MOTAT

[emron]

Here’s one for the Sunderland veterans. After a few more finishing touches it will be ready to fit onto the bearing arm by the port hatch. The second will not be far behind.
Little of this would have been achieved yet without the kind gift of the original gun mount parts from the John Smith collection, provided and delivered with the help of curtiss.

beam_gun_assembly by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Nothing but the best for the Sunderland. A touch of gold on the second kit-set receiver now primed and ready, for its assembly next time.

receiver_parts by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Having done some further reading earlier in the week about the Sunderland Generating and Pumping unit, on Wednesday, I went aboard, sat in the Engineer’s seat and shone a torch through the opening alongside into the starboard wing. I could see that the bilge pump pipework was still complete as was the 3-gallon fuel tank that’s mounted outside of the GPU’s fireproof compartment on the inboard wall. I’ll make a return visit later and check if the electrical cables to the generator and the pipework for the fueling are also intact. Back in the shop, I finished fitting the two blanking plates over the air compressor drives and then cleaned and painted some more of the loose parts. I pulled off the carburettor (Zenith model 24UH) as it had been broken at some time in the past. Here it is with the float bowl glued back on, along with a new pull-start handle and cord.

carb_and_handle by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Where were you on Feb-11 1992? It was a Tuesday. That’s when someone was busy removing all manner of small parts from the Sunderland cockpit and carefully putting them away in a labelled box. It came as a nice surprise to find the box again on Wednesday. It was at the end of a dark shelf in the shed across the yard, with lots of unrelated bits piled in on top in the meantime. So, the challenge now is to identify upwards of 30 various pouches, cardholders, backing plates, brackets, straps and more. So far, I recognise two and know their location, the pilot’s check list folder and the holder for the signal pistol cartridges, both in need of repair.

[Richard Wesley]

May 5, 2024 18:07:57 GMT 12 emron said:

Where were you on Feb-11 1992? It was a Tuesday. That’s when someone was busy removing all manner of small parts from the Sunderland cockpit and carefully putting them away in a labelled box. It came as a nice surprise to find the box again on Wednesday. It was at the end of a dark shelf in the shed across the yard, with lots of unrelated bits piled in on top in the meantime. So, the challenge now is to identify upwards of 30 various pouches, cardholders, backing plates, brackets, straps and more. So far, I recognise two and know their location, the pilot’s check list folder and the holder for the signal pistol cartridges, both in need of repair.

That's an interesting find, and certainly right when I was helping out during the week in the holidays. I think I would normally have been on the Lancaster in '92 but that was usually Wednesdays with the Bomber boys. Perhaps I was tidying around the workshop picking up and identifying bits and putting them in a boxes. I seem to remember Tom maybe being grumpy about someone removing bits at one stage from the Sunderland. Apart from the amazing work you did rebuilding the rear beaching trolly, we really didn't get to do much with the Sunderland in those times.

A guess around that time though I also remember well crawling around inside the wing putting lots of grease on the flap rams which had been left extended unfortunately and rusted up a bit. Opening up the wing leading edges and clearing out bird nests from the engines was another great day out high up on the Sunderland wing for a teenager. Not a lot of health and safety oversight back then.

[emron]

First out of the carton is the cartridge holder. It scrubbed up more than half decent.

cartridge_ holder by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

No, not more flowerpots, just the cooling cowls from the fan end of the dynamotor (generator) from the Sunderland’s GPU. The one on the right is a genuine one-piece spun steel type off our No. 1 unit. The replica on the left ready to paint after a successful test fit.

cooling_cowls by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[Dave Homewood]

I have seen some photos on Facebook of the MOTAT Aircraft Hall darkened, bathed in blue light and with projected images on the sides of the Solent and Sunderland.

Please, please tell me this is not an all day long thing? I hope they have not ruined the lighting like Wigram has?

