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Post by baz62 on Oct 6, 2013 10:56:21 GMT 12
I'm currently hunting a few parts for the Gipsy Major, namely another Alloy head (or maybe 2 if the price is right!) and a starter motor. Not having much luck here in NZ nor across the ditch but have found a chap in the UK who has a couple of heads and a choice of starters, namely 3 or 12 tooth dogs and 12V or 24V. The killer is the freight but if needs must! After a couple of incidences of "Now where did I put that?" and "Have I actually got one of those, I thought I saw one" moments I've started the task I should really have done right at the start, namely do an inventory of everything! I'm starting with the engine since its at the front and you have to start somewhere! Unfortunately i got the engine in a totally dismantled state and everyhting was scatterd in boxes or wee plastic bags. Some were marked with a description but a lot weren't and were just a pile of bits in a box! Even some of the descriptions needed a bit of the old CSI as time had worn away some letters or even words. Fortunately I have a parts manual which has an exploded view of everything so should be able to sort out whats what. The first box saw a win as now I know where the nuts that hold the crankshaft main bearing caps went! Plus all the tappets and their guides. I have discovered this mystery bit, and going by the date on the wee lable that was in the bag with it, perhaps not an Auster part. It maybe it's not even an aircraft part but it does have a release note number so maybe it its. It's rubber by the way. Any ideas?
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Post by baronbeeza on Oct 7, 2013 3:02:28 GMT 12
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Post by craig on Oct 7, 2013 6:24:34 GMT 12
Isn't it crazy what you can buy an aircraft for these days. She looks in good nick too.
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Post by baronbeeza on Oct 7, 2013 9:55:17 GMT 12
Crazy prices. I am not sure I have ever seen the industry in this state before. It is very difficult to sell an aircraft in the present climate. You just need to spend a few days looking up at the skies above Christchurch to see the true state of play. When was the last time we saw an aircraft fly overhead ? A lot of people, and companies, are hurting. I sent an email out a few days using the following aircraft as an example. www.trademe.co.nz/motors/aircraft/aircraft/auction-645537574.htmMany here will own aircraft and be well aware of the market. This aircraft on Trademe is getting close to a half the price they were asking for it just 3 years ago. This at a time when the Cessna 100 series are supposed to be completing their SID's programme. Many owners are simply parking the aircraft up and praying for better times.
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Post by craig on Oct 7, 2013 10:08:28 GMT 12
Don't forget that Rockwell Commander that was advertised for less than 40K. Guess it just makes more sense to pay 100 k + for a high performance Microlight and avoid as much CAA BS as possible
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Post by baz62 on Oct 7, 2013 11:54:04 GMT 12
Wow thats cheap. Tempting as it would be and a shortcut to getting flying in my own aircraft it's not why I'm rebuilding BBZ. When she's (eventually!) completed she'll be a zero time aircraft with no mystery because I lnow everything about her from wing tip to wing tip and nose to tail. And she's an aircraft that has been out of the air for a long time and with her Canterbury history there are a lot of people keen to see her in the sky once more. And its a great learning experience for myself, frustrating sometimes but also rewarding. AXJ is one of the three Austers owned by the Vincent family. One is being rebuilt to fly (AZF) and the other one is the sister too my aircraft, J5F BCK currently stored at Ashburton, engine donated to AZF rebuild). Certainly be a good starter aircraft for someone wanting to get into tail draggers.
