MOTAT

[emron]

Grant has made good progress with the re-assembly of the Lodestar tail. It looks as though it will soon be strong enough to bear weight again, so they can raise the tail when required, and get access to assess and repair the lower fuselage skins which are in a poor condition.

lodestar_tail_6 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[Deleted]

That looks great, bravo Grant!

[Antonio]

I can only express my admiration and appreciation, not only for the time you dedicated artisans put in to restore our precious aviation history but also that you take the time to post on this forum - especially for us non-facebook types.

Thank you so much.  

[emron]

The Sunderland’s two rear bulkhead frames are now attached and both side panels trimmed to fit.

turret_bulkhead_3 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Here’s an update on a home project that’s been resurrected and was started years ago for amusement during Covid lockdowns. The stubby propellor for the R-R Kestrel taking shape, fresh from a coarse trim by chainsaw and follow up with a large wood rasp.

kestrel_prop5 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Returning to the very tail of the Sunderland, the rubber seal and the clamps for the access cover have been fitted and the cover can be locked down again. That completes repairs to the floor of this bay which the rear turret will occupy.

access_cover2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Like me, you may be wondering what things have been happening at MOTAT during August and September. Since my previous update I’ve been laid up at home while surgery on my foot heals. I ventured back to the workshop, briefly, on Sunday for a catch-up and plan to return tomorrow for a longer stay, so I'll share what’s new then.

[Dave Homewood]

I know the feeling Ron, I have a bad ankle (since Oshkosh). Good to hear you're on the mend though.

[Peter Lewis]

I see that the tail turret has recently been lifted into place.

[emron]

Yes that came as a nice surprise this morning. While I was away, the others had rallied round, re-assembled the remaining loose parts and prepared the turret for fitting. They had completed the lift and got it positioned in place today, before I arrived. So I followed up by doing the final alignment and began bolting it to the airframe. By afternoon tea, all but 3 of the securing bolts were tightened down. I’ll finish them off on Sunday and then we can fasten the fairings back around it.

rear_turret_d by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

Once that’s done, I can return inside to where I left off last time. Moving forward from the turret bay the next area to tidy up is this stack of terminal blocks and wiring. I’ve since revised my design for the backing plate so will swap that out next.

terminal_blocks by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[Dave Homewood]

That turret looks so good back in place. Well done everyone.

[campbellbox]

So good that the tail turret is in place now. Fantastic!

[emron]

Yesterday, I finished tightening bolts on the turret base except for the last one which I left loose and accessible for someone more dextrous and patient than me to do later. Next I fitted the lower sealing strip but ran out of screws to complete the task. Back in the workshop I sorted and painted more, so they’ll be ready for next time. We decided to repaint the interior of the 3 top fairings to match the fuselage colour. Once that’s done, it’s a quick job to refit them too.

Meanwhile the Kestrel prop is humming along. Here the paper template for the spinner cover is being marked out. It just needs some more gluing and trimming underneath before the plywood is cut out and wrapped around to finish the cone.

kestrel_prop6 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Returning today, first up was to fully attach the sealing strip below the turret. Next the side fairings were positioned, but on checking from outside I noticed the rear facing sides should have been painted white, so back to shop for them. The triangular top fairing was fine and soon hoisted into place and secured. Steve had earlier painted the two elevator trim tabs as well and now it was time for them to be fitted. I got both screwed loosely in place and will complete the fastening of all these parts next time.

[emron]

On Sunday, I continued work on fairings and minor repairs to other panels around the turret. Meanwhile up in the bow compartment, Richard was stripping down the mounting blocks for the anchor, now one of the last repairs needed there. Mike was kept busy in the paint booth, putting finishing touches to exterior fittings down the back of the flying boat as well as last coat on the mooring mast and bollard so they are ready to fit in their stowage positions in the bow. Back in the workshop, the others pressed on with repairs to Lodestar parts and prep work for further painting of the DC-3 wings.
The Kestrel prop has now reached the stage where it needs to be test fitted on the hub before further assembly, so that finishing will be done in the workshop shortly.

kestrel_prop7 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

On Wednesday, I did the trial fit of the front and back hub plates to the Kestrel prop and found that the central recess for each needed to be enlarged. Once I’d done that they seated flush and all the bolts aligned. Next, I found a sheet of ply just the right thickness to form the spinner cone. Later in the week I was able to cut both pieces out and glue them into place. So, with some more minor filling and sanding, the prop will be ready for sealer/primer coat.

kestrel_prop8 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[emron]

Since last Wednesday, sanding and painting of the Kestrel prop were completed and time today for final assembly and installation. This middle section of the propeller is 33 inches long, just a quarter of the 10ft-10in length of the one that powered the Hawker Hind.

kestrel_prop9 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

kestrel_prop10 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr

[Richard Wesley]

Fantastic, well done Ron!

[Dave Homewood]

Absolutely brilliant work Ron!

[emron]

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.