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Post by kiwi285 on Jun 14, 2019 21:41:09 GMT 12
Yes - perhaps not the best choice of words in the circumstances.
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Post by baz62 on Jun 15, 2019 15:10:45 GMT 12
Crunch time will be when we use the rams for the first time - maybe I will have a weeks holiday ! Well deserved I'd say! I think the doors originally had a rubber seal on the inner faces where they met on the centre-line. Maybe you could incorporate something like that?
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Post by tbf25o4 on Jun 16, 2019 9:33:42 GMT 12
Yep baz you correct in that each of the faces for the inner doors had a semi-round rubber strip the full length of the doors to seal the bombay
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Post by Mustang51 on Jun 16, 2019 14:25:39 GMT 12
That strip available virtually everywhere....unlike other Avenger parts.....
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Post by kiwi285 on Jun 17, 2019 11:25:21 GMT 12
Hi Baz - we are thinking about that but it will depend on the final gaps when we see what transpires with the early hydraulic tests.
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Post by kiwi285 on Jun 19, 2019 16:45:51 GMT 12
Well, glad to say that Colin got the measurements spot on and the doors fit really well (for amateurs anyway). Ian came down and had a look and breathed a sigh of relief and after a coffee went back home to start manufacturing the rams for the doors. I feel happier now that when we hook up the hydraulic rams and operate the doors we won't crush them or screw them up. Colin should be pleasantly surprised when he returns in the near future. I believe that Ian had also spent most of the weekend fitting the brake drums to the main wheels and they are ready for the boys to finish off. 190619 003 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190619 004 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190619 009 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190619 007 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190619 008 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 20, 2019 13:36:01 GMT 12
Superb!
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Post by kiwi285 on Jun 26, 2019 16:05:16 GMT 12
Still working away at finishing the doors now that we know they all fit properly. Most of the day was spent clearing out the hangar and re-arranging everything so as to fit some new items in out of the weather. Does anyone have a BER Oxygen Flow Indicator (Blinker) gauge. We need one for the Avenger and its one type we don't have in store. Oxygen Blinker gauge by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Mustang51 on Jun 27, 2019 10:14:37 GMT 12
You guys have done an incredible job with those doors. Simply magnificent.
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Post by kiwi285 on Jun 28, 2019 16:15:50 GMT 12
Colin arrived back in this morning after 8 weeks away and was impressed by the doors now that they are getting close to completion. We are covering in the area up the front of each door that was left as an inspection point should we need it. We have just about completed one of the doors ready for internal painting before we put the inner skin on to make a complete monocoque to stiffen the whole unit. Ian is in the process of making the rams and the interconnecting arms that operate the doors. He brought one in today and I just marvel at the work he has done on these arms and rams. Unfortunately he took them away before I could get a photo but he hopes to have them complete for next week. 260619 (2) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 260619 (1) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by kiwi285 on Jul 5, 2019 16:55:22 GMT 12
Dave has been busy in the rear compartment and is getting the equipment into place and it is looking smart. Des and I have started rib stitching the ailerons (break to build bomb bay doors) and will also attach the inspection rings on the elevators and rudder so that when Dave comes to paint them they should be ready to hang. IMG_20190705_112307 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr IMG_20190705_112336 A by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by agalbraith on Jul 6, 2019 19:53:02 GMT 12
Another great update Mike! Great to see you guys fitting all those unique items...very cool!
Always love the TBF updates, thank you
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Post by kiwi285 on Jul 8, 2019 15:15:57 GMT 12
So long as you aren't getting bored with it all.
Our second anniversary ticked over on Sunday 7 July, so we have made great progress. There are only about 5 people still working on it as most are now involved with the Vampire. This will change a bit when we get the exhaust parts and the prop.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 8, 2019 18:48:38 GMT 12
Definitely never boring, Mike!
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 8, 2019 19:22:46 GMT 12
Hear hear. Every time there's a new post I read it.
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Post by kiwi285 on Jul 10, 2019 19:42:20 GMT 12
Lance and Dave are still making, restoring and fitting items into the rear compartment. Des and I are rib stitching again as we never did the ailerons as I was involved with bomb doors. They should be finished on Friday and then we will forget all the skill again.
Talking of bomb doors, the weather was kind enough to allow Dave to get on with some priming so the inside of the doors are now all primed and we can get on with completing them by riveting on the inner skins, then we can put them aside. Whilst he was at it we moved the rudder out into the sun and it now has a coat of primer too. Alan is keen to hang this item so that they can complete the cable runs and get the rudder off the hangar floor.
Several people earlier on mentioned that a rubber seal item, suitable for sealing the bomb bay doors was available commercially - I presume this came from Para Rubber ?? Can anybody advise me of the source.
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Post by kiwi285 on Jul 12, 2019 15:12:53 GMT 12
After getting the rudder primed on Wednesday Alan and Dion were keen to get it attached. I wasn't involved but I did hear some unseemly language coming from the rear of the aircraft. The rudder is now in place and the rudder cables are attached as well although they will need tensioning later on. As soon as we can get some primer on the elevator halves and the ailerons they can be put in place so it will start to look like a complete aircraft again. 120719 004 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 120719 001 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 120719 009 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by kiwi285 on Jul 17, 2019 15:21:18 GMT 12
The rudder in now permanently attached and Alan and Dion are in the process of attaching the cables to the rudder pedals. Cal and I hung the first door and started drilling off the inner skins to strengthen the doors and stop the flexing. Talking to Bruce today, apart from the exhaust and the prop virtually all of the big jobs are complete now. Most of the team are now tied up with the Vampire and some other projects around the hangar. I managed to leave my camera at the Museum so I will post some photos tomorrow.
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Post by kiwi285 on Jul 19, 2019 15:15:58 GMT 12
When I arrived this morning I found the rudder all connected up and the starboard elevator half bolted up. I remembered that we had some trouble getting the elevator actuation arm to bolt up to the elevator halves and pivot around the single bolt on NZ2505. The boys are having the same problem now with 2539 and are having to relocate the pivot hole and re-drill it so as to get it working as it should. As I came away this afternoon they had to port elevator half temporarily bolted up and were marking out the elevator pivot hole. Next week should see this completed and finished ready for painting. Cal and I have completed the inner skinning of the port bomb door and we have hung it on the aircraft to get it out of the road. With the inner skin in place i think we could walk on it without doing it any mischief. We started work on the starboard door but need another skin section and have run out of material so this will have to wait now. Photos shows the team that built the doors - myself and Colin at the rear and Cal kneeling in front. I see that Ian has bolted up one of the door rams and is completing the second one but has gone down with a dose of the flu so is taking an enforced rest. They are talking about paint on the whole aircraft as soon as we can get a number of warm, dry days so she is progressing. 120719 009 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 120719 010 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190719 004 - Copy by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190719 003 - Copy by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190719 005 - Copy by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190719 009 - Copy by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jul 19, 2019 18:02:17 GMT 12
Great stuff, the whole aircraft is looking terrific!
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