|
Post by emron on Mar 21, 2024 17:08:15 GMT 12
Here’s an update for curtiss and for the quarter-millionth viewer too. Not quite finished but the fabrication’s over and just the final assembly, adjustments and trimming to be done. backplate_4 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Mar 8, 2024 18:30:02 GMT 12
A start was made on degreasing and re-painting the crankcase for the Generating and Pumping Unit on Wednesday, while the accessories are off to get the same treatment on the bench. Pleasing progress has also been made during the week on the build of the replica backplate. backplate_3 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Mar 5, 2024 18:06:18 GMT 12
On Sunday, I did the mini stocktake of marine equipment in the Solent and found the flag mast, boat hook and two drogues aboard. I noticed both the drogues needed repairs like the Sunderland ones did, with some ropes frayed or cut off, so I brought them back to the workshop to mend. Meanwhile moving ahead with the replica gun mount, the two sights are ready. gun_sights_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The major parts of the backplate are now cut out and next up to shape, trim and final assembly. backplate_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 28, 2024 19:59:17 GMT 12
Richard’s Utility Plane is in storage at present but will soon take centre-stage in the new Science and Technology Centre opening at MOTAT’s Western Springs site in late May. Back to the topic of flying boat bilging, we’ll have to consider what similar equipment should also be fitted to the Solent. Next time I might take a trip aboard AMO and check out what other marine equipment in common is required there too. We now have two overhauled hand pumps: bilge_pumps by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Here’s the number plate from one. number_plate by Ron Wilson, on Flickr This Generating and Pumping Unit is missing parts and just loosely assembled to check for shortages. What we have of it will next be cleaned and painted and can be displayed in the Sunderland's Bomb Compartment, where the other bilging equipment is stowed. ABC_GPU by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The Solent used a different type of Auxiliary Generating Plant, the ALCO Featherweight made by Arthur Lyon & Co., powered by a 1.25hp re-badged J.A.P. model 3 single-cylinder petrol engine. I think MOTAT is still to find one of those.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 24, 2024 12:30:34 GMT 12
My how time flies and also how some things seem to remain the same. Here’s a link to a November 1964 photo of some previous major roadworks in Meola Rd. kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/162154This was taken before MOTAT first occupied its Meola Rd site on the southern side, which began following the arrival of the Solent in May 1966. Coincidently MOTAT’s Western Springs site opened to the public for the first time on 14 October 1964. A modern-day scene of the same stretch of road nearly 60 years later. meola_rd_2024 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 18, 2024 16:19:07 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 15, 2024 11:30:41 GMT 12
The theme of MOTAT’s Live Day on this coming Sunday, Feb 18, is “Emergency First Response.” Taking pride of place on the day will be Sikorsky helicopter ZK-ISJ. It will be the first opportunity for visitors to see “Juliet” since she arrived and likely the only chance for a public view in the short term.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 14, 2024 21:08:53 GMT 12
NZ2504 and NZ2527 were retired by June 1959 if that helps to pinpoint the date.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 11, 2024 17:00:55 GMT 12
Here’s the refurbished hand operated bilge pump for the Sunderland, to be stowed in the bomb compartment. Just like the one fondly remembered by Robin Klitscher in his account of the near sinking of NZ4113 at Hobsonville in October 1959. bilge_pump by Ron Wilson, on Flickr On the left are the four replica illuminated gun sights MkIIIA, that Andy from our tramway workshop has skilfully produced for the Sunderland. They just need to be finished with reflector glasses and daylight hoods. The top two are each mounted on their bearer arm and ready to be fitted back on the beam guns. The lower two will equip the front and rear turrets. Alongside, for comparison, are two genuine sights, the upper from the Hudson turret and the lower from the Lancaster’s mid-upper turret. gun_sights by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
MOTAT
Feb 9, 2024 21:34:38 GMT 12
Post by emron on Feb 9, 2024 21:34:38 GMT 12
The fittings are inserts that have been removed from the bracing tubes of one the Sunderland’s wing spars. The cut-out window looks to be for one of the recognition light positions outboard of the bomb trolley track.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 7, 2024 17:24:00 GMT 12
Here are the sea-drogues now fully rigged before they were returned to their bins on either side of the galley. sea_drogues by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The floorboards and safety lines are back in place in the bomb compartment. Next up here is to re-fit the watertight doors, manual bilge pump and hoses.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Feb 4, 2024 17:04:39 GMT 12
The hook that I used to complete the second safety line last week was “borrowed” from a spare sea drogue that was in the store. Later, feeling guilty that I may have robbed Peter to pay Paul, I checked out the condition of the two drogues stowed in the galley aboard the Sunderland. Neither of them had a hook attached and both appeared to be missing a length a rope and shackle to connect to the mounting eye in the galley. However, packed in the bin with each drogue was a separate piece of rope with eyes spliced to each end and small spring clips bound on. They looked more like sections of rope barrier to me.
After more than a little browsing on-line and poring over Sunderland compartment diagrams, I eventually found the answers to the puzzle. This morning, I brought both drogues back to the workshop and laid them out on the floor. A couple of weeks ago when first looking for the safety line hook, I found some others that were permanently attached to wire ropes. Next, I went and got those cables from the store. They turned out to be about 6 feet long and with a shackle on the other end, just right to link the drogue to the airframe fitting. The best two are now joined to the drogues. The second drogue was also missing the tripping line which is used to collapse and retrieve the drogue after use. I remembered seeing a spare swivel and short cord on the spares shelf. That was soon attached, and extra cord tied on. Both drogues are now complete. I’ll return them to the Sunderland next time and maybe take a photo of one hanging out the hatch as a demo. The best of the spare ones has been reserved and that will be stowed in its position in the bow compartment when that’s ready.
