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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 12, 2011 21:33:56 GMT 12
Those are great shots of NZ1077 Peter!
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Post by baz62 on Sept 13, 2011 14:34:00 GMT 12
And I recall when they were getting NZ1025 airworthy, NZ1077 helped by donating the engine driven fuel pump (or was it the hand operated wobble pump? Not sure but one of them!)to a good cause.
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 13, 2011 16:21:07 GMT 12
Yep, a few bits disappeared to other interests off 1077 over the years.
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 13, 2011 19:42:29 GMT 12
Next came the rest of the project. I offered it to the Fighter Pilots Museum at Wanaka. Ray Mulqueen actually popped around for a look and while he found the project interesting, admitted that it wasn't really something the museum would be pursuing. I then contacted John Mathewson of Ranfurly, original civilian owner of Harvard 1037. He purchased quite a few parts, including the centre section and I was left with the tube cockpit frame and some other stuff.
Some time down the track, the sheer horror of what I'd done hit me. How the hell did I ever arrive at that decision? It had been a huge mistake. What on earth was I thinking??? Fancy letting practical considerations get in the way of a dream??? Ohhhh Dear!!
To cut a painful story short, mercifully, John Mathewson took pity on me and agreed to sell me practically everything back again. He is another lovely bloke, I really enjoy talking with him about old planes and had the pleasure of visitng his Central Otago farm and strip when he still had 1037.
So with the exception of a couple of things, I nearly have everything I need back. Just that rudder John ! I'm hoping I can part that from him with a suitable part swap in the fairly near future.
So my bacon was saved and I learned a very very valuable lesson. Never let something go you've fought so hard to acquire, without thinking about it for a very long time first!
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 13, 2011 19:53:56 GMT 12
Roll on 1996 and as a family, we decided after all this shifting around the country it was time to find somewhere to put down some real roots. I thought it would be nice to get something near Ashburton, build a shed to park the toys in, and come back to a bit later in life. We could carry on moving where the career took us, but we would at least have a base. We went to my mum and dads for lunch one Sunday and got out the paper and had a look at what was around. There was a place called Stamford Lane with six lots of about 1 hectare available. We werent sure where it was exactly, but on the obligatory Sunday drive we discovered it, just 3 ks from town and right across the road from the Ashburton Airport. We stood on one of the lots and admired the uninterrupted views across the airports ample vectors. The development had only gone on the market four days earlier, so we werent in a strong position to haggle, but we rang the agent whose number was on the sign and said, "put our name on lot so and so." "Aeroview" was born !
Now we were able to think about getting a building up, and there would be room to house the Harvard and certain other things I'd collected over the years. Like pre-1960's vintage Fire Engines, Phonographs, Cinema projectors and Broadcast Studio equipment.
Finally, there was alight at the end of the tunnel, and fortunately it wasn't a train coming towards me !
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 13, 2011 21:16:08 GMT 12
Wellingtons front-line 1950's fire brigade history lives in my shed and shares space with the Harvard these days. The Dennis Rolls Royce F8 on the left is ours, the Dennis ladder on the right belongs to a mate and I pretend I own it. The F8 was a yucky orange mess when I got it. It had been stored for yonks in a coal shed. I took it right back and redid practically all the chrome. But again, . . . I digress.
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Post by kb on Sept 13, 2011 21:41:30 GMT 12
Now we were able to think about getting a building up, and there would be room to house the Harvard and certain other things I'd collected over the years. Like pre-1960's vintage Fire Engines, Phonographs, Cinema projectors and Broadcast Studio equipment. I love this type of thread. Great fun Aeromedia. How many of us are collectors? I have a huge library covering mainly aviation history, general/military history, NZ history, trams, ships, trains, lighthouses and more, thousands of slides/negatives of aircraft and family and trips, enough kits to make Dave's eyes boggle and numerous other bits and pieces. If it wasn't for work, rugby and cricket I could put a bit of decent time into them.
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Post by Andy Wright on Sept 13, 2011 21:43:36 GMT 12
Very impressive, mate. Magic machines.
Andy (owner of three Bedfords and an Albion) ;D
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Post by harvard1041 on Sept 13, 2011 21:51:08 GMT 12
Great stuff Peter - power to you...there aren't many of us Harvard nuts out there... Next time I'm back home - we must get together and come get these bits set aside for you. Cheers Hvd1041
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 13, 2011 22:06:07 GMT 12
I like the way that for added realistic atmosphere you have set some building on fire behind your two fire engines!
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zaphod
Flying Officer
Posts: 58
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Post by zaphod on Sept 13, 2011 22:33:12 GMT 12
Very enjoyable thread! I share the broad range of interests having some money tied up in a 1968 Leyland truck, as well as working on a large collection of preserved buses when I have the time. Having just brought my first house I am starting to consolidate my car bits as well and my container in Wellington is nearly empty now. Only the rolling body remains to be towed up with an A frame - luckily 100E Anglia's don't weight too much! It was good to get a house with a large garage and basement, though it is filling fast. Faster than the inside of the house that is still undergoing renovations after finding the textured walls contained asbestos. Too many late nights listening to Jase and Dunc while trying to finish the sanding and painting!
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Post by Tony on Sept 14, 2011 1:05:25 GMT 12
I like the way that for added realistic atmosphere you have set some building on fire behind your two fire engines! ;D ;D ;D 500gpm Godiva pump?
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Post by hairy on Sept 14, 2011 1:26:47 GMT 12
How many of us are collectors? I thought this question deserved it's own thread so I started one..................http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Airshows&action=display&thread=14174&page=1
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 14, 2011 15:50:19 GMT 12
Next time I'm back home - we must get together and come get these bits set aside for you.
Cheers Hvd1041
Thanks John, I made a start after Classic Fighters. The wingtips are already at my place and the other items will ALL be warmly welcomed for the project. Looking forward to that BBQ, yarn and a few quiets in November! I'll bring the sausages, beer and the trailer !
Also pleased this thread had prompted a spin-off. Good one !
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2011 16:35:05 GMT 12
So Peter, am I up to speed right - so far in the story you are now minus the wings you had but you got all the rest back?
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 14, 2011 17:53:55 GMT 12
Yep, no wings but that's in hand. I'm really only down one rudder from my original position.
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Post by aeromedia on Sept 14, 2011 20:17:10 GMT 12
Too many late nights listening to Jase and Dunc while trying to finish the sanding and painting!
The Jase you refer to is my son on The Rock network. Small world huh?
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zaphod
Flying Officer
Posts: 58
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Post by zaphod on Sept 14, 2011 22:17:46 GMT 12
Yup, I had worked out that connection when he was talking about his dad's Friendship one day!
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hvd51
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 6
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Post by hvd51 on Sept 14, 2011 22:59:00 GMT 12
Hey Peter, great thread, most of all, never seen the first picture you posted of the fuselages on the train wagons!. I could go on for hours (as you know!) on harvards, but are enjoying this thread so far...keep up the work....
remember to get up here soon and releive me of some bits i still have cluttering up the mezzanine....
talk to you soon!,..
Lyndon (ex NZ1051)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 14, 2011 23:13:56 GMT 12
Welcome to the forum Lyndon. It would be nice to hear some stories of your own warbird restoration experiences.
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