|
Post by JW on Oct 2, 2020 11:35:37 GMT 12
Thanks to those who have posted the great pictures of this magnificent collection of aircraft. Certainly would have been quite a site seeing the barn doors opened and seeing the Mosquito!
|
|
|
Post by danwalker on Oct 2, 2020 19:29:38 GMT 12
Thank you to everyone who has been keeping the regular updates coming on John Smith's incredible collection. What I have also found fascinating are the story's from past visitors to Mr Smith's property and his very obliging nature (opposed to some reports) to not only show his collection but to also allow enthusiasts the thrill of sitting in the cockpit of a genuine Mosquito. Thinking about this it struck me that while NZ2336 may not be the highest timed airframe in the world she may very well be the Mossie with the highest number of 'pilot's' in command. Thinking out loud, has any thought been given to perhaps keeping this tradition going into the future? Difficult one I know the balance between preservation and accessibility in such a public environment but could there be a chance to keep her a dynamic exhibit as opposed to purely static? Looking forward to the next update!
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 3, 2020 14:03:54 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by nuuumannn on Oct 4, 2020 15:08:43 GMT 12
Is this presentation going to be captured so it can be viewed at a later time? I'm working that night, so will miss it, but I'd REALLY like to see it.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 4, 2020 15:58:25 GMT 12
Hopefully yes, Grant.
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2020 9:28:11 GMT 12
The team at Omaka are making discoveries on that Mosquito every day, but here's a particularly interesting one that they've made, as posted by Marty Nicholl on the Omaka John Smith Mosquito Project Facebook group this morning, and copied here with Marty's permission. He wrote: "A story within a story,,,,, It looks like the Mosquito has had 3 registration numbers applied in it's lifetime TE910 (RAF) NZ2636 (RNZAF) and NZ2336 (RNZAF) Careful prep for painting by Gavin and John Best has revealed NZ2636 under NZ2336. My opinion is that the RNZAF painters made a Boo Boo and realised later and overpainted the NZ2636. Does anyone have any facts to share with us re the aircraft rego numbers applied?" Link to the original post HERE
|
|
|
Post by tbf2504 on Oct 7, 2020 13:31:25 GMT 12
The RNZAF master register AF380 has this aircraft listed as TE910/NZ2336 BOC Ohakea 28/04/1947. SOC 30/6/55 fitted with engines 199171/199063 and sold by tender 1540 to ANSA Orchard Equipment Upper Motuere. My reckoning is that the painters made a boo boo with the initial painting of the serial. All Mosquitoes were in the NZ23xx series
|
|
|
Post by baronbeeza on Oct 7, 2020 14:37:04 GMT 12
The guy has three number stencils, one of which he is going to use twice. Anyone over 40 can get that wrong, - with our memory.
One of the RNZAF F-27 had the fin flash colours reversed for a period.
|
|
|
Post by Mustang51 on Oct 7, 2020 14:50:38 GMT 12
And there are numerous examples of the Kangaroo pointing the wrong way on RAAF aircraft.....even seen a shot of a Winjeel with the "Red Rat" sitting down .....
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 7, 2020 14:56:43 GMT 12
And a Kiwi pointing backwards on a Skyhawk once, I seem to remember.
What I love though is how the team are making these incredible discoveries and each day almost a new story comes out from this amazing artefact of history. One of the best is the discovery of the Mustang exhausts inside the Mossie's wing.
|
|
|
Post by ErrolC on Oct 7, 2020 15:24:32 GMT 12
The RNZAF master register AF380 has this aircraft listed as TE910/NZ2336 BOC Ohakea 28/04/1947. SOC 30/6/55 fitted with engines 199171/199063 and sold by tender 1540 to ANSA Orchard Equipment Upper Motuere. My reckoning is that the painters made a boo boo with the initial painting of the serial. All Mosquitoes were in the NZ23xx series That would be a cool diorama, some poor S&S bloke getting chewed out by his sarge!
