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Post by emron on Apr 28, 2024 17:08:59 GMT 12
Nothing but the best for the Sunderland. A touch of gold on the second kit-set receiver now primed and ready, for its assembly next time. receiver_parts by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Apr 24, 2024 17:30:39 GMT 12
Here’s one for the Sunderland veterans. After a few more finishing touches it will be ready to fit onto the bearing arm by the port hatch. The second will not be far behind. Little of this would have been achieved yet without the kind gift of the original gun mount parts from the John Smith collection, provided and delivered with the help of curtiss. beam_gun_assembly by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Apr 17, 2024 17:57:38 GMT 12
Some more progress on the Sunderland front. Here is one of the sight heads mounted on its adaptor, now ready to slide onto the bracket by the front window and a spare adaptor that can be displayed separately. sight_head_and_adaptors by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The second sight head in its storage box, ready to stow on the shelf. sight_head_in_-box by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The frame and shelf for the storage box, paint-stripped and corrosion dealt to. Soon to be painted and re-assembled. storage_rack by Ron Wilson, on Flickr More additions to the nearside of the GPU. ABC_GPU_3 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Apr 11, 2024 18:44:56 GMT 12
The Sunderland’s bomb sight is the low level Mk III type. It’s sighting head part is what the bomb aimer used in the bow compartment. When not in use it was stowed in the box on the shelf at the back of the compartment on the starboard side. The shelf frame and tray have now been paint stripped and just need a few small rusted screws to be removed before they will be ready for painting. As well as the sighting head in the storage box we have a spare that has been overhauled as well, so we could display that one in position at the window if we choose. Here’s a photo of the other major component of the bomb sight, the computor, which is operated from the right-hand seat in the cockpit and connected to the sight head by electrical and flexible drive cables. computor by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Apr 7, 2024 20:08:26 GMT 12
Today, having a re-think about the bunk problem, I took a tape measure to the two that had been previously fitted in the wardroom, only to find that one was three inches shorter than the other!! Soon after, we had all four fitting in their rightful place and no need to modify the spare one after all. Continuing on with the replica beam gun mount, here are the two side fittings that stiffen the frame, the last major parts of the mount now done and fitted. side_fittings by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Moving on to the second replica Browning, the parts of its charger assembly ready to build on to the receiver side plate, to complete the matching pair. pair_of_chargers by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Apr 3, 2024 19:52:44 GMT 12
The second backplate is now painted and installed on its frame. Next up is the pair of side units that join the two sections of frame together. The yoke pivots between them as well. Last month, while removing the bomb sight storage rack from the bow compartment of the Sunderland, Richard discovered it was badly corroded and the steel vibration mounts had rusted through. We found a set of good vibration mounts to replace them and he’ll soon have the rack repaired and painted. Bob and Henry had previously refurbished the bomb sight and its stowage box so these can be returned too once the time’s right. Mike has finished painting the last of the interior doors. The bunks were repaired and re-covered years ago but when it came to put them back one of the rear ones didn’t fit, so we’ve been forced to swap the hinges over on a shorter spare frame to complete the set. The near side cylinder head for the GPU has been re-assembled and the section of crankcase below it was painted prior. GPU_cylinder_parts by Ron Wilson, on Flickr ABC_GPU_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Mar 21, 2024 17:08:15 GMT 12
Here’s an update for curtiss and for the quarter-millionth viewer too. Not quite finished but the fabrication’s over and just the final assembly, adjustments and trimming to be done. backplate_4 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Mar 8, 2024 18:30:02 GMT 12
A start was made on degreasing and re-painting the crankcase for the Generating and Pumping Unit on Wednesday, while the accessories are off to get the same treatment on the bench. Pleasing progress has also been made during the week on the build of the replica backplate. backplate_3 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Mar 5, 2024 18:06:18 GMT 12
On Sunday, I did the mini stocktake of marine equipment in the Solent and found the flag mast, boat hook and two drogues aboard. I noticed both the drogues needed repairs like the Sunderland ones did, with some ropes frayed or cut off, so I brought them back to the workshop to mend. Meanwhile moving ahead with the replica gun mount, the two sights are ready. gun_sights_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The major parts of the backplate are now cut out and next up to shape, trim and final assembly. backplate_2 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Feb 28, 2024 19:59:17 GMT 12
Richard’s Utility Plane is in storage at present but will soon take centre-stage in the new Science and Technology Centre opening at MOTAT’s Western Springs site in late May. Back to the topic of flying boat bilging, we’ll have to consider what similar equipment should also be fitted to the Solent. Next time I might take a trip aboard AMO and check out what other marine equipment in common is required there too. We now have two overhauled hand pumps: bilge_pumps by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Here’s the number plate from one. number_plate by Ron Wilson, on Flickr This Generating and Pumping Unit is missing parts and just loosely assembled to check for shortages. What we have of it will next be cleaned and painted and can be displayed in the Sunderland's Bomb Compartment, where the other bilging equipment is stowed. ABC_GPU by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The Solent used a different type of Auxiliary Generating Plant, the ALCO Featherweight made by Arthur Lyon & Co., powered by a 1.25hp re-badged J.A.P. model 3 single-cylinder petrol engine. I think MOTAT is still to find one of those.
