Brendon Deere's P-51D Mustang NZ2423

[Deleted]

Hi folks,
I’m having connection issues on the laptop and we’ve had a rough day so I’m afraid the photos will have to wait until tomorrow for the non-Facebook folk:

FLTLT Loic Ifrah going through the electrical/avionics layout of the Mustang with Brian Harris as the final wiring design is worked through. Many of the circuits on the Mustang won't need to be re instated for modern civilian operations - tail warning radar being one of them. At the same time we need to factor in mandatory modern equipment such as ELT and ADSB. As we did with the Spitfire, we have a plan to "hide" the modern radio/transponder equipment to maintain the original look of the cockpit. All panels for non functioning equipment will be refurbished and re installed in the cockpit.

Also a look underneath the Mustang at some of the work that will be hidden from view in the finished aircraft.

The two elevators from our stash of six that have been selected for rebuild being trial fitted to the refurbished tail plane.

www.facebook.com/groups/119982544710555/permalink/5745179285524158/

[11SQNLDR]

No rush Zac, keep up the good work mate

[Deleted]

Thank you, I won't go into detail but one of our cats fell ill Monday night and it was touch-and-go as to whether he would make it through last night. But he did, and is home with us now.

Brendon's photos as promised:
NZ2423 Ohakea
290621 Brendon Deere by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 290621 Brendon Deere by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 290621 Brendon Deere by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 290621 Brendon Deere by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[Dave Homewood]

Michael Nicholls has asked me to post this document here for him. He says: "Due to my terrible IT skills, could you please post the attached on Brendon Deere's P51 page. The very low hours on all the aircraft and engines is interesting. The document came from the Smith collection. It is probable that John put in a bid, but he didn't get his Mustang direct from the RNZAF - it came from Ruffell's in Blenheim who were going to use the fuselage to build a racing speedboat of some sort."

[aircraftclocks]

Great to see primary documents

[tbf2504]

Imagine the bidding that would go on today for these wonderful old machines!

[Deleted]

Thank you Mike and Dave, this is fascinating to read. It's interesting to see (presumbaly) John noted his preferred airframes on pg4.

I hadn't realised NZ2415 had lasted long enough to be up for tender.

[madmax]

In 1958 a friend successfully bid for a P51 Mustang also on Tender #6926. For 100 pounds he became to owner of NZ2403 stored at Woodbourne, the airframe is recorded as having flown 286 hours 35 minutes.
At the time he was a teenager living at home and his parents forbade him to take delivery of the aircraft. Perhaps it was re-tendered or just scrapped.
Does anyone know the fate of the NZ2403?

[Peter Lewis]

NZ2403:
"WFU, stored Woodbourne 12Mar57. Sold to K E Olsen of Hastings for £100; not collected, resold to A.N.A.S.Co., Nelson & scrapped".

[madmax]

Peter,
If only Ken's parents had not been so strict!
I have a copy of the "Acceptance of Tender" document which has an photograph of NZ2403 attached.

[Dave Homewood]

Oh gosh, I hate hearing stories like that.

[Deleted]

Something new from Brendon today (FB link):

Another interesting connection with a different RNZAF Mustang. Amongst the collection of gun sight controllers we have is this one from NZ2402. NZ2402 also served with 2 TAF and 42 SQN at Ohakea alongside our NZ2423. In case you think the circuit breaker switch has been mounted upside down, they are all like that for some reason. This unit is mounted in the forward right side of the cockpit. NZ2402 completed 482 hours in RNZAF service before being placed in long term storage in May 1957 and then sold off for scrap in 1958.

NZ2423 Ohakea 020721 Brendon Deere 01 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 020721 Brendon Deere 02 by Zac Yates, on Flickr

[camtech]

Jul 2, 2021 10:28:51 GMT 12 madmax said:

Peter,
If only Ken's parents had not been so strict!
I have a copy of the "Acceptance of Tender" document which has an photograph of NZ2403 attached.

Madmax, I would love to see a copy of that. Would add to the story.

[camtech]

Looking at the Airspeed Indicator Correction card brings back memories of many hours spent testing and calibrating pitot static instruments and preparing their correction cards. This particular one appears quite erratic, especially at lower speeds.

[madmax]

camtech, unable to post copy of tender doc here however if you message me with email details I'll send a copy

[camtech]

Jul 2, 2021 21:41:28 GMT 12 madmax said:

camtech, unable to post copy of tender doc here however if you message me with email details I'll send a copy

Done. Many thanks.

[baz62]

Jul 1, 2021 19:06:15 GMT 12 madmax said:

In 1958 a friend successfully bid for a P51 Mustang also on Tender #6926. For 100 pounds he became to owner of NZ2403 stored at Woodbourne

In a similar tale a workmate back in the 80s relates he bid and won one of the Mosquitos! He and a mate went to collect it but had to cancel the sale as he hadn't realised how big it was! There was no way he could get it back to Christchurch nor the room to store it. He now kicks himself and should have found a way!

[Dave Homewood]

Jul 2, 2021 21:41:28 GMT 12 madmax said:

camtech, unable to post copy of tender doc here however if you message me with email details I'll send a copy

If you would like it posted here for everyone to be able to read, I can post it for you. Email me on [e-mail]

[agile]

Jul 3, 2021 17:56:05 GMT 12 baz62 said:

Jul 1, 2021 19:06:15 GMT 12 madmax said:

In 1958 a friend successfully bid for a P51 Mustang also on Tender #6926. For 100 pounds he became to owner of NZ2403 stored at Woodbourne

In a similar tale a workmate back in the 80s relates he bid and won one of the Mosquitos! He and a mate went to collect it but had to cancel the sale as he hadn't realised how big it was! There was no way he could get it back to Christchurch nor the room to store it. He now kicks himself and should have found a way!

There was that newspaper clip posted on the John Smith Mosquito FB page about the lads who won a tender for three Mosquitos , IIRC two at Taieri and one at Wigram (this would be HR339). I'd love to know how that panned out, as supposedly our aircraft still had engines at that stage but they were gone by the time Bruce Goodwin bought the aircraft and got busy with his chainsaw.

[Deleted]

Weekly update (Facebook link):

Another steady week in both hemispheres with the rudder pedal assembly being trial fitted, build up of the elevator jig around a good unit (and checked against another unit), accessories for the fuselage fuel tank added - note the fuel gauge dial here has been cleaned but otherwise is original. Framework that supports the original radio fit out also goes into place.

In North Dakota steady progress on skinning the starboard wing. Progress in July will be a little quieter as it is US holiday season and also the annual migration to Oshkosh at the end of the month. Work is likely to stop on the starboard wing once it is skinned to the main spar whilst re assembly of the port wing will begin shortly.

NZ2423 Ohakea 030721 Brendon Deere 01 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 030721 Brendon Deere 02 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 030721 Brendon Deere 03 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 030721 Brendon Deere 04 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Ohakea 030721 Brendon Deere 05 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Odegaard Wings 030721 via Brendon Deere 01 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Odegaard Wings 030721 via Brendon Deere 02 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Odegaard Wings 030721 via Brendon Deere 03 by Zac Yates, on Flickr
NZ2423 Odegaard Wings 030721 via Brendon Deere 04 by Zac Yates, on Flickr