Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Winner
Model Airplane News Cover Art for May, 1932
by Jo Kotula
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The Supermarine S.6B was a racing seaplane developed by Reginald Mitchell for the Supermarine company to take part in the Schneider Trophy competition of 1931. The S.6B marked the culmination of Mitchell's quest to "perfect the design of the racing seaplane" and was the last in the line of racing seaplanes developed by Supermarine.] The S.6B represented the cutting edge of aerodynamic technology and held the world land/sea speed record for a time. Mitchell's experience in designing the Schneider Trophy floatplanes greatly contributed to the development of the Spitfire.

  

     

Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Winner
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Since seaplanes had considerable military value, the Schneider Trophy seaplane race was of great interest to the maritime nations of the world. In the late 1920s, Great Britain had dominated the Scheider race. Despite these previous British victories, in 1930, the Air Ministry announced as an austerity measure the government would cease funding the development of racing seaplanes. A public subscription of several million pounds resulted and after pressure by Lucy, Lady Houston and several newspapers, the British Government belatedly agreed to support the Royal Air Force's entry to defend the trophy. This debate left only nine months to prepare, consequently designer Reginald Mitchell,was only able to update the plane that had won the trophy in 1929. A major improvement in performance was obtained when Rolls-Royce increased the power of the R-Type engine to 2,300 hp. What appears to be corrugation in the fuselage, wings and floats is actually an elaborate radiator system.

The similarities between the S6B and the Spitfire are quite clear

Here is a video of the Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Winner:

Click Here for more information about the Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Winner.

Cleveland got this kit into production in 1932 because the graceful shape of the S6B was a sensation. However, the kit was quite popular. The kit shown in the photographs actually dates from the 1950s! So, please don't try to assign a date to akit based on the copyright date on the plans.

     

Cleveland Model of the Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Winner.

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You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

The Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy Winner. at the Cleveland Site
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