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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 19, 2008 11:23:12 GMT 12
There are a few fibreglass replicas around the place now, and I was wondering, for those that are outdoors like the Spitfires at Harewood and Hamilton, does anyone know what sort of lifespan is expected out of them?
My late Dad was a fibreglass expert, he had his own model business and for about 30 years manufactured fibreglass model boats and aircraft for kitsets. I once asked him about the possibility of making a fibreglass windvane and he advised against it because he said the resin breaks down under UV light exposure.
So I wonder with these big public strusctures, how many years or decades are expected out of them? Does anyone know where the oldest ones are still standing? Hendon perhaps? USA?
Due to the ozone hole our UV factor is 6 times that of Eyres Rock so ours will have a shorter life than a nice smog-protected UK one I guess.
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Post by shorty on Jun 19, 2008 11:38:10 GMT 12
Would the quality and condition of the paint work have a bearing on it? In other words if they are looked after and the paint job is kept up to scratch would the UV be blocked from ghetting at the resin?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 19, 2008 11:52:48 GMT 12
Yes I guess it will be a big factor and I suppose UV resistant paint is used if possible. They would have to keep the interior painted too, having a big perspex glass house magnifying the light into the interior, I'd think.
Has the Harewood Spitfire been repainted many times?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 25, 2008 21:36:09 GMT 12
An interesting fact I just turned up, according to a Waikato Times article from the 27th of June 1984, the original fibreglass replica of TE288 which was then under construction (later burned) was at that time thought to be the first ever full sized fibreglass replica of a Spitfire. Interesting.
Was any of the remains of the first replica able to be salvaged and incorporated into the replacement?
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Post by baz62 on Sept 1, 2008 21:28:10 GMT 12
An interesting fact I just turned up, according to a Waikato Times article from the 27th of June 1984, the original fibreglass replica of TE288 which was then under construction (later burned) was at that time thought to be the first ever full sized fibreglass replica of a Spitfire. Interesting. Was any of the remains of the first replica able to be salvaged and incorporated into the replacement? I had heard it was bought by the chap who had the Mustang and farmed near Woodbourne (yes old age I've forgotten his name) and he planned to fit a Rolls Royce Kestral and a prop and run it! Could be one of THOSE rumours!! |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 1, 2008 21:49:53 GMT 12
Do you mean Peter Coleman?
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Post by baz62 on Sept 2, 2008 17:21:55 GMT 12
Ah yes thats the chap. I believe he passed away a few years ago?
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Post by Radialicious on Sept 2, 2008 21:18:41 GMT 12
I knew Pete Coleman back in 1990 and until his death. He was a fascinating bloke and I remember visiting his old property and noticing an Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah engine lying under a tree. After his death, I found out that it belonged to a guy in New Plymouth. I managed to buy it off him and over the next few years restored it to running condition. The Cheetah hasn't run for a few years now and is on the back burner until a rainy day. I saw that Spitfire several years ago in a shed in Blenheim on the Anthony Chaytor property in Marshlands. When I saw it I thought I had discovered the complete and spotless Spitfire in a shed that we all dream about. It was soon easy to tell that it was fibreglass and the fire damage made it clear where it came from. I wonder if is still there. The Chaytor property has suffered incredibly at the hands of vandals and arsonists over the years. The last serious arson destroyed the homestead where a lot of random/valuable/worthless and/or irreplaceable treasures were lost. As I understand it, TE 288 was the first Spit to be replaced with a replica.
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