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Post by Mustang51 on Sept 21, 2017 11:57:21 GMT 12
Ok guys, had some very good news. After a throw away line in a discussion with Andy at Temora last Saturday he asked me if I had a copy of what was needed for the placard. Scanned and emailed it to him Monday. Yesterday he came back to me not only with words of encouragement but also with a proof copy for checking. That has happened even before I have had the chance to get emails to the folks you have suggested in NZ. Irvine Signs at Temora is the company I have used numerous times before for stencils and other detailed spray masks for Temora machines like the Hudson and Meteor etc. They have digitized my full sized drawings and produced the spray masks for those and other Temora aircraft. Currently Temora is working on the ground up rebuild of one of the A.37 Dragonfly aircraft in the collection. This has involved massive work by the team under Andy Bishop(Chief Engineer) and shall include a new paint scheme and markings. Did not think to ask Irvine Signs about decals...... Duh in the words of Homer S ! The font is identical and as can be seen from the attached pics (thanks to Dave H) it is a perfect match for the original. Keeping it all good I shall derivet the original plate, prep and paint it then attach the new decal before riveting it back on the new lining right next to the new ash tray I have! So if anyone out there is still in need in Oz for decals, stencils etc. - I would expect that all you good folks in NZ to support your local guys - try Irvine Signs at Temora !!!   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 21, 2017 12:13:44 GMT 12
Note spelling for Aerobatics is also American spelling.  |
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Post by Mustang51 on Nov 30, 2017 16:51:51 GMT 12
A few more pics but nothing too startling as it is the mundane and boring bit. Rudder horn balance in need of a bit of TLC  Horn balance rib needing a whole lot more than TLC  The new skins marked out and drilled on a shiny new piece of 2024T3............. we won't go into the cost.....  This is the Modification Plate that saved my life as it identified the aircraft I owned positively.  |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2017 10:19:52 GMT 12
the mundane and boring bit. I think you're too close to the project* as I think it's exciting! It's not often you get to see raw material for a restoration getting drawn up like this. *or I'm easily amused. Many here will say that's what it is. |
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Dec 1, 2017 18:22:26 GMT 12
That data plate is made of Gold! Or another metal of even more value?
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Post by Mustang51 on Dec 3, 2017 19:19:49 GMT 12
Methinks AVATAR's Unobtainium? johnnyfalcon you are absolutely correct in that statement. Without that the project was dead in the water. I was just so lucky that I had it and after many years of correspondence and "pushing" my argument was finally accepted. I said it before on this thread but paperwork is everything and although an oft quoted 'joke', when the weight of the paperwork exceeds the aircraft's gross take-off weight, the aircraft shall be permitted to fly. It is so true.....
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Post by Mustang51 on Dec 11, 2017 11:22:39 GMT 12
In for a penny, in for a pound. Guessing that with the tailplane and both elevators in pieces why not completely strip the rudder as well. The horn balance is off as per the pics so spent the weekend deriveting all the skins and components. Pretty good internally and all that is needed is to complete the paint stripping of all the bits and then remove a slight touch of corrosion followed by blasting, alodine and then priming. The horn balance is another thing so needs a new rib manufactured and two new skins. If I try really hard I may have all that done before Christmas. And what would I like from Santa? My camera repaired would be a start as it failed me during the rudder disassembly so unfortunately no pics of the latest installment in the Birdog saga.
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Post by Mustang51 on Dec 15, 2017 8:48:08 GMT 12
Still no camera but have completed the hardwood form block to manufacture the new rudder horn balance rib. Have some nice "O" condition aluminium and I shall screw it to the block this weekend and see what my tin bashing skills can come up with. If it all works out to plan its off to the heat treatment shop and just maybe it can be ready for Christmas. The two new skins for the horn balance have been manufactured and I have been able to resurrect the cap strip. Skins have been stripped, the corrosion has been removed and they have come up a treat with the Allbright treatment. The way all these bits are going it is a possibility that the rudder will be the first of the empennage back together. Still thinking about the wing. Need to get that put together before the factory is lost and we have to move the jig.
