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Post by agalbraith on Feb 26, 2018 13:49:22 GMT 12
Excellent project mate!! Great to see more cockpits being done over this part of the world. Maybe one day we will see some more of these interesting projects arrive on our shores. Seems like they have a big following in the UK.
Whatever happened to all the ex RNZAF Vampires that went off to the States when the RNZAF disposed of them? They must be kicking about somewhere if the pods havent rotted away yet???
Great thread Anthony
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Post by Venomnut on Nov 23, 2018 18:03:35 GMT 12
Venom cockpit update- At the end of October I removed the cockpit from the trailer after fabricating a rear support frame and fitting the nose leg etc. IMG_3576 by Jason Mills, on Flickr I've changed a couple of items for more accurate versions in the cockpit itself and managed to buy a correct clock (hiding behind the column) IMG_3421 by Jason Mills, on Flickr Next on the to-do list are wood repairs. So what's better than a Venom cockpit project?...…….. Two of course! IMG_3752 by Jason Mills, on Flickr So I've started on the mock up pod section to display my other panel/pedals/throttle quadrant and electrical panel in. I'm in the very early stages of lofting and checking screen assembly and armoured fillet(s) positions. It's handy having a genuine example to compare to. This may take a while.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2018 18:47:28 GMT 12
Fantastic Jason! Really neat stuff! Any chance you can bring the real cockpit to the WONZ Christmas Party?
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Post by Venomnut on Nov 23, 2018 18:59:46 GMT 12
Fantastic Jason! Really neat stuff! Any chance you can bring the real cockpit to the WONZ Christmas Party? Thanks Dave. I was initially considering leaving it on the trailer and although it's a little bit more difficult to transport now, I still prefer it off the trailer.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Nov 23, 2018 19:45:27 GMT 12
Impressed. Jealous...
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Post by ZacYates on Nov 24, 2018 21:43:37 GMT 12
Brilliant stuff Jason! I've been wondering how you've been getting on.
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Post by Venomnut on May 12, 2019 11:53:34 GMT 12
I've managed to get some more spares out of Switzerland. Included was a nose gear 'radius rod' (DH's terminology, it's actually a cast arm/link) which has now allowed me to cycle the nose gear using the hand pump. This isn't a planned feature of the project, rather an exercise to see it all work. There's a few non standard bolts in the assembly to replace when I find the correct items.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 12, 2019 15:14:50 GMT 12
That's cool Jason!
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Post by kiwi285 on May 13, 2019 15:24:29 GMT 12
Great stuff Jason. That will keep the punters interested fro ages just seeing how it all works.
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Post by mit on May 13, 2019 15:44:57 GMT 12
Hay Venomnut, nice work... You wouldn't happen to have a spare serviceable hydraulic brake differential unit you might be willing to part with?
Cheers
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Post by Venomnut on May 13, 2019 18:13:40 GMT 12
Hi mit,
not in my spares but I've got some more bits leaving Switzerland in a month, I'll check and see if he has one spare.
Cheers, Jason.
