MOTAT

[ErrolC]

Oct 18, 2024 9:49:34 GMT 12 emron said:

I thought the engine deserved to be well dressed and in time for the Museum’s 60th Anniversary Live Day this Sunday. As will the Sunderland be, which is now more complete than in all its many years before at MOTAT.

Great work team!

motat.nz/events/live-day-60-years-of-motat/

[emron]

Not to be confused with a railway engine or a steam engine, but a traction engine of a different kind, and a popular attraction at today’s Live Day. Thanks to the team from NZ Warbird’s their Alvis Leonides radial joined in on our 60th Anniversary celebrations at the Meola Rd site.

alvis_at_motat by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Mike and Richard might be relieved to hear that I found the missing floorboard that fills the last gap in the bow compartment. It was tucked away, out of sight, under one of the benches in the Workshop. Earlier in the day I’d been fossicking amongst the electrical and lighting spares looking for parts to complete three different lamps for the Sunderland. First was the lens and it’s retaining collar for the mooring mast. I was lucky enough to find a second lamp holder base with the collar, so just need to locate a lens now. The complete lamp assembly is A.M. Ref No. 5C/559 for those who might know it. Next up is a replacement for the tail lamp, broken off by a maintenance platform or truck that got too close ages ago. Likewise, this was a common type in the day and there’s one just like it fitted in our Mossie’s tail cone. A.M. Ref No. 5C//498. I also noticed one interior light down the back by the turret was missing the lens and collar. I think there are others like it further forward so I’m hopeful another search next time might turn up these parts of assembly A.M. Ref No. 5C/446.

[corsairarm]

Thats good news Ron. Whilst I was looking for it in the Sunderland I think I found the sqwab that Mike was missing from the cockpit. Between the three of us we should get it pretty much complete by Christmas this year !!!. Thats my plan anyway for the front compartment. If anyone has photos of the front please post them or send them to me as I can't find much on the webb. I have some stencilling to do and I cant read some of it. We also have to get some belts and buckles made which hold variuos bits and pieces in place

[emron]

Here’s a close up of the Sunderland’s taillight broken off at the base.

tail_light_base by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

I borrowed the Mossie taillight, its parts separated shown on the left. Not yet finding another I decided to make a copy of it (at right) that can be fitted loosely and won’t cause further damage if it takes a future accidental knock. From photos I’ve seen of Sunderland ML796 at Duxford, it appears to have suffered a similar injury so it’s best to go with this option in the short term, while we’re still finishing other repairs around the tail.

tail_lights by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Latest from the Lighting Department.

lighting by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Bottom right is the taillight ready to instal. I fashioned its lens from a P.E.T. tray. I discovered that PET's softening point is only 70degC so was workable in boiling water. I made another for the Mossie one as well and that light’s now refitted under its tailcone which I secured more firmly while I was at it. Top right is the sole remaining glass lens from the 3 lamps in the Sunderland of the AM type 5c/446. I used it to shape the die top left. Alongside is the lamp’s retaining collar with the first of my acrylic castings fitted and below more of them in various stages of trimming, fresh from baking in the oven.
Meanwhile, Mike has done a great job of painting the anti-glare shield for the instrument panel and following on from that I’ve been piecing together the 6 lamps that hang from it, and this soon can be returned to the cockpit.

[Dave Homewood]

Great stuff.

[Dave Homewood]

Does anyone have photos of the Curtiss A-1 Triad replica pushed biplane that was in the Pioneers of Aviation Pavilion at MOTAT 1 from its opening till when it was removed from the collection, deaccessioned and sold in 1982?

Also does anyone know who purchased it? MOTAT has a record of the sale but no record of the buyer, and the owner, builder and pilot of it is really keen to know where it ended up.

[McFly]

Nov 27, 2024 10:19:26 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Does anyone have photos of the Curtiss A-1 Triad replica pushed biplane that was in the Pioneers of Aviation Pavilion at MOTAT 1 from its opening till when it was removed from the collection, deaccessioned and sold in 1982?

Also does anyone know who purchased it? MOTAT has a record of the sale but no record of the buyer, and the owner, builder and pilot of it is really keen to know where it ended up.

'1912 Curtis Triad replica piloted by Warwick Vale - 10 March 1977'

(Christchurch Star)

'Warwick Vaile pilots a 1912 Curtis Triad replica - 10 March 1977'

(Christchurch Star)

[Dave Homewood]

That is the one. I was hoping there might be photos of it actually hanging in MOTAT. I am writing an article for the Summer issue of Sport Flying on the incredible story of this plane.