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MOTAT
May 7, 2008 16:48:13 GMT 12
Post by vs on May 7, 2008 16:48:13 GMT 12
Went to MOTAT airfield today. Restoration hangar looks as though it is just about ready. It is actually looking really good! Looks like they have done alot of work on the inside with lighting etc....Well done!!!! Solent really is a magic aeroplane!
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MOTAT
May 7, 2008 23:11:07 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on May 7, 2008 23:11:07 GMT 12
Great to hear, must be a first class facility now, and hopefully that will attract some more qualified help with the large number of ongoing restorations.
First person to confirm the Mosquito back undercover should post the news for us all!
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MOTAT
May 16, 2008 22:49:33 GMT 12
Post by brassnz on May 16, 2008 22:49:33 GMT 12
Well, I drive down Meola Rd at least twice a day, and there's no sign of the Mozzie going anywhere near undercover just yet. Though I did see a digger in action mid-week, so at least there's some action.
I may take my son to MOTAT this wknd - if so, will try to figure out how to post photos on here...
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MOTAT
May 16, 2008 23:07:27 GMT 12
Post by flyjoe180 on May 16, 2008 23:07:27 GMT 12
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MOTAT
May 16, 2008 23:12:07 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on May 16, 2008 23:12:07 GMT 12
I'm looking forward to your photos brass, I hope you get better weather than Kerry and I did a few weeks back.
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MOTAT
May 25, 2008 16:33:35 GMT 12
Post by sputnik767 on May 25, 2008 16:33:35 GMT 12
Went to motat today.... A hard working group of volunteers were very busy. I had the extreme delight in watching the moquito, the avaenger and the hudson move into the move and renovated workshop... I have taken photos but need to sort out the posting, otherwise I will post them on the flypast forum...
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MOTAT
May 30, 2008 20:23:04 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on May 30, 2008 20:23:04 GMT 12
Great to see some of the aircraft under cover now for the winter. Please do post the link for further photos, I'd be interested for one to see them.
Also looks like an amazing amount of indepth work on the Avenger.
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MOTAT
May 31, 2008 22:33:51 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on May 31, 2008 22:33:51 GMT 12
Excellent photo Sputnik, it is nice to see the Hudson is finally indoors again, and the same goes for the Mossie and Avenger. That Avenger has certainly had a fair bit of work done on it, but it will be a huge job to completion I think. It was so badly affected by the topdressing fertiliser and then prolonged outdoor storage that even the restoration team leader didn't seem too confident of the restoration when he showed me around it three years ago. Basicly every rivet and most panels were being replaced from memory, so it will be a new aircraft when finished. It's certainly looking to be progressing well now though, a lot of work done. Well done to them.
Something that many overlook too, it is fantastic to see this historic hangar has been restored. It once housed fighters at RNZAF Station Ardmore during the war, so has a great history all of its own.
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MOTAT
Jun 1, 2008 8:36:48 GMT 12
Post by sputnik767 on Jun 1, 2008 8:36:48 GMT 12
I don't know when the aircraft were moved off the grass, but when I arrived the bibber aircraft were sitting on the hard(?not sure if thats the right word when you look at the solpe) of the old belfast hangar. Just about to move During Inside at last
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petera
Flight Lieutenant
Posts: 88
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MOTAT
Jun 3, 2008 4:31:57 GMT 12
Post by petera on Jun 3, 2008 4:31:57 GMT 12
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MOTAT
Jun 14, 2008 9:16:26 GMT 12
Post by avro683 on Jun 14, 2008 9:16:26 GMT 12
What an amazing collection of aircraft with some rare types there as well! The mosquito looks in very good condition despite being outdoors!
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MOTAT
Jun 14, 2008 12:03:21 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 14, 2008 12:03:21 GMT 12
The Mossie has been restored slowly over the past two decades and nears completion but was then put outdoors for six months or so while the hangar was shifted. It's looking good but needs engines and a paint touch uo, etc.
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MOTAT
Jun 14, 2008 21:22:33 GMT 12
Post by shorty on Jun 14, 2008 21:22:33 GMT 12
Two decades Dave? more like 4! It was about 1965 that we went and got it from Coleman's farm
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MOTAT
Jun 15, 2008 15:46:49 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 15, 2008 15:46:49 GMT 12
Cheers Shorty. I thought it had been stored for a long period before restoration began but I may be wrong. I remember watching the chap at Wigram repairing the wings, such a magnificent task and he basically did most of the work himself, on No. 7 Hangar's floor, voluntarily. That was in the early 1990's. It's great to see it together again now.
Do you have any photos or memories from the recovery Shorty?
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MOTAT
Jun 16, 2008 4:28:56 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on Jun 16, 2008 4:28:56 GMT 12
I'd be interested to know the history of it's collection from the farm.
As far as I can tell no work was carried out at all on the wings until they moved to Wigram. The fuselage though had a lot of work through perhaps the late 70's or very early eighties before being effectively stored until recently when undercarriage, engine cowl and reassembly work commenced.
So perhaps three decades would be a compromise estimate?
I didn't realise that she doesn't have engines fitted. Both are certainly ready to be fitted, though I would think keeping them out is a good idea until all its moves are finished and the new extension is completed for permanent display.
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MOTAT
Jun 16, 2008 16:29:17 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 16, 2008 16:29:17 GMT 12
Actually when I said it needs engines I am probably wrong. I meant props and hubs, etc. I think the engines are on it. Sorry for the confusion.
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MOTAT
Jun 18, 2008 7:30:51 GMT 12
Post by Richard Wesley on Jun 18, 2008 7:30:51 GMT 12
Well, Motat certainly has the spinners, not sure the condition as didn't see them on my last visit.
I should warn the purists here now for a possible shock on the propellers though. Motat never secured any Mosquito props and so the plan when I was involved that was always talked about was DC3 blades. However it seems some Lockheed Hudson blades have been prepared ready for installation.
I'm not complaining, as those doing the work every day down there at the Motat coal face have quite enough to worry about, and to joe blow public a spinny thing on the engine is just that. But I'm not at all sure how pointed Lockheed blades are going to look in the place of paddle Mossie style, to those of us who know.
So, anyone with a spare set of DH blades under their beds who wants someone new to hang them... what better place than the real thing.
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MOTAT
Jun 18, 2008 7:44:18 GMT 12
Post by sputnik767 on Jun 18, 2008 7:44:18 GMT 12
Speaking to a someone there when I took those pic's said exhaust stubs were also required....They had been looking in the lending pool and get a set made up but with all the construction, packing and unpacking he wasn't sure where things were at there??
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MOTAT
Jun 18, 2008 18:58:59 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 18, 2008 18:58:59 GMT 12
I guess Hudson blades will be ok in the interum. Perhaps some Mosquito blades might be found later. There must be spare blades out there in places like the UK and Canada. It's not like they have to be serviceable.
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MOTAT
Jun 19, 2008 19:31:09 GMT 12
Post by denysjones on Jun 19, 2008 19:31:09 GMT 12
Don't know about that Dave as we just did a blade swap for Yeager as SAFE condemned one of the blades sent to them to make the props up from.
He'd been scratching just to get 6 so we did the decent thing as serviceability doesn't worry us , doubt it'll ever be acknowledged though.
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