|
Post by baz62 on Feb 19, 2020 15:41:38 GMT 12
Wow that is great to see and hear!! Reminds me of the good old days at Wigram running 04 eh Paul Harrison. It sounds like they have installed an inertia starter rather than the direct drive starter? I was watching another video showing the first start, lots of black smoke and flames so probably running a bit rich but I'm sure a few carb tweaks will fix that. Such an achievement to have two running TBFs.....only in New Zealand! Reminds me of this photo of 04. Now I have a sound track to go with the photo! mus7 by Barry Tod, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by skyhawkdon on Feb 19, 2020 18:28:40 GMT 12
Wow that is a super achievement! Well done team.
|
|
|
Post by agalbraith on Feb 19, 2020 20:59:15 GMT 12
Oh wow...well done team!
I said it before and I will say it again.
I never thought I would see the day NZ2539 would ever return to such great condition considering the state she was in, let alone run an engine
Amazing achievement, well done
|
|
|
Post by obiwan27 on Feb 20, 2020 7:48:50 GMT 12
Wow that is great to see and hear!! Reminds me of the good old days at Wigram running 04 eh Paul Harrison. It sounds like they have installed an inertia starter rather than the direct drive starter? I was watching another video showing the first start, lots of black smoke and flames so probably running a bit rich but I'm sure a few carb tweaks will fix that. Such an achievement to have two running TBFs.....only in New Zealand! Too right. 40+ years since NZ2504 came to life again. We were lucky to have enjoy the opportunity to see and hear her in action then, and for 2 or 3 years afterwards. Well done to the team in Tauranga for their achievement.
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 20, 2020 8:14:56 GMT 12
Another great milestone in the restoration of NZ2539! The sound of the "chaffcutter" Wright Cyclone noise is distinctly different to PW engines as we found with NZ2504. On our first engine run with 04 we went through 30 of the 40 gallons in the oil tank as the seals in various parts of the engine expanded back to their original size. After that around 1 gallon per 30 minute engine run. The challenge now (and obviously a pleasure) will be to run the engine on a regular basis.
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 20, 2020 8:18:15 GMT 12
An addendum to my last. Don't forget the tradition of whoever is firing up the avenger and manages to overprime and get flame bursts from the exhausts has to shout the first round. Cost me a few beers with 04
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Feb 20, 2020 8:45:40 GMT 12
After the first start the port undercarriage was black with burnt oil. I heard them say that not all cylinders were firing so yes we have some work to do on it and everyone is excited to get to this stage and now we can get on with the painting. They didn't want to start any more until we had run the engine.
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Feb 20, 2020 8:46:38 GMT 12
A big 'Thank You' too for all the encouragement and kind words.
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Feb 21, 2020 15:00:44 GMT 12
Three of the team were busy today going round checking all the fasteners on the engine to try and eliminate a small oil leak we have from the top of crankcase rear cover. 210220 by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by JW on Feb 24, 2020 14:35:05 GMT 12
Congratulations to all of the team on getting NZ2539 to where she is now.
|
|
|
Post by Mustang51 on Feb 24, 2020 19:18:53 GMT 12
What a BLOODY FANTASTIC achievement. Heartfelt praise to all involved. Just how about a pic of what was started on the farm and a still of it running to remember the remarkable progress !!!!!
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Feb 26, 2020 15:18:21 GMT 12
I am on the scrounge again. I have been asked to manufacture the two triangular doors that attach to the bottom of the centre section and cover the cutout that allows the outer panels to fold back. Ken has advised that this aircraft has never had these doors probably since being at Bennett Aviation. Unfortunately we don't have one that we can go and measure up. I need the measurements and some idea of what the internal structure looked like. I can vaguely remember what it looked like but I also need the position of the mount point for the wire that retracted the doors as they approached the flying position. I am currently going through my photos of 2505 to see what I can find. I remember we had two left hand doors and had to modify one for the right hand position but I didn't do that job. Anything that you think might help would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Feb 26, 2020 16:13:14 GMT 12
What a BLOODY FANTASTIC achievement. Heartfelt praise to all involved. Just how about a pic of what was started on the farm and a still of it running to remember the remarkable progress !!!!! Here are a couple of photos of how it looked the first time I saw it up at Riverhead on 30 June 2017. I looked at the rot, especially in the centre section, and thought that we were too late to save it. Never say never. Moving day 30 June 2017 (1) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr Moving day 30 June 2017 (34) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 190220 (14) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by Mustang51 on Feb 27, 2020 18:36:50 GMT 12
That second shot really tells it all................. bloody marvellous work !
