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Post by Mustang51 on Apr 11, 2021 0:32:02 GMT 12
Bloody sensational !!!
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Post by tbf2504 on Apr 11, 2021 8:53:39 GMT 12
What a great selection of excellent pics Dave. Amazing to see how much progress has been made on these two historically significant aircraft. I was interested in the cockpit shots of the Mossie and the very pistol cartridges. In 1973 when I was at Wigram on a course I heard that John didn't have any cartridges, so I got some fired ones from the Air Traffic Controllers and the "cracker stackers" and during some leave paid John a visit. The empty cartridges were my entry fee for a look over his collection and the chance to sit in the mossie cockpit. A most memorable day. I wonder if those are the same cartridges?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2021 12:30:54 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2021 12:39:52 GMT 12
One of the real highlights of the trip to Omaka was attending the "Gloria Lyons" Easter barbecue hosted by John Saunders and Mike Nicholls in John's hangar. With the amazing ex-RNZAF Curtiss P-40N Warhawk "Gloria Lyons" almost completed after reassembly, the opportunity was taken by John and Mike to gather all those who'd been involved in the project, plus the Smith family who own the aircraft, and guests like myself, to mark the occasion. John made a brief speech thanking all those who contributed to the project, and people were welcome to hop up into the aircraft. Even 90 year old George Smith, brother of the late John Smith who'd rescued and preserved the aircraft, managed to get in too. Brilliant stuff, thanks John and Mike! P1210515 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210516 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210518 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210519 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210521 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210522 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210524 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr George Smith P1210526 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210527 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210530 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210531 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210532 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2021 12:44:08 GMT 12
George Smith got up into Gloria's cockpit - a very special moment for all who were there. P1210533 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210535 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210538 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210542 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210545 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210547 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210550 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210553 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210554 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210567 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210570 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210573 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210577 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2021 12:48:36 GMT 12
P1210581 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210583 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210584 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210585 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210586 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210587 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210588 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210589 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210591 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr Four generations of the Smith family P1210594 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210597 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr P1210598 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr Laurie Gudsell and his girlfriend Gloria, with Gloria P1210600 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
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Post by markrogers on Apr 11, 2021 13:39:18 GMT 12
Brilliant photos! Thanks DH!
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Post by planecrazy on Apr 11, 2021 14:29:56 GMT 12
Great photos Dave, tell a real story, must be amazing to see her in real life!
A question on Gloria Lyons, in RNZAF service most P40Ns were painted all green?
The blotches on the wings trailing and leading edges are only visible as the top coat has worn out and the blotches have hence shown through? Am I correct in saying RNZAF P40s did not wear a scheme with these botches around the mainplane?
Thank you.......
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 11, 2021 15:10:43 GMT 12
The blotches were applied in the Curtiss factory, but it does seem that they were sprayed over with Olive Drab when the P-40's were assembled in New Zealand. I'm not 100% sure on that but the blotched don't appear to show up in the wartime photos of NZ3220 or any of the other P-40's we operated. However I did recently see a photo of an RNZAF P-40 with the blotches on the rudder, and I assume it was a recent replacement with a new spare part and was awaiting repainting.
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Post by curtiss on Apr 12, 2021 8:27:11 GMT 12
The paint applied in NZ has mostly worn away/peeled off the wing upper surfaces revealing the disruptive pattern applied by Curtiss.
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Post by planecrazy on Apr 12, 2021 9:12:13 GMT 12
Thank you folks, just love how the worn condition tells a story, would be great if a few more flying warbirds had worn operational style schemes.
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Apr 12, 2021 21:49:04 GMT 12
Thanks Dave for all the fantastic photos. Especially the detailed ones of NZ3220. These will come in very handy for detailing my model build.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 12, 2021 22:28:16 GMT 12
I hopes they might Glad to contribute a little information towards your awesome project.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 15, 2021 12:15:50 GMT 12
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Post by markrogers on Apr 15, 2021 12:51:06 GMT 12
Brilliant!!
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Post by planecrazy on Apr 15, 2021 16:21:27 GMT 12
Flabbergasted, those old girls just look great, well done to all concerned.
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Post by nzgrasshopper on Apr 15, 2021 23:19:29 GMT 12
Gloria is looking amazing. Well done and thank you to all that have made this possible.
I'm thinking, I need to work harder on creating an excuse to hop over the ditch in early September.
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Post by tbf2504 on Apr 16, 2021 9:00:30 GMT 12
The wooden sway boards on the bomb rack are interesting. Are these original items, which I haven't noticed before in like photos of bombed up P-40s
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Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 16, 2021 10:05:36 GMT 12
Not original but replicated to the drawings. Actual sway brace boards fell away with the bomb.
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Post by planecrazy on Apr 16, 2021 10:10:51 GMT 12
Also nice too see her with the drop tank fitted, don't see many current day warbirds with them.
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