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Post by andrewpit on Jun 16, 2020 7:51:47 GMT 12
I saw the Sunderland on Sunday and saw the covers were on and also the strips on horizontal and vertical stabilizers have been done on both the Solent and Sunderland
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Post by emron on Jun 17, 2020 20:32:18 GMT 12
Flying Boat Update
We laid out the turret gun cradle parts on the bench and took some photos prior to re-assembly. Over the break I’d forgotten how they went back together but soon remembered where to start and I’d stamped them all L or R so no confusion there. By lunchtime everything was attached loosely except for the gun clamps which Mike was preparing to paint. On the weekend we can secure them onto the frame then fit and tighten all the fasteners, spot paint and it will be complete. Once done we‘ll post some before and after shots.
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Post by emron on Jun 21, 2020 17:40:23 GMT 12
Flying Boat Update Progress photos of the turret cradle assembly: The two gun seals are away again to the paint shop for their front surface to be finished in white and we’re in the process of adding the external detail to the gun receivers (hinged covers, etc.) so they can be painted and installed soon too.
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MOTAT
Jun 23, 2020 22:30:24 GMT 12
Post by appleboy on Jun 23, 2020 22:30:24 GMT 12
Ron Hermanns (my uncle)is still alive. Born 1911. He worked on the Sunderlands after war service and before moving to NAC in 1947. I will be visiting him again for his birthday later this month Sept 2017. He has recorded an oral history recently. He has a very good memory of his life events. I visited Ron a few years back when he was only 99, and interviewed him. He had a great memory and told some good stories. I believe he is now New Zealand's oldest man, aged 103. Good to hear he has another birthday coming up.
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MOTAT
Jun 23, 2020 22:31:41 GMT 12
Post by appleboy on Jun 23, 2020 22:31:41 GMT 12
Ron Hermanns (my uncle)is still alive. Born 1911. He worked on the Sunderlands after war service and before moving to NAC in 1947. I will be visiting him again for his birthday later this month Sept 2017. He has recorded an oral history recently. He has a very good memory of his life events. I visited Ron a few years back when he was only 99, and interviewed him. He had a great memory and told some good stories. I believe he is now New Zealand's oldest man, aged 103. Good to hear he has another birthday coming up.
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Post by emron on Jun 24, 2020 19:29:07 GMT 12
Flying Boat Update I started the morning masking all the fasteners from the turret cradle and laying them out on a card so they could be painted black. Mike put the white paint on the gun seals and then finished the fasteners. While the paint was drying I dug out my box of templates and leftovers from when I was making the replica Brownings for the Mosquito back in 2016. That will allow us to complete the basic exterior details of the gun receivers. We’ll add a hinged top cover, backplate with buffer tube, cut a slot for the ammo feed and make a link ejection chute on the other side. I made a start on cutting and folding some of those parts and will continue on the weekend. You’ll never guess who stopped by at afternoon tea-time for a chat. I should have got him to lend a hand on the wrenches! Anyway I got most way through the final assembly of the cradle so that will be completed next time too.
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MOTAT
Jun 25, 2020 11:29:56 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 25, 2020 11:29:56 GMT 12
It was nice to pop in for a visit Ron! Great to see you guys again. The aircraft are looking fantastic in the main hangar.
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Post by andrewpit on Aug 11, 2020 15:01:03 GMT 12
Hi Ron, Any Motat updates ? I enjoy your regular posts.
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Post by shorty on Aug 11, 2020 16:40:43 GMT 12
As a change from the very latest from Motat's exhibits how about their very earliest exhibits (circa 1962/63)? / scan0009 by Neville Mines, on Flickr scan0010 by Neville Mines, on Flickr These and the trams behind them were the very first items to arrive on site
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 12, 2020 15:04:52 GMT 12
As a change from the very latest from Motat's exhibits how about their very earliest exhibits (circa 1962/63)? Have you any photos of NZ3009 in her early days onsite, Shorty? There are two small ones in John King's book on A29-448 but more P-40 photos are always good, in my opinion.
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Post by shorty on Aug 12, 2020 19:51:42 GMT 12
Zac, have a look at my stash thread around pages 15, 16,17 etc
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Post by emron on Aug 13, 2020 20:12:50 GMT 12
As a change from the very latest from Motat's exhibits how about their very earliest exhibits (circa 1962/63)? / scan0009 by Neville Mines, on Flickr scan0010 by Neville Mines, on Flickr These and the trams behind them were the very first items to arrive on site I hope my trainspotting skills are up to the task. If not, someone is sure to soon to correct me. Loco 1: Hiding under a horrible hat appears to be Orenstein & Koppel #1411 “Bertha” built 1904. Now beautifully restored and regularly under steam at the Western Springs Railway. Loco 2: Nielson & Co NZR D Class #170 Built 1880. Well travelled since 1963 but still part of the Museum’s collection. Presently on static display at Helensville Station. The two trams are Wellington City Corporation “Fiducia” type #244 and 257. 257 was one of the first trams to begin operations at MOTAT in 1967 and is still in current service. #244 remains in storage along with another (#252). N.B. The Wellington trams weren’t retired until May 1964 so your photos were more likely taken in late 1964.