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Oct 7, 2020 15:41:39 GMT 12
There was a Strikemaster with the colours of the Squadron diamonds reversed too. I think I have a photo of it somewhere in my negatives
|
|
|
Post by madmax on Oct 7, 2020 16:33:16 GMT 12
If, as assumed, the sign-writer applied the numeral 6 instead of 3, I thought it would have been a simple task to paint over the one incorrect numeral rather than repaint the entire s/n in a slightly different position.
|
|
|
Post by baronbeeza on Oct 7, 2020 17:15:45 GMT 12
If, as assumed, the sign-writer applied the numeral 6 instead of 3, I thought it would have been a simple task to paint over the one incorrect numeral rather than repaint the entire s/n in a slightly different position. I think you are assuming he was sober. Once he had drawn attention to himself his ever helpful colleagues would have pointed out that he had messed up the location as well. The same applies if they were going to do a legit renumbering of the machine, the obvious would be to paint over the numbers and at the same time just redo the one that needs it. In the RNZAF the first two digits denoted the type of role of the machine, well in the more recent period. I think that was bent around the F-27 and 727, both those types incorporating clues into their role. NZ27xx and NZ72xx respectively. There may be other examples and the historians here will be well versed on what the numbers are supposed to signify. I doubt the F-27 fin flash remained wrong for very long, possibly just minutes. The painter may have taken the quickest possible option to hide his mistake.
|
|
|
Post by noooby on Oct 8, 2020 6:24:35 GMT 12
I seem to recall a P-3 painting boo boo too.
When they did the first low-vis paint scheme. They either got the markings paint and the airframe paint swapped over or they did the finish wrong (flat instead of gloss). I can't remember (I'm well over 40 so that's acceptable!).
Lasted a week or two before the whole plane was rubbed back with Scotchbrite.
I seem to recall Pam (small S&S female) being involved in the Scotchbrite process.
Do you remember that one Dave? Would be mid 90's??
|
|
|
Post by tbf2504 on Oct 8, 2020 7:25:57 GMT 12
Baronbeeza is quite correct in that the first two denote the role of the aircraft. In the case of the F27 the model fitted neatly into the 2xxx serial range which is for multi-crew training. The B727 and B757 also fitted nicely into the NZ7xxx serial range for transport aircraft
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 8, 2020 7:58:16 GMT 12
No Noooby that was after my time. I am sure that story has been mentioned here on the forum though. Maybe Beagle or Les will have the details.
|
|
|
Post by davidd on Oct 8, 2020 8:42:32 GMT 12
When the RNZAF's B.12 Canberras were painted up in camouflage for the first time in 1964 (for the rush deployment to Singapore), I think it was the first aircraft which was painted up with the camouflage colours reversed (that is, the dark (olive?) green where the dark grey should have been, and vice versa. It was several days before they got around to entirely redoing the upper-surface scheme to match the official laid down drawing, although in the great scheme of things, would it have really mattered at all? I am assured that this really took place, and that the incorrect scheme was photographed both for the record, and perhaps also as a lesson to aspiring S&S trades to carefully read the instructions! My informant in this case was one F/L K R F (Ross) Lamb (think I have his initials correct). Makes the stories of overpainting mere serial numbers seem like pretty small change. David D
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 8, 2020 10:04:52 GMT 12
I remember S&S painter Gavin Norrington telling me that when he was the painter at G.E.F. at Hobsonville he was told to paint a yellow Auxiliary Power Unit trolley into grey and green camouflage. He did so, and was surprised when his boss said he'd gotten it wrong. It turned out Gavin was colour blind (not sure how he became S&S with that) and he'd painted on the green coat, and then what he saw as the grey camo was actually also green but his eyes saw it as different when it was wet. Strange.
|
|
|
Post by errolmartyn on Oct 8, 2020 10:57:42 GMT 12
When the RNZAF's B.12 Canberras were painted up in camouflage for the first time in 1964 (for the rush deployment to Singapore), I think it was the first aircraft which was painted up with the camouflage colours reversed (that is, the dark (olive?) green where the dark grey should have been, and vice versa. It was several days before they got around to entirely redoing the upper-surface scheme to match the official laid down drawing, although in the great scheme of things, would it have really mattered at all? I am assured that this really took place, and that the incorrect scheme was photographed both for the record, and perhaps also as a lesson to aspiring S&S trades to carefully read the instructions! My informant in this case was one F/L K R F (Ross) Lamb (think I have his initials correct). Makes the stories of overpainting mere serial numbers seem like pretty small change. David D You are correct, David: Kenneth Ross Forbes Lamb. Cheers, Errol
|
|