Sarge
Flight Sergeant
ex Grocer and living Museum exhibit
Posts: 25
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MOTAT
May 8, 2021 23:46:01 GMT 12
Post by Sarge on May 8, 2021 23:46:01 GMT 12
Can anyone tell me why the Grunau Baby IIb ZK-GDG was accessioned into the MoTaT collection in 1982 but not cancelled from the New Zealand Civil Register until 25 May 1988? The glider was withdrawn from use in Whakatane in 1967, but was still registered to the Whakatane Gliding Club when it was cancelled in 1988
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MOTAT
May 14, 2021 11:21:09 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on May 14, 2021 11:21:09 GMT 12
Paperwork lag time?
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Post by emron on May 14, 2021 12:03:38 GMT 12
Sarge, sorry I can’t help with an explanation about the long time between withdrawal from use and cancellation from the register but it was probably not an uncommon occurrence in those days. I don’t know much about what the process was so I’ll leave it up to the plenty of others on the Forum that do, to answer. Just delving a bit more into the history of ZK-GDG, it seems the reason for it’s withdrawal from use was because it required re-glueing of all joints before it would be airworthy. This must have been considered uneconomic and the Gliding Club donated it to MOTAT and it was delivered in 1972. It’s current accession number was allocated in 1982 when a computer database was established.
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Post by emron on May 14, 2021 15:04:26 GMT 12
DC-3 Update
We finished off installing the remaining rivnuts under the stabiliser on Sunday. That just leaves a few anchor nuts to be replaced along the fuselage side and then we’ll be ready to fit the fillets back on and finish skin repairs to them. On Wednesday I caught up with Grant who is working on heavier repairs up front. Previous inspections had shown up bad corrosion around the lower steel longeron in the wheel well on the right hand side. It runs between the wing and the bottom engine mount at the firewall. After much drilling and hammering he’s managed to remove the overlying stainless exhaust duct and layers of skin down the side of the nacelle to expose the longeron. Now rust removal and strengthening can begin. Lots of dissimilar metals came together there and condensation from many damp winters over grass took it’s toll. Fortunately the other side doesn’t look so bad.
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Post by planewriting on May 14, 2021 17:07:37 GMT 12
Can anyone tell me why the Grunau Baby IIb ZK-GDG was accessioned into the MoTaT collection in 1982 but not cancelled from the New Zealand Civil Register until 25 May 1988? The glider was withdrawn from use in Whakatane in 1967, but was still registered to the Whakatane Gliding Club when it was cancelled in 1988. ZK-GDG was one of two Swedish built Grunau Babies imported by the Whakatane Gliding Club. It was placed on the register on 24 May 1963. The other one, ZK-GDH, was registered on 24 April 1963. On 6 June 1965, GDH, was involved in a fatal accident in sand dunes near Whakatane Airport. As Emron correctly states, major glue joint problems were found later found in GDG when it was inspected after GDH's accident and was "disposed of". For many years, the glider sat in the old Motat hangar at Ardmore. I think there was for a long time thought by its "Ardmore caregivers" that it may become a long term restoration job but that didn't happen. At some stage the fuselage suffered major damage but eventually the entire airframe was moved to Point Chevalier and the fuselage was restored to static display standard. For years it was attached vertically to the display hangar wall at Meola Road but after the extensions were completed it was hung horizontally in a much more dignified manner. So, to answer the original question as to the delay in cancellation, the gliding club washed their hands of it and handed it over to some Motat associated people who thought "one day it will fly again" and as we all know, it didn't. That is about the extent of it.
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Post by emron on May 15, 2021 10:55:44 GMT 12
Sunderland Update
Mark and Steve have almost finished cleaning, painting and assembling the internal structure of the rear turret and I’ve been recalled to build up the two replica cradles. I made a mock up of one years back and have revised that design and used heavier sheet metal. I’ve now completed the pair of twin mounts and the next step is to fold the already cut pieces that will form the side plates for each of the cradles. Once the mounts are joined to them we can make and align the sealing strips that go on the front to cover the barrel slots in the cupola. Now that Richard and Mike have cleaned and painted around the opening and pan where the rear turret fits, the fuselage is ready for it’s return as soon as we're done.
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Post by emron on May 28, 2021 15:59:06 GMT 12
Sunderland Update
The chassis of the rear turret is now painted. On Sunday, Mark and I temporarily attached enough of the loose parts so that I could have one last trial fit of my prototype cradle, this time with the completed twin mount fitted at the bottom. Once I clamped on one of the mock-up gun receivers I realised that it sat too far forward in the cradle. The ammunition in the rear turret is drawn up from boxes in the floor and over a roller, then through a slot in the cradle side, from there to the opening in the breech. Because both guns are fed from the same side, the outer one of the pair is raised 1.5” above the other so it’s belt can pass over the top. I’d allowed for this horizontal alignment in my design, but hadn’t taken into account that the breech had to be centred vertically with the slots as well. Next I connected up the radius arm for the gunsight and with a bit of trial and error I found the best position for it to attach to the right hand side plate. That ensures that the gunsight remains parallel with the gun barrels through the whole arc of elevation. Once again that was slightly different from the point I’d located previously. Next was just to check that it swung freely in the bearings and was clear of any nearby nuts or bolt heads. When I returned on Wednesday I brought along my revised patterns for the side plates and cut out all four on the band saw. On Sunday they should be ready to be folded to the matching angle with the mounts and next we can make the brackets that hold on the sealing strips to them.