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Post by Venomnut on Apr 12, 2020 10:11:45 GMT 12
Venom cockpit update. In July last year i made the decision to disassemble and store the replica pod build and concentrate on the genuine article. Knowing the cockpit had some dodgy repairs including a lot of bog and patches covering damaged/missing structure, i did a full strip of the fabric and aluminium patches. IMG_7149 by Jason Mills, on Flickr Not knowing its exact identity and history, I’m surmising that this Venom probably left service while others were still in service and it was used as a parts ship. I have photos of other Swiss Venom pods that have been cannibalised for parts and deliberately vandalised by ground crews. I’ve been told it was at this time it was quite common for the ground crews to souvenir identity plates from them. The repairs had been quite rough and i assume they were carried out during it’s time with the Air Force pilot who had modified it as a flight simulator for his children. Some of the smaller holes had been stuffed with rag before being bogged and one of the aluminium patches was a storm warning weather sign! It was nice to confirm that the only remaining identity plate in the cockpit is correct, Pilatus S211. (difficult to read on the woodwork, but shows up clearly as a mirror image on the inside of the fabric) IMG_7053 by Jason Mills, on Flickr I started with the small holes which were straight forward repairs. IMG_7048 by Jason Mills, on Flickr IMG_7669 by Jason Mills, on Flickr R/H side small hole repair. IMG_7724 by Jason Mills, on Flickr On to the larger hole in the right side. I laminated strips of 1/16” birch ply into 4 ribs to give me a structure to attach the inner ply skin to. IMG_8019 by Jason Mills, on Flickr IMG_8021 by Jason Mills, on Flickr IMG_8066 by Jason Mills, on Flickr After tidying the edges of the inner skin, a dry fit of the ribs and first section of inner skin. IMG_8082 by Jason Mills, on Flickr I made the decision not to do scarf joints on the inner skins, rather a series of doublers concealed in the balsa core cavity. IMG_8100 by Jason Mills, on Flickr Balsa glued and shaped. IMG_8228 by Jason Mills, on Flickr I did scarf the outer skins, here is the rig i made for that. IMG_8244 by Jason Mills, on Flickr Outer skins almost complete bar some filling/sanding. Not entirely perfect but a huge improvement on an aluminium patch tacked on the outside. I also need to complete the outer doubler which transitions the thickness of the armoured fillet by feathering down on to the side of the pod. 4mm ply needed for that which I don't currently have. IMG_8267 by Jason Mills, on Flickr IMG_8269 by Jason Mills, on Flickr Some of the techniques and methods i started these repairs with were definitely changed and improved on in the process which will help when it comes to this......... IMG_8297 by Jason Mills, on Flickr The left side is next summer’s project! Thanks also to Alex from Ferrymead regarding glue recommendations. I hope everyone stays safe during lockdown. Cheers Jason.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 12, 2020 10:19:56 GMT 12
Wow. Superb repair work Jason.
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Post by agalbraith on Apr 12, 2020 10:54:23 GMT 12
Wonderful work and nice woodworking skills there! Keep up the great job, she's looking brilliant...on one side at least. After seeing what you can achieve, that left side will be very do-able for you!
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Post by tbf25o4 on Apr 12, 2020 10:58:50 GMT 12
Magnificent work! woodworking skills are a great benefit to have for this type of project. One can imagine the cabinet makers in the factory putting that forward fuselage section together, and the care and attention required to get it just right
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Post by baz62 on Apr 12, 2020 11:41:55 GMT 12
Great work! I think the Ferrymead Mosquito team can relate to your repairs!
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Post by curtiss on Apr 12, 2020 14:22:06 GMT 12
Nice work. I know where there are several ex RNZAF vampires that need similar attention if anyone has an interest.
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Post by shorty on Apr 12, 2020 22:49:49 GMT 12
Hay Venomnut, nice work... You wouldn't happen to have a spare serviceable hydraulic brake differential unit you might be willing to part with? Cheers You sure they are hydraulic? Vampire were pneumatic system controlled by a dual differential brake unit
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Post by Venomnut on Apr 13, 2020 4:53:29 GMT 12
The RAF Venoms were pneumatic but the Swiss changed theirs to hydraulic. It's still a differential brake system and the valve looks very similar to the pneumatic one. The Swiss brake system has an accumulator pressure of 100 to 175 kg/cm² but output to each wheel is restricted to maximum of 105 kg/cm². I believe ZK-SFR used a Venom hydraulic brake valve which gave some issues initially until they adjusted the output pressures. I think it had F-14? wheels, which seems to be a common mod but the Americans use toe brakes instead. Bruce Cooke might be able to confirm this?
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Post by mit on Apr 13, 2020 11:21:54 GMT 12
Hay Venomnut, nice work... You wouldn't happen to have a spare serviceable hydraulic brake differential unit you might be willing to part with? Cheers You sure they are hydraulic? Vampire were pneumatic system controlled by a dual differential brake unit Yes I am
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