|
|
|
Post by tbf25o4 on Feb 28, 2020 8:05:56 GMT 12
A question. is the photo above reversed? The reason for raising the question is that if you look at the photo of NZ2504 further up the page you will see that the battery cart is plugged into the starboard side, whereas the one above is plugged into the port side. I can't remember there being two battery cart plugs, one each side on 04
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 28, 2020 10:45:11 GMT 12
I am on the scrounge again. I have been asked to manufacture the two triangular doors that attach to the bottom of the centre section and cover the cutout that allows the outer panels to fold back. Ken has advised that this aircraft has never had these doors probably since being at Bennett Aviation. Unfortunately we don't have one that we can go and measure up. I need the measurements and some idea of what the internal structure looked like. I can vaguely remember what it looked like but I also need the position of the mount point for the wire that retracted the doors as they approached the flying position. I am currently going through my photos of 2505 to see what I can find. I remember we had two left hand doors and had to modify one for the right hand position but I didn't do that job. Anything that you think might help would be appreciated. Mike, I’ll take some measurements from 2527 on Sunday and scan the page from the parts list. The original doors are double skinned and the inner half was pressed to a complicated shape and then spot welded to the outer skin to provide the stiffness. You may not be able to duplicate that detail easily but the main thing is to make them rigid enough so that both sides of the triangle close up evenly in the cutout when the cable’s tight. Are the inner side of the hinges still attached to wing edges so you can tell their position and length ?
|
|
|
Post by baz62 on Feb 28, 2020 11:16:52 GMT 12
A question. is the photo above reversed? No you can tell by the prop blades. I'd say they have rigged up a separate connection. Perhaps the original plug isnt there and or wired up.
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Feb 29, 2020 9:43:09 GMT 12
I am on the scrounge again. I have been asked to manufacture the two triangular doors that attach to the bottom of the centre section and cover the cutout that allows the outer panels to fold back. Ken has advised that this aircraft has never had these doors probably since being at Bennett Aviation. Unfortunately we don't have one that we can go and measure up. I need the measurements and some idea of what the internal structure looked like. I can vaguely remember what it looked like but I also need the position of the mount point for the wire that retracted the doors as they approached the flying position. I am currently going through my photos of 2505 to see what I can find. I remember we had two left hand doors and had to modify one for the right hand position but I didn't do that job. Anything that you think might help would be appreciated. Mike, I’ll take some measurements from 2527 on Sunday and scan the page from the parts list. The original doors are double skinned and the inner half was pressed to a complicated shape and then spot welded to the outer skin to provide the stiffness. You may not be able to duplicate that detail easily but the main thing is to make them rigid enough so that both sides of the triangle close up evenly in the cutout when the cable’s tight. Are the inner side of the hinges still attached to wing edges so you can tell their position and length ? Yes the hinge pieces are still in place so we have a starting point there. You are a champion squire.
|
|
|
Post by kiwi285 on Mar 18, 2020 14:48:05 GMT 12
I'm having a change from the damn computer and have started making a couple of doors for the Avenger. Hell thats good. Ron Wilson sent me a drawing and some photos of their aircraft which has made the job so much easier. John is finishing off the undercoating of the aircraft and needed the port wing spread so Cal and I were in like hungry dogs and had a cardboard template cut out in about 20 minutes. As you will see from the photos we have cut out the outer skin and have mated this to the hinge that was thankfully still there. Big job will be cutting and shaping the inner stiffening skin and getting this into place to retain the slightly curved outer skin. Fridays head scratcher. 180320 (3) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 180320 (6) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 180320 (7) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 180320 (4) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr 180320 (5) by Mike Feisst, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by denysjones on Mar 27, 2020 9:41:47 GMT 12
Following on from the posts of Jan 20th regarding IFF plugs, sadly the lockdown has trapped a package in Parcelpost's TRG depot due to "delivery difficulties", tantalisingly close for the guys, with a full set of the plugs Dave needs to cable up the units. Ah well perhaps the month will go by quicker than we all think.
|
|