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Post by emron on Jun 5, 2021 20:05:16 GMT 12
Sunderland Update
We’re rocking along with the assignment to create the two cradles. I’ve been pondering over the simplest way to make the last part. That’s the two slot port where the ammunition passes through the side plates and chassis. Also it serves as the bearing for the cradle and the attachment point but as well it needs to swivel independently of the cradle to prevent the ammo belts jamming when it rotates on the elevation arc. I’ve got some good close-up images and been able to work out the correct size and shape but struggled to find the right raw materials. I even watched the latest episode of The Repair Shop for inspiration but no help there. Believe it or not it was the Sewer Squad that came to my rescue instead. While clearing out leaves from a drain I noticed and took a second look at the round alloy grate. When I measured it up I was delighted to discover that it would be an ideal fit. The 135mm one’s were just the right diameter and once two of the ribs are cut away that leaves an opening that’s a good match with my template too. So I picked up a couple of new ones to repurpose. Now that these are sorted I can build on the other parts to them and then cut out the final holes in the side plates to match.
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Post by emron on Jun 11, 2021 17:15:19 GMT 12
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Post by emron on Jun 15, 2021 17:58:22 GMT 12
Sunderland Update I was called away to help with another project on Sunday but since then I’ve been catching up on some filing (not the paperwork variety). Here’s the result. Parts of left hand cradle laid out ready for final clean and paint. fn4_turret_cradle_parts3 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Right hand cradle, prior to paint, fitted out with the other original parts that make up the assembly. fn4_turret_cradle by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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MOTAT
Jun 15, 2021 22:28:35 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2021 22:28:35 GMT 12
That's coming along very nicely!
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Post by emron on Jun 20, 2021 18:25:03 GMT 12
Sunderland Update Look what I found It’s taken a while, I’ve been tripping over some of these boxes for the last 5 or 6 years but the penny’s only just dropped today about which turret they fit! After looking at some photos I downloaded during the week I managed to squeeze this one into the correct position on the rear turret. Here it is alongside the refurbished feed reel assembly and my new made cradle port which completes the ammunition path to the gun. fn4_turret_ammo_feed by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Now we’ve got the two outer boxes. They are both in similar used condition and have cleaned up well, so we’d better save the original paint and stencils. When I go back next time I’ll check for the inner boxes as they appear to be slightly different shape. These slim line boxes fit in pairs, clamped alongside each other in the floor of the turret and are angled so that they just clear the gunners feet.
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MOTAT
Jun 22, 2021 11:28:03 GMT 12
Post by ZacYates on Jun 22, 2021 11:28:03 GMT 12
Brilliant! It must be so satisfying to solve a puzzle like that.
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Post by emron on Jun 24, 2021 15:50:22 GMT 12
Sunderland Update
I did come across two inner boxes on Wednesday, both R.H. side ones. One is complete and the other has been stripped of fittings. The second will be our best candidate for conversion to a L.H. one and now that I know what the missing parts should look like, I’ll fossick through the spares bin for them (and more of the clamps that hold the boxes in place) when I’m back next. I’ve only found one box lid and chute so far but we can make more of these at anytime later if need be.
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MOTAT
Jun 25, 2021 11:46:46 GMT 12
via mobile
Post by ZacYates on Jun 25, 2021 11:46:46 GMT 12
emron and Team MOTAT, I was just having a catchup with a mate who last visited in 2019 and he asked if I knew where the Lodestar and Ventura had gone. I said I wasn’t sure so I would ask. Where have the Lodestar and Ventura gone? What are the current plans for them? Thank you!
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Post by emron on Jun 25, 2021 17:05:59 GMT 12
Zac, both of them were disassembled and moved from the main workshop to a nearby shed 3 or 4 years ago to make way for the DC-3. You’ve probably noticed that we’ve been busy with other projects since then. There’s no room on the site to either restore or display them at present so they remain in a holding pattern until new space and workshop time become available.
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MOTAT
Jun 26, 2021 12:55:32 GMT 12
Post by ZacYates on Jun 26, 2021 12:55:32 GMT 12
Thanks Ron, that makes a lot of sense.
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Post by emron on Jun 29, 2021 10:35:31 GMT 12
Sunderland Update I wasn’t hopeful of finding the fittings for the ammo box so I cut out metal for them last week. It wasn’t wasted time as my search on Sunday only turned up clamp parts. Mark and I worked out the best sequence to slot the four boxes into place and where the clamps sat. I’ve now finished the end fittings for the inner left box and they’re ready to rivet on. fn4_ammo_boxes2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr fn4_ammo_boxes_1 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Jun 29, 2021 13:41:28 GMT 12
Here’s the brain teaser for the day.
Now that I’ve converted a right hand ammo box to a left hand one, do I also need to reverse the direction on the stencil that gives the loading instructions? I’d hate for the ammunition to be fed to the gun facing backwards!
Luckily one of the few pages I have that’s extracted from A.P. 1566E has the answer.
“The belts should be inserted rough sides upperrmost, bullet noses towards the turret windows and single link leading in the L.H. boxes but double link leading in the R.H. boxes.”
So the answer is yes. I don’t think I’ll bother altering the stencil though and it’s unlikely that we’ll ever be in the position of needing to follow the instructions.
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MOTAT
Jun 30, 2021 15:54:49 GMT 12
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ZacYates likes this
Post by andrewpit on Jun 30, 2021 15:54:49 GMT 12
I see Motat now have ex Police Chopper ZK-HKG on display.
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