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Post by isc on Mar 30, 2019 21:05:21 GMT 12
Keep the fire extinguishers handy. isc
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Post by kiwi285 on Apr 2, 2019 13:52:48 GMT 12
Can someone here confirm that the Mk 8 bomb shackles remained in the aircraft when the bombs were released. We can see where these hook up on the unpainted steel hooks in the photos above and we presume that there was some connection to the aircraft that opened the lugs on the shackle to release the bomb. (never presume too much though).
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Post by denysjones on Apr 2, 2019 16:00:01 GMT 12
Check your emails Mike I've sent some bedtime reading for you.
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Post by kiwi285 on Apr 3, 2019 16:45:02 GMT 12
I wasn't in on Friday and when I went in today I see that Colin and Cal have made some great progress on the first bomb bay door section. It is looking smart and I think they are doing a great job. Des and I finally got together again for the first time in a month and starting sorting everything out to start the rib stitching but got sidetracked making a work table to put our 'stuff' on so maybe on Friday. 030419 001 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 030419 005 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 030419 007 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 030419 003 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 3, 2019 17:29:53 GMT 12
Wow, fantastic progress!
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Post by agalbraith on Apr 4, 2019 6:34:44 GMT 12
Agree with Dave, and those Bomb bay doors cant be easy to fabricate with all those curves in them! Keep up the great work team
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Post by kiwi285 on Apr 5, 2019 14:07:01 GMT 12
Colin and Cal have started cutting out the panels for the next section of the doors and I see Cal marking and cutting blanks ready for formimg around their form block for the door ribs. The Avenger was towed outside again today so that Bruce and Bob could check the stops for the hydraulics rams on the wing fold mechanism. Des and I started rib stitching and it didn't take long to remember the techniques we were using before (not necessarily the approved method) but it works for us and does the required job. 050419 002 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 050419 004 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 050419 006 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 5, 2019 14:58:44 GMT 12
Wow it looks fantastic out in the sunlight!!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 5, 2019 15:00:50 GMT 12
I just had to do this to show the incredible contrast Day One: Now
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Post by baz62 on Apr 5, 2019 17:16:34 GMT 12
Yes what a contrast from the start! Seriously good job.
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Post by kiwi285 on Apr 17, 2019 17:16:02 GMT 12
The rudder is now ready for paint and Chris is turning up a spigot to mount it on and then it can be hung up. Colin has now departed for a well earned holiday in the Northern Hemisphere so I guess I will get to spend some time playing with bomb bay doors along with Cal. They have produced two 4 foot sections and I noticed that they were splitting them down the middle just before lunch. Colin wants us to add the hinge and then try and mount the section to see how it all fits. The cowls are progressing in fine style and Bruce and Bob are moving along with the cockpit fitout. 170419 001 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 170419 002 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by suthg on Apr 20, 2019 19:59:26 GMT 12
Keep it up guys, thanks for the photo story Mike!!
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Post by TS on Apr 20, 2019 20:11:42 GMT 12
Keep it up guys, thanks for the photo story Mike!! So true, if it wasn't for the volunteer's I think this airframe would have been a lost cause. WELL DONE EVERYONE involved. 👍👍
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Post by kiwi285 on Apr 25, 2019 16:05:38 GMT 12
I believe that if the aircraft had remained outside for much longer it would have been beyond redemption altogether. Really glad that we have been given the opportunity to breathe new life into the old girl.
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Post by kiwi285 on Apr 25, 2019 16:09:34 GMT 12
From yesterday here are a couple of photos of the two apprentices being given a chance to learn the rib stitching skills. Cal and Dave having a go. 240419 001 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 240419 002 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by kiwi285 on May 3, 2019 16:39:15 GMT 12
No photos this week as everything is ticking along and we are all working on jobs from last week. The cowl panels are getting close to completion and Des and I have finished rib stitching both elevator halves now so we only have the two ailerons to go and that job is over. Bruce has indicated that the hydraulics are just about complete in the cockpit so we need to get going and finish the bomb bay doors so that Ian can work out the arms and rams needed to make these as they should. Ian and Lance are still determined to get the manual winding mechanism working properly on the turret so that is taking up their time. Bob is working away on a set of brakes for the main wheels and has a series of used discs from the garage next door and they are sorting out a backing plate to mount the discs into the wheels. I think that the doors are really the last big job to complete on the aircraft and then it is down to all the small finishing jobs and hooking everything up.
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Post by kiwi285 on May 9, 2019 11:10:41 GMT 12
Having a look at the front of the aircraft yesterday I noted that the missing cowl panels are now almost completed and hung in place - great work Alan and Dion. And all of this without access to bending equipment of any sort. Guess what we want from Santa this year - a 4 foot guillotine and bender. Wally, after talking to numerous members of the general public about the state of 2539 when she arrived here, decided that he should do something visual so has printed off some of the earliest photos, laminated them and put them onto a display board so that people can see the progress made to date. Ian and Lance were busy again working on the turret mechanism to get it working the way we had envisioned. Des and I have finished rib stitching the elevator halves and only have the ailerons to go. Once we get another coat of dope on them they can be hung on the aircraft. Cal and I spent some time yesterday figuring out the way forward for the bomb bay doors. We have found a metal working company just around the corner who have the equipment to cut and bend up 8 foot lengths of ali to form the U shaped beams that form the major part of the structure, so that is our task for tomorrow. This should ensure a straight section without all of the hassle we have had doing it in 4 foot sections. Time will tell. 080519 003 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 080519 002 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 080519 006 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 080519 007 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 9, 2019 12:19:40 GMT 12
Those cowls look fantastic!!
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Post by ZacYates on May 10, 2019 11:09:09 GMT 12
She looks fantastic, bravo boys!
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Post by kiwi285 on May 11, 2019 19:35:42 GMT 12
Ian and Lance were working their magic on the turret again and now have it operating as it should via the hand crank. They are getting ready to put the cupola on for good so have been bolting everything down and putting the final items into place. I think it looks really great. Des and I have assembled each elevator half with its trim tab and control rod shroud - so apart from another coat of dope they are ready for painting and attaching. We have had the ali cut and bent to shape for the main structural members for the final section of the bomb bay doors so we will make a start on that next week. Having a look round we have actually finished most of the main jobs on 2539 and are really awaiting a prop and exhaust sections so that we can start up the engine. Other than that it is all small fiddly little jobs now and making some more of the fittings for the rear compartment. As a consequence of that, some of the team have made a start on pulling the Vampire, NZ5751, out of the hangar and started cleaning it. I understand that Dave is going to open a new thread for this and I will start posting photos on there as we progress. 100519 3 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 100519 4 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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