|
Post by emron on Apr 29, 2018 18:09:47 GMT 12
Dave, if you had made your visit on the following day it could have truly been described as a whirlwind tour. The big storm in the night tore through MOTAT and shredded the plastic wrap cover over the Solent. It rattled the scaffolding but thankfully left the flying boat unmoved and undamaged but with only remaining cover over the tail. Not surprising really, I live only a few streets over and the same gusts brought down large branches from trees up and down the road and power lines took a couple of days to repair. There’s still debris lying over the kerbs from it. Anyway the scaffolders were quickly on the scene to confirm that the structure was still safe and paint stripping of the Solent was able to continue using the high pressure water method. The plastic wrap has since been repaired and skin work on the keel has resumed. The paint stripping is slowly revealing areas of corrosion that were missed during our previous attempts at restoration. I’m sure these will now be the priority to fix before painting can commence. During the week I found some detailed photos of turret parts and they have helped me identify a few more that I can install on the Sunderland front turret. Now I’ve got enough pieces to be able to design the rest of the gun mount structure and position the pivot points correctly.
|
|
|
MOTAT
Apr 29, 2018 18:13:15 GMT 12
motat likes this
Post by Dave Homewood on Apr 29, 2018 18:13:15 GMT 12
I'm glad to hear the Solent was OK. We saw the paint strip guys when we visited. I believe it is the same company that stripped Dakota ZK-DAK when Betsy went from green to her current scheme.
|
|
|
Post by ErrolC on May 14, 2018 22:13:07 GMT 12
@frawleymotat: Steve, CS and motat_NZ volunteers and contractors are working miracles on the @flyairnz #TEAL #Solent #Flyingboat - what a team. Looking forward to seeing it repainted and back in the Aviation Display Hall t.co/jUVdmeSkQq
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 14, 2018 22:41:22 GMT 12
motat likes this
Post by saratoga on May 14, 2018 22:41:22 GMT 12
Great work, hopefully they don't paint it with a yard broom or paint roller,thats what it used to look like it had been painted with.
|
|
motat
Warrant Officer
Posts: 38
|
Post by motat on May 15, 2018 14:41:20 GMT 12
MOTAT will be using the same painting techniques it used on the Sunderland.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on May 15, 2018 15:38:52 GMT 12
It will look fantastic when it's done. The Sunderland is so nicely turned out these days it is hard to not stare at it.
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 18, 2018 15:36:45 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on May 18, 2018 15:36:45 GMT 12
Great work, hopefully, they don't paint it with a yard broom or paint roller, that's what it used to look like it had been painted with. She looked like that because that's exactly how the volunteer Solent crew repainted her all those years ago. They certainly went through a lot of rollers and a lot of brushes and did a great job with what they had. The wings are a huge surface area, and until you have actually stood on top of the beast it's really hard to understand just how big she is. Anyway, with every last cent spent on the hangar, there was no money lying around for a full-on spray job, but it's great she will get that this time around. The Lancaster was of course painted for by the RNZAF. I was wondering if there was any further conservation work on the engines that can be undertaken. While the engines were cleaned out of birds nests and the like when rolled inside in the early 90's, little else was done. Would be great to force them full of preservative. I'm sure all this has been considered. Back to the Sunderland, another comment would be that it would be great to have one of her engines displayed as if undergoing maintenance. The fold down leading edges, and the clever system of platforms, really is something to see on one of these flying boats.
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 24, 2018 13:19:57 GMT 12
Post by John L on May 24, 2018 13:19:57 GMT 12
I can recall trying to turn over one of the Solent engines in about 1972-3 - port inner I think. It was not gonna move then! I don't know if they ever got it turned over, so 45 yrs on.......
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 24, 2018 13:58:52 GMT 12
Post by TS on May 24, 2018 13:58:52 GMT 12
Can't do that these days somebody might get hurt!!! I mean to say what with OSH, P,Cness gone mad and what ever else you would like to pock at it.... forget it. Lol As far as I have been told they are all seized and that includes the Solent?? Would love to be proved wrong but.
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 24, 2018 15:24:16 GMT 12
Post by jp on May 24, 2018 15:24:16 GMT 12
Is there a time frame for getting the Solent back on display? What about the DC-3?
|
|
mgmike
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 78
|
MOTAT
May 24, 2018 15:33:41 GMT 12
Post by mgmike on May 24, 2018 15:33:41 GMT 12
Back in the mid 1990's I spoke to one of the members of the original restoration team and he said all four engines had seized. Apparently they were in operable condition when MOTAT took over the Solent however some less than careful maintenance had meant they had seized up not too long after. (the language used was a bit blunter than that!). He also said that he believed MOTAT may have some other engines available, or access to such engines.