[emron]

The brief audiovisual presentation honours the pioneering spirit of Kiwi aviators and you may have also read that it recently received an international award. The Solent and Sunderland fittingly serve as the split screen along with the floor, with sights and sound from multiple projectors and speakers. It presents hourly during opening times and is short enough to hold the attention of most visitors throughout, and there’s ample time between screenings to get a good view of the nearby exhibits. Of course the house lighting is dimmed in the theatre zone for maximum effect while the show is on. If you haven’t watched it yet it’s up and running seven days a week.
Don’t forget too that the Science and Technology Centre at M1 is opening soon, this coming weekend 25,26-May. So, there’s more than one good reason for the family to visit.

[Dave Homewood]

That is good, great in fact. Sounds like the same style as the Australian War memorial had, which was excellent.

Thank god it is not like Wigram where they turn the lights off every few minutes. Whoever came up with that idea needs to be fired.

[emron]

The side on view of the GPU after the generator cowl and the refuelling pump were fitted last week.

ABC_GPU_4 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

The bilge pump followed today. That now leaves just the exhaust system and the pump selector box as the major parts missing from this unit. Here’s a Sunderland eye view showing progress to date.

ABC_GPU_5 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Having progressed the GPU as far as I can for the time being, I’ve got back to finishing off the starboard beam gun mount. Here’s the last major part to be fabricated, the angle bracket now bolted on to the replica yoke. The pin is what swings between the forward and aft limit stops to restrict the arc of fire of the gun.

stbd_yoke by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Earlier, Mike had cleaned and re-assembled the four sonobuoys ready for display. When he tried one in the Sunderland’s bomb compartment it wouldn’t fit in the racks there. Reading further about this, I think the racks were designed to hold 4.5” reconnaissance flares which were longer and a smaller diameter than the sonobuoy. I’ve removed the clamps from all eight positions in the compartment, to be cleaned and painted where necessary. The four new arms at top right will be longer and just the right fit for the sonobuoys.

sonobuoy_clamps by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

The set of clamps are now mended and fitted. Here are the rear four adjusted to secure the sonobuoys in place.

sonobuoys by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Next up are the two straps that will secure the barrels of the beam guns when they are stowed in the vertical position.

[emron]

Time for a test fit of the replica beam guns. I hope you approve of my choice of colour for the barrel straps (temporary). Just over a year since curtiss gave the project a major boost by providing the port side mounting found in the John Smith collection. Probably sixty years since the genuine items were aboard and last fired in the flying boat.

beam_guns by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[Antonio]

Aweome  Awesome  Awesome

[Dave Homewood]

Superb, great work!

[camtech]

Great view of the sheer size and construction of the Sunderland. It's not until you get inside and start to clamber around that you realise that it is a mighty beast, and watch your knees and ankles - it can bite! I speak from experience in that boat.

[Deleted]

It's so wonderful, after having been absent for some time, to see such wonderful progress. Well done to all concerned!

[emron]

Tired of Sunderland updates and wondering what the rest of the workshop team is up to?
Well, let’s not disappoint.
Lodestar ZK-BVE has been missing out on love and attention for too long. Steve and the gang are putting that right, starting at the tail wheel and working forward. With superphosphate penetrating into every corner followed by water leaks over decades, it has rotted from the inside out and a big job ahead.
Here’s progress to date.

Rear bulkhead and tailplane centre section stripped back to basics.

lodestar_tail_4 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

lodestar_tail_3 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Tailwheel assembly overhauled, centre section ribs, lower bulkhead and frames manufactured.

lodestar_tail_1 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

lodestar_tail_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Skin repairs commenced on left hand rudder and fin.

lodestar_tail_5 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

There’s also work still to be done in the tail of the Sunderland. The bulkhead in front of the rear turret needs to be remade as some original parts are missing.

This is the existing structure.

turret_bulkhead_1 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Here are the parts to fill in the gaps.

turret_bulkhead_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[Deleted]

How wonderful to see BVE getting some TLC!