As for the extra ropes, I discovered they are the safety lines that run down either side of the walkway through the bomb compartment. We’ll mount them back once Mike’s fitted all the newly painted floorboards there. That’s just some of this week’s gaps filled and mysteries solved.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 30, 2024 12:15:59 GMT 12
Last Wednesday I discovered the location for a length of rope that had been carefully bagged up and was amongst the Sunderland spares. It’s one of two that are mounted on either side of the starboard beam gun hatch. I’m guessing their purpose is to be as a safety rope and they could be strung up across the open ends of the gunners’ platform, when it was in use, to prevent a fall. The tattered remains of the other rope were still hanging down alongside the rear door, but cut in half and missing the hook. I found another hook and some suitably distressed rope and on Sunday fashioned a replacement, the one on the right. It turned out to be synthetic and too badly weathered to last, but it will do until we get a decent length of manilla. Both ropes are now back in place. safety_ropes by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The gun mount bracing assembly and handgrips are now finished, and I’ve turned my attention back to completing the backplate. gun_mount_parts by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 26, 2024 17:37:31 GMT 12
I spent most of my time on Wednesday assembling the replica beam mount and gun so didn’t get to finish off the panels, I’ll look at them again on Sunday. We used the best of the genuine parts that we had to complete the port gun mount so there’s only a few left over for the replica starboard one. Here’s the front bracing assembly that stiffens up the mount frame and prevents it from spreading when the gun is fired. The second bracket was broken and only half remained so I’ve made a new end that can be riveted on as a temporary fix. front_brace by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Likewise, the handgrips, shown here before they are trimmed and shaped, are of wood until we can make others from more durable material. handgrips by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The backplate for the mount has been the hardest part to reproduce and here its current stage of progress. It's topped off with one of the great gunsights that Andy from our tramway workshop has made, one of four for the Sunderland. backplate by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 21, 2024 17:47:52 GMT 12
First Sunday back for the workshop team and we were admiring the reflective rescue signs on helicopter ISJ, that were refreshed over the break. isj_rescue by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Peter returned to where he left off, to work on the instruments and electrics. Most of the gaps in the main panel are now filled. isj_panel by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Taillights lit up and raring to go. isj_tail_lights by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Looking for any excuse to get into the air-conditioned display hall, I sortied down to the Sunderland to finalise the measurements of the three panels that cover the rear bulkhead forward of the rear turret. Between water breaks, back in the workshop I got them cut out and trimmed and made a replacement for a small missing bracket to support them. Next time, I’ll trace out the screw holes and they’ll be ready to fit.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 17, 2024 14:49:54 GMT 12
Date: [ca 5 April 1951] Ref: 114/274/07-G "Man holding a portion of the propeller of the plane of Guy Menzies, first aviator to fly across the Tasman Sea, photographed circa 5 April 1951 by an Evening Post photographer." National Library Collection Actually Menzies was of course the first to fly solo across the Tasman Sea. I wonder if this artifact is in a museum now? The prop is in the Te Papa collection, their Acc. No. GH010354. This photo is likely taken at the Dominion Museum when it was gifted to them by Guy Menzies’ widow.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 16, 2024 11:35:05 GMT 12
I stopped by at the workshop yesterday and checked in with Steve. The year’s got off to a good start and here’s a snippet of what he’s been doing while the rest of the team are away, including the DC-3 ailerons with new paint. I’ll post more once we return to work and the others have a chance of a first look too. dc3_ailerons by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 11, 2024 16:24:46 GMT 12
Please pardon if you have a sense of deja vu but here’s a New Year’s treat for the Sunderland, the new-build starboard beam gun mount mid-way through production. stbd_beam_mount by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 5, 2024 11:57:03 GMT 12
Greymouth Evening Star, 19 August 1947. Advertisement.
AN APOLOGY from PETER THE PILOT
Dear Boys and Girls:- I am extremely sorry to say that even though I had an extra large supply of Albums for you this year the requests have been so many that there is now not enough to go round. However the marvellous set of 37 coloured picture cards is still worth collecting and perhaps you could paste them in a book of your own. There are three cards in every packet of Delicious Diamond O-TIS. So tell Mother to keep on buying O-TIS for breakfast. It is really corker and made from the finest grain that grows.
With best wishes to you all, Your friend - Peter the Pilot C/o Timaru Milling Co. Ltd., TIMARU.
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jan 5, 2024 11:01:25 GMT 12
BTW this wasn’t the first visit by a US warship named Brooklyn. Nearly forty years earlier a predecessor, armoured cruiser USS Brooklyn (ACR-3), built 1896, made a call.
Brooklyn, at the time flagship of the Asiatic Squadron based in Manila, had been to Melbourne for the Federation Celebrations in May 1901, during which the first Parliament of the newly founded Commonwealth of Australia was opened by the Duke of Cornwall and York (later King George V). Afterwards, Brooklyn under command of Rear-Admiral George C. Remey, sailed for NZ arriving Auckland 26 May. The cruiser remained in port until 1 June when it sailed for Wellington arriving there on the 3rd. The Wellington visit lasted until 10 June when the cruiser departed for Manila, sailing via Sydney for refueling.
Brooklyn (ACR-3) was a Spanish-American War veteran that had taken part in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba in July 1898. She continued on active service until after World War I and was de-commissioned in 1921.
|
|