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 26, 2018 11:49:01 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on May 26, 2018 11:49:01 GMT 12
Back in the mid 1990's I spoke to one of the members of the original restoration team and he said all four engines had seized. Apparently they were in operable condition when MOTAT took over the Solent however some less than careful maintenance had meant they had seized up not too long after. (the language used was a bit blunter than that!). He also said that he believed MOTAT may have some other engines available, or access to such engines. Mmmmm, I guess when the Solent was taken out of service the engines were operable, but not sure your source has all his facts straight. I understand it was taken to Hobsonville to sit for some time in storage before having engines removed and being beached at Pt Chevalier. Its last flight was 1960, and there are photos online of it still at Hobsonville in 1966, so not sure the exact date it was finally pulled from the beach up to the grass of Motat II. With no care, it would be interesting to know when the engines actually seized. Being sleeve valve it wouldn't have taken long. Quite amazing really that the unpaid hard-working volunteers of 1960's Motat were able to save not one, but two flying boats, from the scrap heap. I have never seen a picture of ZK-AMQ being scrapped as she was the backup aircraft to ZK-AMO on the famous carol route. She must have been in storage with AMO at Hobsonville I think. The other engines your guide would have been referring to are the four Hastings engines rescued by Motat when that aircraft was scrapped by the RNZAF. One is mounted on the Hastings undercarriage, the other three are in storage. While the same engines, I assume it would be difficult to make the change over with all different mountings, with little actual advantage for a static display aircraft.
|
|
|
Post by Peter Lewis on May 26, 2018 21:54:28 GMT 12
I saw Solent ZK-AMO at Hobsonville, along with surplus Sunderlands but never in the company of ZK-AMQ. According to my notes ZK-AMQ was sold for scrap in October 1957 and ZK-AMO flew on until September 1960. In those last few years, with no TEAL backup aircraft available, Australian Sandringhams were hired to cover for maintenance of ZK-AMO.
"I have never seen a picture of ZK-AMQ being scrapped"
Now you have:
|
|
|
Post by shorty on May 27, 2018 11:29:53 GMT 12
I remember climbing through the hulk of AMQ at Mechanics Bay when I was at Intermediate School (1956-57) I had a couple of check list cards, some placards and a passenger seat seat belt from it for many years
|
|
|
MOTAT
May 27, 2018 14:43:18 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on May 27, 2018 14:43:18 GMT 12
I saw Solent ZK-AMO at Hobsonville, along with surplus Sunderlands but never in the company of ZK-AMQ. Oh wow, that is quite the shot, can't even imagine that many surplus flying boats sitting just down the road from where I grew up. Wow again, she looks so much older than AMO with that earlier more natural-metal finish. And so onto the next question... does anyone know why NZ4115 was selected for Motat? With around nine Sunderlands scrapped at Hobsonville I wonder just why she was selected?
|
|
|
Post by emron on May 27, 2018 19:08:14 GMT 12
Great work, hopefully they don't paint it with a yard broom or paint roller,thats what it used to look like it had been painted with. I’ve had to put the Sunderland turret project on hold temporarily as the Solent is calling. After getting plenty of practice on the Sunderland floats, I’ve offered to help with the Solent ones. The left hand float was removed years ago and we’ve pulled it out of storage and I restarted it’s overhaul. It was paint stripped previously and a fresh holding coat of primer was applied then. I spent today removing that paint and the float's now bare again and ready to do some minor skin repairs. I did use a yard broom but just to sweep up the paint residue. I’ll be there to see that a quality paint finish is achieved.
|
|
|
Post by emron on May 27, 2018 19:30:34 GMT 12
I saw Solent ZK-AMO at Hobsonville, along with surplus Sunderlands but never in the company of ZK-AMQ. Oh wow, that is quite the shot, can't even imagine that many surplus flying boats sitting just down the road from where I grew up. Wow again, she looks so much older than AMO with that earlier more natural-metal finish. And so onto the next question... does anyone know why NZ4115 was selected for Motat? With around nine Sunderlands scrapped at Hobsonville I wonder just why she was selected? Richard, according to Harold Stone’s account in “Museum Makers” NZ4115 wasn’t MOTAT’s first choice. Another had more significant history but Q had undergone major overhaul most recent and the Air Force offered it as being in best condition. I'm sure Shorty can confirm or deny.
|
|
|
MOTAT
Jun 3, 2018 12:30:30 GMT 12
Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 3, 2018 12:30:30 GMT 12
|
|
|
MOTAT
Jun 3, 2018 15:16:13 GMT 12
Post by madmax on Jun 3, 2018 15:16:13 GMT 12
Great images kiwithrottlejockey. That's an interesting interpretation of the letter "K" on the upper wing of Fox ZK-AEK. Can't say I've seen it applied it that manner before but perhaps I've not been paying attention to the way rego's were applied back in the thirties
|
|
|
Post by emron on Jun 17, 2018 22:16:45 GMT 12
The engine cowls and spinners have all been removed from the Solent now and are in the workshop for inspection and repair. Spot skin replacement is underway on the underside of the right wing. Paint stripping is still ongoing but some surfaces have already been cleaned and primed. The two access hatches on each float have been opened so that the central compartments can be cleaned and preservative applied and allowing some minor repairs to be made. Today was a fairly typical Sunday work day at the Aviation workshop with ten of us tackling various tasks on the Flying Boat. This being the first day of Volunteer Week 2018 it’s timely to reflect on the generosity of the hundreds who have given their time to the benefit of MOTAT’s aircraft collection since the Museum's gates opened to the public in 1964. Some may have just worked free for a day but many more stayed for decades. I know many of the current Forum members are among their ranks. About half of our present day Sunday team also join in with the larger Wednesday work team. Between the two groups they contribute weekly the equivalent hours of at least 5 full time positions. That averaged over the last 50+ years works out as half a million man hours and is probably a wild underestimate. I’m now one of the longer serving volunteers and must have logged over 2000 Sundays of attendance since I joined.
|
|