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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 20, 2016 17:45:02 GMT 12
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Post by planewriting on Oct 20, 2016 20:20:33 GMT 12
Herein lies the tale. We at Classic Flyers understood NZ2505 did not carry any nose art but thought we should acknowledge the many RNZAF Avengers that did. I was asked to research the various nose arts used and to make some recommendations. Several, including NZ2505 (when at GAPS), had worn "Plonky" so that was discarded. My attention was drawn to the one chosen as it is not actually known yet on which Avenger it appeared. The restoration team agreed with my suggestion and Marty Cantlon produced the decals. As you can imagine I was quite relieved to see Dave Homewood's face light up when I took him along to the restoration hangar to show him. Since then the prepping and painting has been going on apace and this week the roundel areas have been masked ready for application. In the meantime I am piecing together its chronological history for a display board and acknowledge the considerable help given by David Duxbury. Behind those grey doors in the background of the fourth photo is Classic Flyers Archives section, which includes a lending library of 4500 aviation books available for loan to Museum volunteers.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 20, 2016 21:28:35 GMT 12
I have always loved the flying kiwi artwork, which is why my colourised version has been my avatar for several years here. I even suggested to Brendon Deere when we were sorting out the painting details for his Avenger (as I retained all the noted fromthe first time we painted it as Plonky) that maybe the flying kiwi would look better but he was set on returning it to Plonky colours and I agreed that was the right thing to do. So it's great that we now have both. I hope someday we'll see Plonky and the flying kiwi together again on the airfield side by side.
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Post by htbrst on Oct 21, 2016 7:19:48 GMT 12
I have always loved the flying kiwi artwork, Me too - are the decals hideously expensive to make? They would make a cool piece of wall art if they could be stuck to a wall instead of an aircraft  |
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Post by planewriting on Oct 21, 2016 7:31:49 GMT 12
All going well Dave it is planned to have NZ2505 on display at our next Air Show planned for 21 January 2017. Although not airworthy, the engine works, the wings fold and unfold as do the bomb doors. Wouldn't it be nice to see her strut her stuff that day and do a stroll down the flight line in an authentic scheme and better still have a return visit of Brendon's one! To see them taxi along, line astern, would be a sight not seen in New Zealand since the 1950s.
Watch this space for more details on the show.
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Post by rayo on Oct 21, 2016 16:54:21 GMT 12
A couple of the chaps at the fantastic Classic Flyers Museum suggested we need a one-stop thread for all the updates like other top museums have, so here it is. I'll kick off with this nose art I photographed on the Grumman Avenger a few weeks back, so cool to see it on the TBF. Naturally I would whole heartedly support such a move  rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/17968/gisborne-aviation-preservation?page=3
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Post by rayo on Oct 21, 2016 18:05:35 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 21, 2016 19:49:20 GMT 12
Yes that would be fine Ray, linking them all to here.
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Post by kiwi285 on Oct 23, 2016 17:17:26 GMT 12
I am one of the happy team and although I am biased I think we have made great strides for just over 2 years of work. 90% of us have never worked on aircraft before and it was one on the items on my bucket list so I am as happy as hell. Here is a photo I took the other day when we were moving it back into its corner of the restoration hangar.  To see the old girl strut her stuff in unison with Brendon's would be an amazing sight indeed.  |
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Post by rayo on Oct 24, 2016 13:59:15 GMT 12
Yes that would be fine Ray, linking them all to here. Cheers Dave - I have added them as an edit to my previous post! |
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Post by baz62 on Oct 24, 2016 14:54:31 GMT 12
She looks first rate. The exhaust outlets look quite strange compared with the usual outlet (as seen here on NZ2504.) I wonder if they are original they were modified so they didn't disrupt the airflow round the bomb bay for the fertiliser trials? NZ2505 was used for those too wasn't she? Seeing that artwork on NZ2505 I'd love to see NZ2504 back in her correct serial number and her Popeye nose art.  |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 24, 2016 16:56:48 GMT 12
Apparently NZ2505 was never involved in the topdressing trials Baz. The exhaust looks like some sort of extension, not sure why.
I'd like to see NZ2504 remain dressed as NZ2521, it pays tribute to an aircraft and crew lost in battle, one of whom was from Cambridge.
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Post by rayo on Oct 24, 2016 18:42:31 GMT 12
She looks first rate. The exhaust outlets look quite strange compared with the usual outlet (as seen here on NZ2504.) I wonder if they are original they were modified so they didn't disrupt the airflow round the bomb bay for the fertiliser trials? NZ2505 was used for those too wasn't she? Well Spotted Baz62 these Guys are masters of improvisation. I noticed this on one of my earlier photo visits. On a completely unrelated topic a little birdy told me there are a number of "Old" Fire Extinguishers missing from the disposal area as well!!!
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Post by kiwi285 on Oct 24, 2016 19:59:58 GMT 12
Yes Rayo - that was the source of the round sections required to rebuild most of the exhaust system. It does take ingenuity but we have got a great brains trust available to us. We are currently filling up the turret, the guts of which was completely missing and that has taken some doing. We are also building a bomb trolley complete with 3 500 lb dummy bombs to display with the aircraft. Two will be hung in the bombay and one on the trolley. It keeps us on our toes and the brain working.
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Post by TS on Oct 25, 2016 21:58:33 GMT 12
All I can say is bloody well done guys. She looks great. I hope the hell she never goes back to GAPS. Sorry..... but I fear she will end up covered in Bird Shit if she does.....
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Post by planewriting on Oct 25, 2016 22:03:34 GMT 12
Rayo - No NZ2505 was never used in the topdressing trials. From what I understand, thanks to Dave Duxbury, she last flew on 22 February 1946 or if not, very soon after.
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Post by kiwi285 on Oct 26, 2016 18:27:49 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Oct 26, 2016 21:03:28 GMT 12
You could ask the Air Force Museum. We had one we used to mount a large wooden mockup practice bomb in NZ2504's bomb bay. Don't think it's there now. It was very heavy and we found it useful to help keep the tail down during engine runs! |
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Post by baz62 on Oct 27, 2016 20:59:06 GMT 12
had a look in one of my old albums and found these shots of the bomb shackle and the wooden "bomb" installed in '04's bomb bay. The shackle:  In the bomb bay:  And a couple of bonus photos. (Sorry for the poor quality, very cheap camera and these were photos taken using my phone.) Port oil cooler:  I've been trying to upload a photo of the cockpit but the upload to photobucket keeps failing. I'll try again tomorrow. EDIT: Finally worked!  |
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Post by saratoga on Oct 28, 2016 17:28:29 GMT 12
I have passed this request on to a contact who used to have a stack of these racks,hopefully that will produce a few.
There is actually one on TM at the moment,http://www.trademe.co.nz/antiques-collectables/militaria/wwii-earlier/auction-1190850910.htm,
These racks were used up to the 500lb bombs,there is another larger rack that was strangely only good for up to 100lb.
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