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Post by johnnyfalcon on Feb 22, 2022 20:18:49 GMT 12
Agreed, Dave. Ando's contributions are gems
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Post by baz62 on Feb 23, 2022 20:53:02 GMT 12
Unfortunately time does get away from us....especially with this virus rubbish of the last two years. Even though you think it does not, it really does grind down mind and body. Totally agree Ando.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 23, 2022 22:19:48 GMT 12
Are you still getting any work done on the rebuild Baz? Or has it been idle for a while?
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Post by baz62 on Mar 2, 2023 17:22:10 GMT 12
I had to write a difficult email this morning. In the next Classic Wings there will be an ad of mine selling my Auster project. There's all sorts of reasons behind the descision but the over riding one was it needs to go to someone with the resources and drive to see her back in the air, and sadly that is no longer the case for me. The overwhelming positive from having the project though is the people I met and the support, be it encouragement or parts. I've made new friends and gone to places in New Zealand I haven't been to before. The Forum has been very helpful too with help finding things out or even putting me in touch with people who had either flown her or been taken for a flight. Anyway check out the For Sale section in CW or if you might already be mad enough....I mean enthusiastic cough cough drop me a message.
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 2, 2023 18:45:30 GMT 12
Baz, I am so sorry to hear that but I do completely understand. There are so many things that go through the head like...I am determined to finish it, I have so much to do and no progress, So unsatisfying to do it by myself, the need to justify between spending on an aircraft and other life essentials - not the discretionary items, it will never be finished, why did I ever start this, I need to finish it to prove it to myself. Believe me I have gone through these and, as you know yourself, there are so many more thoughts only known to those who have attempted such a project. My dilemma at this time is that my great mate Gordo, with whom I have been on the Cessna 170 (his) and Birdog (mine) journey, has had a major stroke and he will never be able to either help me physically with the rebuild (riveting etc where two sets of hands required) and is three weeks work away from finishing his 170 on which we have been working for 11 years. It will never be finished by him and he will never fly it or his Birdog again. Its so sad. Thats why I was so happy to see Craig's Cropmaster in the air. I can guess at least some of the reasons you have decided to part with the mighty Auster and I know the personal angst that would have caused. Hope for you that you can sell to someone who has the same passion as you for the machine !
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 2, 2023 19:02:54 GMT 12
That is so sad about Gordo. What an awful thing to happen to a good bloke. Baz, sorry to hear about your project too. Feel free to put an advert here on the forum too, free of charge.
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Post by baz62 on Mar 2, 2023 19:18:44 GMT 12
Ha ha thanks Dave I might just do that. Thats so sad regarding Gordo, having the will and then a health issue takes the means to do it. Yes it was a really hard descision but I'm glad I did it. At least someone will benefit for the work I put in tracking down missing parts and the buts needed to make a complete airframe. Someone once said we are custodians of these aeroplanes rather than "owners" and keeping them for the next generation. Whover buys her I look forward to pointing them in the right direction for advice and the all important "what is this and where does it go?" part of Auster restoration!
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Post by Mustang51 on Mar 2, 2023 20:29:11 GMT 12
Hope that you do get to fly in her when she is completed
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Post by craig on Mar 3, 2023 5:42:46 GMT 12
Sorry to read this Baz. But I'm sure it will be a huge weight off your shoulders.
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Post by baz62 on Mar 3, 2023 8:23:21 GMT 12
Hope that you do get to fly in her when she is completed That would be something alright.
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Post by tbf2504 on Mar 3, 2023 9:01:41 GMT 12
Sorry to hear that you have to part with what has been a labour of love (and not doubt expense) Hopefully someone with the resources can pick up where you have got to and see the old girl back in her natural environment
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Post by ZacYates on Mar 3, 2023 11:37:49 GMT 12
I'm very sorry to read this Baz but I have no doubt she will find a worthy home with an adoring owner - and you can rest assured you contributed much to her ongoing survival!
Ando, I'm also very sorry to read of Gordo's troubles.
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Post by baz62 on Jul 13, 2023 17:43:29 GMT 12
And she's sold! Bonus is its to someone I know and double bonus he already has a J5F under restoration, namely BCK which was with mine at the Canterbury Aero Club.In a funny turn of eventas the three Austers that the Aero Club flew, BBZ, BCK and BCQ (not including BBT which lasted about year before a fatal crash in Taylors Pass, Marlborough) are going to be together as the fin, rudder and elevators are from BCQ as are a few other parts. The wings I have are from CYQ so several Austers in one! BBZ (and the remains of BRA) will be heading up to Motueka from Ausgust or so. Itll be a big move as I managed to acquire quite a lot of parts over the years some new old stock. Its incredible whats still to be found here (and Australia). Lift struts were something considered to be like rocking horse poo yet I found two new rear struts here and one front and rear in Australia. Being a shorter wing span than the rest of the Auster marks the lift struts on the J5F are also shorter (and thicker cross section being an aerobatic airframe)and since they only built around less than a 100 I didn't expect to find any! A couple of forum members are going to help me pack parts away in bags and boxes, suitably labeled to help the new owner in the future but having alread seen one in bits he is already familiar with what a dismantled one looks like! I'll take photos as we go as I know you lot like pics!
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Post by Antonio on Jul 13, 2023 18:11:33 GMT 12
So pleased it has turned out well for you. Big Ups
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Post by tbf2504 on Jul 14, 2023 9:31:23 GMT 12
Great news BAZ, you will obviously watch the rebuild with great interest
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 14, 2023 21:29:55 GMT 12
Excellent news!
