulating plate with cold pressing procedures is extremely difficult , especially with plates over 20mm in thickness . As such , for the top 12m of the mast where the plates are at
The Design Team Architectural Design and Project Design Team Leader
their thickest , the fabricators are looking to shell sand cast the duplex in sections and weld them together to provide the top section of the mast where the forces are the greatest and the form is at its thinnest . The mast and plane sculpture will be prefabricated into transportable sections and assembled onsite . The plane will come in 4 pieces – 2 wings , fuselage and tail that will bolt together then be welded into place . The mast will be divided into prefabricated sections , and bolted internally and welded into position on site . This sculpture will then be lifted into position and fixed into place in a concrete plinth concealed within the base of the mast . The skin at the very
Nick Hancock Design Studio Structural / Civil / Marine and Drainage Design Alan Baxter Ltd . Specialised Metalwork + Fabrication M-Tec ( WEC Group ) Specialist Lighting and Electrical Design Specialist Fountain Design Specialist Wind Tunnel Testing Outline Specifications Mark VC Modelling Cost Planning
Steensen Varming Fountain Workshop RWDI RLB Airfix Quantem Consulting base of the mast is formed using 6mm duplex on ribs , which is a lot easier to shape allowing the transition of the mast to the roundel base to be created using double curved forms . The result is a seamless , elegant yet dynamic structure that captivates and inspires . The approximate weight of the total sculpture is 50 tonnes : plane sculpture 10 tonnes and vapour trail 40 tonnes . The Spitfire monument sculpture will be fabricated and delivered by specialist architectural metalwork fabricators - m-tec . uk . com – part of the WEC Group .
Fundraising for monument The ‘ Spitfire Fund ’, launched in 1940s wartime Britain , inspired thousands of people , schools , businesses , and clubs to raise the funds that created over 2,500 Spitfires for the war effort . Today the National Spitfire Project are calling on the national and indeed international community to once again come together and collectively raise the remaining £ 3m needed to build the ultimate tribute to this iconic aircraft . HM ’ s Government will generously match fund every donation made to make the monument a reality . For information on how to become involved please contact sarah . gray @ nationalspitfireproject . org
22 Stainless Steel World September 2024 www . stainless-steel-world . net