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Post by emron on Aug 14, 2020 10:57:12 GMT 12
Hi Ron, Any Motat updates ? I enjoy your regular posts. MOTAT was closed to the public and volunteer activities on Wednesday under commencement of Alert Level 3. The planned Live Day on Sunday August 16 is cancelled and even if a change to Alert Level 2 might take effect before then, the Museum will remain closed until at least Tuesday August 18. Flying Boat Update – Progress as of last Sunday. The Sunderland front turret is almost finished. Before the new lockdown I was doing the final fit of the gunner’s handgrips and making sure that there were good clearances between all of the new parts that are installed to ensure that they move smoothly and reliably once it’s operating. Both the electric turning motor and the electric elevation actuator are fitted and wired up. The remote control box has been designed and built. The next step is to get all of the interior surfaces painted black so the cupola can be assembled and attached over the top. The replica guns are still work in progress but they can be fitted at any time later. Meanwhile another team (Mark and Scott) have taken on the refurbishment of the rear turret internals. They have been progressively removing parts, cleaning, paint stripping them where necessary and reassembling after re-paint. Like the front turret we will need to re-create the gun cradles to complete the layout. Some while ago I had devised a prototype and there are materials on hand to build these once we return.
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MOTAT
Aug 14, 2020 14:25:21 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 14, 2020 14:25:21 GMT 12
Stink Good news on the turret though.
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MOTAT
Aug 14, 2020 22:45:07 GMT 12
Post by appleboy on Aug 14, 2020 22:45:07 GMT 12
I visited Ron a few years back when he was only 99, and interviewed him. He had a great memory and told some good stories. I believe he is now New Zealand's oldest man, aged 103. Good to hear he has another birthday coming up.
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Post by appleboy on Aug 14, 2020 23:16:00 GMT 12
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MOTAT
Aug 17, 2020 11:25:27 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 17, 2020 11:25:27 GMT 12
Yes I saw that at the time. It's great he's still going well.
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Post by emron on Sept 4, 2020 20:37:54 GMT 12
MOTAT will re-open to the public tomorrow, Saturday 5 September but will remain closed each Monday until further notice. Level 2 restrictions to group size and numbers on-site apply. Trams are not yet operating and will only resume once we return to Level 1 as will most volunteer activities. In the meantime admission charges are discounted.
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Post by emron on Sept 5, 2020 0:34:03 GMT 12
A few months ago I saw that the Museum’s Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine could do with some extra care. So as a side-line I’ve been tidying up some loose ends. It had been displayed for many years with the exhaust fitted backwards and we recently reversed them so that the ramshorns face forward into the airstream as they should. My first job was to check that all the threads on their studs were clear and then pull them up tight with a full set of matching nuts and washers. Next I made a filter grille and bolted it on to one of the carb air intakes. I made a second one for the other side but I may now fit a Hind type air scoop there instead if I can find or make one. You might recall that this is the engine that was recovered with the other remains of Hawker Hind NZ1518 from it’s wreck site in the Tararuas in 1972. It had sustained impact damage from the crash in 1941 and had lain in the mud and damp leaf litter for 30 years afterwards. So it wasn’t in great shape when salvaged. Up front the metal spinner had been crushed back onto the propeller bolts. The wooden airscrew had sheared off and the stub had rotted away leaving the metal hub and bolts heavily rusted. These were the first parts to be removed during it’s initial makeover back in the 70’s so they are long overdue to be put back on. The prop hub had been sand-blasted and repainted years ago. Before the latest closure I pulled it out of storage, polished up the prop shaft and with a little grease it slipped smoothly onto the splines. I recently tracked down the Hucks starter cone that bolts onto the hub. Today was a lovely one for a drive in the countryside so I’ve now collected that. The full length Hind propeller is too big for the current display space so I’m thinking to make a short cutaway version and a new metal spinner also cross sectioned so the internal parts remain visible. Maybe I’ll tackle those in Level 1. Watch this space.
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MOTAT
Sept 5, 2020 21:47:28 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on Sept 5, 2020 21:47:28 GMT 12
Great work Ron, thanks for the update. The little Kestrel will be looking good at the end of your efforts.
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