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Post by baz62 on Jan 1, 2014 15:23:55 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Jan 24, 2014 17:54:50 GMT 12
Big day tomorrow, the colour coat goes on the spot pried areas on the fuselage! Anthony is giving me a hand with this as he has had a lot more experience mixing and spraying two pot paint. Also a side benefit to flying up for the forum meet was coming back with a new J5F part. Quite amazing this is still around as new old stock (NOS) Auster parts aren't exactly thick on the ground in New Zealand (altough people like Stan Smith seem to have some lovely bits and bobs in storage. This is even rarer as it is a lift strut and the J5F having shorter wings also had shorter lift struts than the other Auster types. This strut hasnever been on an Auster but was in Timaru with Auster Air services and the chap I bought it off bought a few Auster spares years ago. Of course the worrying thing was getting it home in one straight piece! I knew that I was flying home on a Bombardier Q300 operated by Air Nelson but part of Air New Zealand link. So an email with dimensions was fired off and yes they said it will fit. Came the day of the forum meet and as my talk had been brought forward I rushed out to the rental car to garb my notes only to bump into Colin Sutherland who had the strut for me! I had put my phone on silent but missed his text saying he was out in the car park! So good move Dave otherwise I might have missed him! Anyway came the day to fly home and after some raised eyebrows from the Air New Zealand counter staff I handed it to the baggage handlers with a few words of encouragement to handle it with care! They were actually very good although I watched them unloading the aircraft first and some of the case got hurled onto the trolley a bit briskly! Probably was me being nervous and trying to banish visions of a strut shaped like a vintage car's starting handle! Anyway we had a grandstand view of them loading it. here it is(in the white cardboard box) on the trolley.......in the rain! And the receiving aircraft. Love the rego....so tempted to put "Minute" after it! Then the loading process started. The young chap eyeing up the trolley was interested to find out what was in the box so hope that translates to being careful with it. In she goes! This next one had me nervous as they seemed to be trying ways to get it to go in completely......... It's in! The chap inside wedged it against the side with the upper end nestled in some baggage compartment webbing so at least nothing was going to land on top of it. Plus I like to think this is one Q300 that's a bit stronger in the tail department thanks to an Auster strut! Parked outside the hangar once more the mighty Mondeo arrives with Auster booty. Get it? Boot? Booty? I'me here all week, try the veal! Carefully the strut is removed. Pose for the paparazzi And down with it's mates. Nah bugger it after all the worry lets get a look at it! Oooooo all nicely wrapped with that impregnated paper stuff, forget its real name but it prevents moisture getting at ya bits so to speak. Certainly like a Christmas pressie........... Is that an Auster strut in your hands or are you just pleased to see me? One happy Baz62 and strut. And hopefully the last time she will be masked up and looking like a Dalmatian! In this "pile" are the rudder, fin, one elevator and the horizontal stabilisers(that the elevators attach to) and they will be getting colour shortly too followed by fabric.
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Post by suthg on Jan 24, 2014 20:03:23 GMT 12
Well done Baz - a busy weekend on schedule then. Guessing avi8rsmate was the paparazzi... good teamwork and great support!
Sent from my GT-I9300T using proboards
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airshowconsultants
Pilot Officer
Working on The People's Mosquito project.......
Posts: 52
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Post by airshowconsultants on Jan 25, 2014 3:38:58 GMT 12
Are we talking the 32 foot wing as opposed to the 36 foot one (a la Aiglet Trainer?)
For my sins (which we will NOT discuss) I was - formerly - the one (and it turned out, only) 'Assistant Keeper, Aviation - Leicestershire Museums Service' and therefore had a LOT to do with Austers. I am sure that the International Auster Club will help however they can.
p.s. Whatever you do, don't finish her in Pakistan Air Force markings!
p.p.s. Remind me to tell you about the time when I turned down an Aiglet for £18,000 !
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Post by baz62 on Jan 25, 2014 17:42:09 GMT 12
Are we talking the 32 foot wing as opposed to the 36 foot one (a la Aiglet Trainer?) For my sins (which we will NOT discuss) I was - formerly - the one (and it turned out, only) 'Assistant Keeper, Aviation - Leicestershire Museums Service' and therefore had a LOT to do with Austers. I am sure that the International Auster Club will help however they can. p.s. Whatever you do, don't finish her in Pakistan Air Force markings! p.p.s. Remind me to tell you about the time when I turned down an Aiglet for £18,000 ! Correct, the F is the Aiglet Trainer (weird they called it that when it had no connection with the original Aiglet.) And no chance of any military markings, she's going into he Original 50's scheme when operated by the Canterbury Aero Club, basically the Auster factory scheme of overall silver and a red racing(cough cough)stripe. Fuselage got it's first coat of colour today. Anthony Galbraith (he of the Auster T7 fame)shared the touch up duties. Fortunately it was a nice day with only a slight breeze so we had the door up for ventilation. (even so we had a mask as it's nasty stuff!) Anhony had this T-shirt made which must be one of a kind! Spraying in progress: Anthony and me: Anthony has done a lot of spray painting so was able to give me some tips as it's been a long time since I've done any painting. The paint went on well although you can see a little difference between the paint put on around 16 years ago! Fortunately most of the frame will not be visible but the few tubes you will see (namely the "V" struts behind the windscreen and the vertical struts by each door, front and rear) are going to get a freshen up when I do the second coat. We were going to paint the lower part of the fin so we could attach it but Anthony noticed the paint was starting to go "off" so we needed to mix up a fresh batch (it's a 2 pack so colour, hardener and thinners to get the right consistency. I'll do that on second coat day.
