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Post by aeromedia on Dec 2, 2011 17:52:03 GMT 12
Yesterday "I lucked it" and happened to catch NZ1050 basking in the afternoon Wigram sun in preparation for this mornings lift back onto the plinth at the front gate. She looks absolutely stunning, PJ, Barf and the Wigram crew have done a fantastic job, as have the various sub contractors who undertook some of the sub-assembly refurbishment. She is very well sealed up this time around and some of the fillets and fairings have been replaced with fibreglass substitutes. A huge "matress lifesaver" has been squeezed up above the retracted gear to keep the birds out ! Another one the lads can tick off successfully !
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Post by ZacYates on Dec 2, 2011 20:58:47 GMT 12
Beautiful! She looks absolutely awesome! Ten karma points each to the resto team :-)
That said, I'm still disappointed that after being properly restored she's back on a pole outside, like the Vampire at Ohakea. I'd rather see both grounded (or, in the case of the Vampire, Historic FLight....?) and replaced by fibreglass replicas. My 2cents.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 3, 2011 0:33:14 GMT 12
Wow, great photos Peter, and well done to the team at the Musuem and at Pioneer Aero for this amazing restoration. The new colours look superb, well done Barf! It is interesting to finally see this colour scheme in vibrant full colour photos and not the muted old colour stock we're used to.
Did CTV film the installation tis time, like they did when we put '50 back up in 1993?
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Post by aeromedia on Dec 3, 2011 6:32:52 GMT 12
Not sure if Tele filmed it Dave? It went up in the morning on Friday, but the time I got there mid arvo, it was well and truly done and dusted! I guess it would have been captured though.
There is some sort of rededication ceremeony I understand, to take place sometime in the not too distant future.
Interesting that they have a set of specifically manufactured big wire ropes, that are the exact length to sling the a/c on the correct angle for the mount to line up on the plinth. They only see the light of day each time shes removed and reinstalled. They go away in a carefully marked box for years and years til required. But, as is the way of things today, everything gets inspected and recomplied, . . the strops, the plinth, the mount . . . . . . .
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Post by jonesy on Dec 3, 2011 8:05:15 GMT 12
Whose job is it to keep it looking that good? After a short while it'll be peppered with bird shit/dust/other stuff amd will start looking pretty tired. Is there a volunteer crew organised for that?
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Post by aeromedia on Dec 3, 2011 8:40:27 GMT 12
Barf gives it a quick wipe with a damp cloth on the way into work every morning!
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Post by baz62 on Dec 3, 2011 9:34:14 GMT 12
Thats looking good, i must admit I did the classic double take on the way into work this morning as she wasn't up when I left work early yesterday morning! Looking good and itsn't it nice to think she came out of a hangar she most likely was in back in the day, and in those markings. The "Day-Glo' of course isn't the real deal as they would have to keep on re doing it due to the UV attacking it, but she looks pretty close. Loving the Christchurch City coat of arms on the fin too! Well done all!
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Post by Bruce on Dec 3, 2011 9:56:31 GMT 12
Looks great!
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Post by Ykato on Dec 3, 2011 10:06:58 GMT 12
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Post by corsair67 on Dec 3, 2011 11:27:48 GMT 12
She looks fantastic - great job by all involved. Now, all we need is to get Christchurch Airport to clean up the Spitfire, and all will be good in the world again. Does anyone know if any structural work had to be done to the plinth, in light of the earthquakes?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 3, 2011 11:40:53 GMT 12
Looks great! I seem to recall from other threads in the past that the high-visibility orange fades pretty quick. Be interesting to see how it goes living out in the elements.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Dec 3, 2011 16:32:11 GMT 12
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Post by obiwan27 on Dec 3, 2011 22:37:13 GMT 12
Magnificent restoration, well done to all concerned!!
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Post by baz62 on Dec 4, 2011 8:25:11 GMT 12
Looks great! I seem to recall from other threads in the past that the high-visibility orange fades pretty quick. Be interesting to see how it goes living out in the elements. Its not the original hi viz or day-glo orange but an approximation of the colour.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Dec 4, 2011 10:38:19 GMT 12
Right, so should last longer then? Ve shall see!
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Post by Officer Crabtree on Dec 4, 2011 20:11:56 GMT 12
Looking nice, very good to see her back up there.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 8, 2021 21:24:12 GMT 12
Has NZ1050 been repainted again since this repaint nearly a decade ago? If not, then this paint has lasted remarkably well.
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Post by baz62 on Feb 9, 2021 8:37:06 GMT 12
Barf has done a top job and fairly certain she hasnt been down since.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Feb 9, 2021 9:36:13 GMT 12
She's been there every day I've driven past since
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Post by baronbeeza on Feb 9, 2021 9:41:41 GMT 12
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