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Post by baz62 on Jul 15, 2023 18:26:49 GMT 12
Since it wasnt freezing in the garage I got stuck in and started boxing and bagging Auster parts. There was a few bits in the wardrobe of the office like a couple of Gipsy Major crankshafts, con rods.......what you usally find in wardrobes. The plan to help the new owner is to put parts in bags or small boxes then put in a bigger box. This I then attached a sheet in a ziplock bag with a list of what was in the box. Many a time I've looked at a box and wondered what was in it. So the garage floor soon had a pile growing. In the photo is the tailwheel (exBRA), a NOS (New Old Stock) undercarriage leg (courtesy of the RCAF MK 6 spares haul Anthony Galbraith and I acquired). The long looking items are various alloy bits that make up the bottom of the door frame, plus a set of flying wires off BRA and a new set made by a chap who makes the flying wires for TVAL aircraft.The three items in bubble wrap form left to right are Engine top cover, cam shaft and rear accessory cover. The big box on right is loaded with all sorts of parts, NOS fuel tank filters, flap linkages, brakes, misc nuts and bolts, alloy inspection covers, tail plane flying wire hardware, chrome heel rests for cockpit floor, etc etc. The box to the rear has engine parts and other misc parts. To the rear there are about four oil tanks, at least one overhauled one for a MK6 but they are same for J5F plus original damaged one and a couple for different marks of Auster. The round pobject near the black oit tank is acually the wing joint covers. They are a long thin alloy strip which wrap around the wing joint from the trailing wdge, over the top, round the leading edge and underneath to join at the tailing edge again by means of a bolt to tighten in place. 20230715_123854 by Barry Tod, on Flickr Tetris at work for the trip to the hangar. The centre lower bubble wrapped object is the engine crankcase 20230715_134033 by Barry Tod, on Flickr The pile of boxes begins below............and oil tanks at rear on table. 20230715_144224 by Barry Tod, on Flickr And nestled beside my complete engine is the dismantled engine ready to go. 20230715_144236 by Barry Tod, on Flickr And of course I get home to tidy up the garage and I saw I forgot to load the NOS lift strut and tyres and tubes. I'm going to drop them out after work tomorrow. A few of the more delicate items I'm keeping here at home(new windscreen, top canopy, compass etc etc) and I'll take them out next month when the new owner can take them off my hands. Thats all for now see you next time!
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Post by ZacYates on Jul 15, 2023 20:34:36 GMT 12
Thanks for sharing Baz, I can only imagine the mixed feelings in Chez Tod.
Godspeed, BBZ!
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Post by baz62 on Aug 13, 2023 14:53:19 GMT 12
Well Saturday began the next chapter in BBZ's life. Shannon the new owner and his father in law Graham rocked up to Rangiora airfield after a 5 hour trip from Nelson. Couldn't have picked a better weekend to do it as the weather was awesome! Shannon has some experience with Austers on trailers. This photo was taken at Ashburton Airfield in May 2014 when he picked up his first J5F BCK. The bed of the trailer was quite a bit narrower than the wheel base of the Auster so we had to get creative with supporting the wheels. Nothing that a bit of timber, skill saw, screws and a battery drill couldn't fix! In the photo is Forum member Ray Pichon on the left who has the fuselage of Auster J5G CDX. On the right is Roger van der Zanden who used to own Austers ASL (now based locally) and AXJ which is still in the North Island I think? IMG_3007 by Barry Tod, on Flickr This photo and the next are of BBZ with a 12 year gap. Shane Glassey(exRNZAF) on left then me, Bob Yates smiling as he's just bought a new ute thanks to me buying the Auster, my brother Ken (Obiwan27 on the Forum), bro in law Shayne Hyde who was in the RNZAF in Comms and lived next door to Shane Glassey when they were based at Woodborne, Kev Botman also ex RNZAF and Shane Glassey's friend, Anthony Galbraith another Auster tragic and long term Forum member(wised up and sold the Auster) and a much smaller and younger Cameron Galbraith. Auster move 2011 by Barry Tod, on Flickr 20230812_143005 by Barry Tod, on Flickr I tell you what that big roll of cling wrap was very useful. However I soon learned you need to make sure you haven't wrapped yourself into a corner. Anthony had wrapped the fuselage and I finished sealing the end of the fuselage (as facing the direction of travel the wind would have made it balloon). I then noticed that with just the two bolts holding it on the fin was unsupported (The fin normally has flying wires which go from the mid point of the fin to the centre of the horizontal stabiliser). I tried using the wrap to add some rigidity but it was not going to work.It would have stayed on but would have slogged out the bolt holes. So I had to cut the good work of myself and Anthony away enough to remove the fin. The next ooops was I decided to wrap round the doors then later noticed the top cover over the instrument panel needed to come out. I had put it on there the weekend before as the original plan was going to see the fuselage and wings etc going inside a truck. However I had opened the door to get it in the cockpit. I didn't want to cut yet more cling wrap off yet again som Graham and I used our Tetris skills and managed to get it out between the front tubes in front of where the windscreen goes. And this is how she is making her way north to Motueka Airfield. Infact(checks watch) they should be getting close to getting there as I type this. 20230812_163106 by Barry Tod, on Flickr We managed to cram a lot of boxes of parts in the back of the Toyota and apart from the wings, on the trailer we got lift struts, ailerons and flaps all packed under the fuselage. Shannon will be back with a light truck later to get the wreck of BRA, the remaining parts, two Gipsy Major engines and parts,etc. The hangar is certainly a bit emptier but a bit more to go.
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Post by ZacYates on Aug 14, 2023 19:02:09 GMT 12
Bravo team, a bittersweet moment for you Baz but a new and exciting chapter for BBZ!
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