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Post by komata on Jun 5, 2017 10:31:09 GMT 12
While driving down Karewa Place, Te Rapa, Hamilton yesterday (4 June 2017), I happened upon a road-side electrical transformer box ('substation') carrying the image which appears below. I thought it might be of interest. It is certainly not the usual subject that one would find on a road-side. The painting appears to depict TBM-3 NZ2504 in 'Target tug' configuration flying over Base Te Rapa, and may be based-upon an image which has appeared in various aviation publications over the past few years. No doubt some of the membership will have it in their collections. Not having a copy of said image readily to hand, I cannot vouch for its accuracy. I have no idea who the artist is, but because painting electrical tranformer boxes ('substations') seems to be a Hamilton City Council project to 'beautify' such structures, would guess that he is a 'contract' painter. On that basis, it is probable that this piece of art will have a short life. Trusting this is of interest.
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Post by davidd on Jun 5, 2017 11:07:49 GMT 12
Komata, That would be a TBF-1 rather than a TBM - The RNZAF was never offered, and never received any of the later General Motors-built TBMs. Nevertheless a quite passable imitation of one of our Avengers, and presumably also ditto of the Te Rapa stores depot. Dave D
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 5, 2017 12:54:25 GMT 12
Superb,it's nice to see at least a tiny bit of the RNZAF's 50 year presence at Te Rapa is acknowledged, finally. Thanks for posting this Komata.
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Post by baz62 on Jun 5, 2017 13:47:04 GMT 12
That's a great job! Looks to be a hybrid colour scheme as the rear fusleage yellow stripe and roundel changed places at one point. As painted the roundel and stripe were in her final colour scheme. The underwing serial did lack the NZ prefix on the previous similar scheme but would have been in place with the fusleage as painted. Minor points only and a great nod to Te Rapa's history.
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Post by baronbeeza on Jun 5, 2017 14:20:36 GMT 12
Disappointed.... I was hoping for some cheap trailer parts. What am I supposed to do with a transformer ?
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Post by komata on Jun 5, 2017 14:24:06 GMT 12
Transform? (er...) Well, you did ask...
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Post by thomarse on Jun 5, 2017 22:15:54 GMT 12
Was it NZ2504 who was the Te Rapa Gateway Guardian way back when I was a kid?
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Post by camtech on Jun 5, 2017 22:49:38 GMT 12
That's the one.
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Sarge
Flight Sergeant
ex Grocer and living Museum exhibit
Posts: 25
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Post by Sarge on Jun 27, 2017 16:05:19 GMT 12
Now part of the Air Force Museum collection in Christchurch
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Post by camtech on Jun 27, 2017 17:02:51 GMT 12
Cunningly disguised for a time as NZ2521
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Post by shorty on Jun 27, 2017 21:53:29 GMT 12
Was on my Inventory when I was a Te Rapa techie and the Inventory holder (Inv 44)
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