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Post by baronbeeza on Jan 25, 2014 18:00:03 GMT 12
And no chance of any military markings, she's going into he Original 50's scheme when operated by the Canterbury Aero Club, basically the Auster factory scheme of overall silver and a red racing(cough cough)stripe. I liked the silver. I think that is a change of plan, thumbs up here....
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airshowconsultants
Pilot Officer
Working on The People's Mosquito project.......
Posts: 52
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Post by airshowconsultants on Jan 25, 2014 19:33:07 GMT 12
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Post by thomarse on Jan 25, 2014 20:31:01 GMT 12
That brings up a point Baz - she possibly/probably had "ZK" under the starboard wing and "BBZ" under the port. Is that still kosher? Oh, and have I missed something? When did this forum "centre" the text?
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Post by agalbraith on Jan 25, 2014 20:42:28 GMT 12
Hey Baz, good day wasn't it mate. I know I really enjoyed it.
I was most impressed at how nice that paint went on, and the finish we achieved. You did really well when you got going and your confidence came back after all those years....well done!
Roll on the top coat and re-fitting the fin.
Cheers Anthony
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Post by suthg on Jan 25, 2014 21:32:17 GMT 12
Oh, and have I missed something? When did this forum "centre" the text? The centering of the text happens when the Temora Warbirds Southern Spitfire - Shark teeth image is a banner at top and formatting at the end of the image line has not closed off a center command. Sent from my GT-I9300T uang proboards
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Post by baz62 on Jan 25, 2014 22:04:13 GMT 12
That brings up a point Baz - she possibly/probably had "ZK" under the starboard wing and "BBZ" under the port. Is that still kosher? Oh, and have I missed something? When did this forum "centre" the text? I'm sure I'll be able to put that under the wings as it's quiet large. The only concern is the ZK-BBZ on the tail as it looks to be smaller than the size accepted by CAA now. Hopefully I can get some kind of dispensation as can happen sometimes, usually its for aircraft showing previous military colour schemes with out the actual ZK-XXX to spoil it. This is Charlie Draper's J1B and is wearing the scheme mine will wear but to be original the ZK-BBZ would be across the fin and rudder. Ah hang on I see the Canterbury Aero Club hangar mate to my aircraft back "in the day" J5F BCK has got the smaller rego on the fin and rudder currently so it must be ok. However there are two photos which i will post later showing two different layouts of the rego. One like Charlie's and the one as for BCK. There is also a good photo of the top of the wings showing "ZK-BBZ" on the right wing. Just have to figure out which one is earliest....or which one I like. Yep great day Anthony, going out to remove the masking and have a look at the finish once it;s had a day to dry. Cheers!
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Post by baronbeeza on Jan 25, 2014 22:30:57 GMT 12
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Post by baz62 on Jan 26, 2014 8:20:59 GMT 12
Ah right thanks Kev. Say whats this I hear you did some work on an Auster? I made teresa laugh last night. We were watching one of the Accident docos on Sky involving the BEA Trident crash and it mentioned a stick shaker. (Warning the pilot the aircraft is about to stall) I told her the Auster had a stick shaker. When she said "Really?" I said "Yep, it's called a Gipsy major."
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Post by baz62 on Jan 26, 2014 10:48:04 GMT 12
Quite like this one, rego on the fuselage, bottom of left wing and top of right wing. Plus it has the Auster logo on the fin. Compare with this one. This was on the aircraft in 1958 as it's seen in the film taken at the opening of Rangiora airfield in that year. And with her sisters, BCK and BCQ. Please note these photos are courtesy of the Canterbury Aero Club archives.
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