Guy Martin's Spitfire

[Dave48]

Guy is a likeable "personality" but isnt the most articulate presenter is he? There is only so much "enthusiasm" can make up for a lack of ability to get a complex subject across to a broad viewing public. Like many on here I guess its the technical & historical aspects that I am interested in but your typical average member of the viewing public isnt interested to this extent.
Programme planners must target the largest possible audience so this requires a general "dumbing down" of the subject to include the viewers with limited attention spans (Is this why they have to interrupt progs every 15 mins with mind numbing adverts?)

[Deefer666]

Sorry but I found the program dull

[BBROWN1664]

I started my working life as an aircraft engineer and have always had an interest in WW2 etc so tried to see the good bits of the programme. There weren't many to be honest apart from the fact they were building the first Spitfire since 1950 or whenever but they didn't mention that, it was always "rebuilding so and so's Mk1 spitfire he crashed"
Guy is not the greatest presenter and the amount of bits they actually let him loose with on the two or three occasions he turned up to Duxford in the two years of the project were limited to things he couldn't really get wrong.

[fazerscotty]

But surely the best bit - Series 5 versus the .50 cal  :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
In my dreams.....

[Punkstig]

Enjoyable to watch, but too much repetition, 1 hour 20 minute programme that probably boils down to under an hour without all that!

[locksmith]

But surely the best bit - Series 5 versus the .50 cal  :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
In my dreams.....

That was probably the most remarkable thing, didn't look too bad from the front but the exit holes behind!
Just imagine sitting in a Messerschmitt with that lot coming your way  :eek

[richfzs]

Not even the exit holes, (kinda expected that) but the way it had ripped the engine apart :eek

[YamFazFan]

Guy is a likeable "personality" but isnt the most articulate presenter is he? There is only so much "enthusiasm" can make up for a lack of ability to get a complex subject across to a broad viewing public. Like many on here I guess its the technical & historical aspects that I am interested in but your typical average member of the viewing public isnt interested to this extent.
Programme planners must target the largest possible audience so this requires a general "dumbing down" of the subject to include the viewers with limited attention spans (Is this why they have to interrupt progs every 15 mins with mind numbing adverts?)

I reckon Edd China from off 'Wheeler Dealers' would be good at this sort of programme.They have a pretty good balance of entertainment & technical stuff on there.At least he shows how to dismantle and recondition/replace stuff.But then I suppose Discovery & Quest are more niche channels.If it was on a more mainstream channel it would prob be more like 'For the love of cars' where nearly all the technical stuff got glossed over .

[Dave48]

[quote author=Dave48 link=topic=14948.msg170199#msg170199 date=1413444338]
Guy is a likeable "personality" but isnt the most articulate presenter is he? There is only so much "enthusiasm" can make up for a lack of ability to get a complex subject across to a broad viewing public. Like many on here I guess its the technical & historical aspects that I am interested in but your typical average member of the viewing public isnt interested to this extent.
Programme planners must target the largest possible audience so this requires a general "dumbing down" of the subject to include the viewers with limited attention spans (Is this why they have to interrupt progs every 15 mins with mind numbing adverts?)

I reckon Edd China from off 'Wheeler Dealers' would be good at this sort of programme.They have a pretty good balance of entertainment & technical stuff on there.At least he shows how to dismantle and recondition/replace stuff.But then I suppose Discovery & Quest are more niche channels.If it was on a more mainstream channel it would prob be more like 'For the love of cars' where nearly all the technical stuff got glossed over .


+ 1 for Ed China!  Hes a knowledgeable bloke who can explain stuff clearly without tripping over his words. Not saying Guy doesnt know what hes doing---he obviously does but its the way he tells it with all the repetition. Having said that Id dearly love to see him start up his own Merlin engine!! :lol
[/quote]

[BIG MAC]

As my father was a spitfire driver and I believe is in the log for the one hanging in Glasgow Art Gallery (LA198) https://www.flickr.com/photos/18496927@N00/4542272217 ... any spitfire that is saved should I think be returned to serviceable use. It's unthinkable to me that there are spits all over the World which aren't 'here'
To my mind an RAF squadron of spitfires would be every bit as big a draw as the red arrows and serve to remind us of 'The Few'

[fazerscotty]

[quote author=fazerscotty link=topic=14948.msg170293#msg170293 date=1413488982]
But surely the best bit - Series 5 versus the .50 cal  :rollin :rollin :rollin :rollin
In my dreams.....

That was probably the most remarkable thing, didn't look too bad from the front but the exit holes behind!
Just imagine sitting in a Messerschmitt with that lot coming your way  :eek
[/quote]

Problem was - the Messerschmitt had 20mm cannon. A tad bigger than the .50cal and they had that from the outset. Spits only had .50 cal after a few years. They were originally fitted with .303 calibre machine guns  :eek :eek :eek

[BIG MAC]

20mm cannon was ok if you hot the target and didn't empty your magazines too quickly. .50 calibre is about 13mm and has plenty enough energy to stitch drill an enemy aircraft. Cannon fire will demolish an engine  block whereas the lighter ammo may not be as effective however 'Time on the button' is increased weight for weight in the number of rounds available. Spitfire pilots were taught to be economic with ammo. Then again the BF109 had fuel injection which gives a theoretical advantage in inverted flight...well it did until those fiendishly clever Tommies figured out carbs that work upside down.