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Post by Mustang51 on Dec 18, 2017 12:35:55 GMT 12
Successful weekend with the rudder horn balance rib back from heat treating and looking good. All the rudder skins paint stripped, light blasting where required as were all the rudder internals, looking at having priming before the end of this week then painting the interior green and it can go back together. Rough cut all the tailplane skins and some repair fluted skins for the elevators. Will file them all back and smooth out the edges before be-burring about 5,000,000 holes for the rivets. Most important to keep the skins identities as that would be a nightmare with which skin goes where and which side is in or out. Unfortunately no pics still. Perhaps Santa may be kind to me with camera repairs.......Still have to paint the tailplane and elevator internals green and then prime and paint all the skins.
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Post by johnnyfalcon on Dec 18, 2017 18:13:04 GMT 12
Can't wait to see the pics Ando, and all the updates are much appreciated. I'm looking forward to my 'ride' when you bring her over to Omaka for the next airshow...No pressure.
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Post by craig on Dec 18, 2017 20:17:44 GMT 12
If all else fails most cell phone have quite adequate cameras. Just e-mail the photos to yourself for upload to flicker
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Post by Mustang51 on Dec 21, 2017 7:09:29 GMT 12
Rudder is steaming along. Skins now primed and interior green painted plus all of the other parts are done. Found both tail lights again (how do things like that 'disappear'), and ready to go back together. I think the elevators are complaining that the rudder received all the attention.
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Post by isc on Dec 21, 2017 21:50:23 GMT 12
Your workshop/hangar is infected as most workshops around the world, with gremlins{some times known as the hangar ghost), that come and(usually)borrow things, often after you have sorted out something else to use(tools)you will find what you were looking for, right where you thought it was in the first place. Some times they hide things, like when you drop some thing, and its never seen again. isc
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Post by craig on Dec 22, 2017 8:15:35 GMT 12
I know its weird....
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Post by Mustang51 on Dec 22, 2017 12:51:00 GMT 12
Newsflash. The painted rudder skins are being reunited with the internals as I write. Maybe Santa will deliver me a rebuilt rudder before 25th ! Woo Hoo !
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Post by baz62 on Dec 23, 2017 15:23:02 GMT 12
Found both tail lights again (how do things like that 'disappear') Yeah I carefully stripped the Auster fuselage back in 2011 and labeled everything and put things on shelves or took them home to the garage. Imagine my surprise when I went looking for the flap selector quadrant and couldn't find it! Still not found but the wreck of BRA still has hers. You watch I'll remove it, paint it, bolt it on and then the original one will turn up! If Anthony Galbraith's Auster didn't have a totally different flap setup I'd suspect him of light fingers.....we don't call him Shifty Galbraith for nothing!  |
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Post by agalbraith on Dec 24, 2017 7:54:02 GMT 12
LOL, thanks for that Baz!
I am enjoying following your progress Ando....look forward to some pics. Yes things vanish, why I don't know? But they usually turn up unexpectedly when you have moved on.
Cheers
Anthony
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 3, 2018 9:46:29 GMT 12
Camera in for repairs so hopefully soon there shall be some images. More progress on the rudder with it now almost riveted together. Need to have a 'play' with the horn balance weight. Very fiddly to mount it in and rivet it to the horn balance rib and the cap strip and skins without things coming out of line. More thinking required on this !
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Post by Mustang51 on Jan 3, 2018 9:54:23 GMT 12
Meant to say that we look like the factory is going to be sold and that means that the wing may be put onto full blast in the very near future. Lots of work already done but major work still needed. Need to ensure it is finished before the jig is moved to ensure that there is no misalignment if the jig twists. Its shouldn't judging by the structure we made but if it can we all know it will. Gordo and I have rebuilt about 10 wing panels for 152, 170, Birdog, 172 and 182 in that jig and all have been perfect if I must say so myself. Record is 10 days from receipt to delivery with all parts separated including the spars, new skins made, ribs blasted, cleaned, alodined, primed, painted and re-iveted. Fingers crossed that it happens that quickly again - thinking a week off work needed very soon.
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Post by agalbraith on Jan 3, 2018 13:47:40 GMT 12
Exciting stuff, definitely seems like you need a week off!!
Funnily enough I am researching the original radio fit in My Auster T.7 rebuild and it seems I am supposed to have a VHF set up (if the occasion arose) and my plane got diverted from HK it needed to be able to talk to the FAC Bird Dog's. So I am told. Well she certainly had the big 'full wavelength' whip antenna fitted.
Looking forward to the pics
Cheers
Anthony
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