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Post by emron on Feb 24, 2024 12:30:34 GMT 12
My how time flies and also how some things seem to remain the same. Here’s a link to a November 1964 photo of some previous major roadworks in Meola Rd. kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/162154This was taken before MOTAT first occupied its Meola Rd site on the southern side, which began following the arrival of the Solent in May 1966. Coincidently MOTAT’s Western Springs site opened to the public for the first time on 14 October 1964. A modern-day scene of the same stretch of road nearly 60 years later. meola_rd_2024 by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Feb 18, 2024 16:19:07 GMT 12
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Post by emron on Feb 15, 2024 11:30:41 GMT 12
The theme of MOTAT’s Live Day on this coming Sunday, Feb 18, is “Emergency First Response.” Taking pride of place on the day will be Sikorsky helicopter ZK-ISJ. It will be the first opportunity for visitors to see “Juliet” since she arrived and likely the only chance for a public view in the short term.
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Post by emron on Feb 14, 2024 21:08:53 GMT 12
NZ2504 and NZ2527 were retired by June 1959 if that helps to pinpoint the date.
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Post by emron on Feb 11, 2024 17:00:55 GMT 12
Here’s the refurbished hand operated bilge pump for the Sunderland, to be stowed in the bomb compartment. Just like the one fondly remembered by Robin Klitscher in his account of the near sinking of NZ4113 at Hobsonville in October 1959. bilge_pump by Ron Wilson, on Flickr On the left are the four replica illuminated gun sights MkIIIA, that Andy from our tramway workshop has skilfully produced for the Sunderland. They just need to be finished with reflector glasses and daylight hoods. The top two are each mounted on their bearer arm and ready to be fitted back on the beam guns. The lower two will equip the front and rear turrets. Alongside, for comparison, are two genuine sights, the upper from the Hudson turret and the lower from the Lancaster’s mid-upper turret. gun_sights by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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MOTAT
Feb 9, 2024 21:34:38 GMT 12
Post by emron on Feb 9, 2024 21:34:38 GMT 12
The fittings are inserts that have been removed from the bracing tubes of one the Sunderland’s wing spars. The cut-out window looks to be for one of the recognition light positions outboard of the bomb trolley track.
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Post by emron on Feb 7, 2024 17:24:00 GMT 12
Here are the sea-drogues now fully rigged before they were returned to their bins on either side of the galley. sea_drogues by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The floorboards and safety lines are back in place in the bomb compartment. Next up here is to re-fit the watertight doors, manual bilge pump and hoses.
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Post by emron on Feb 4, 2024 17:04:39 GMT 12
The hook that I used to complete the second safety line last week was “borrowed” from a spare sea drogue that was in the store. Later, feeling guilty that I may have robbed Peter to pay Paul, I checked out the condition of the two drogues stowed in the galley aboard the Sunderland. Neither of them had a hook attached and both appeared to be missing a length a rope and shackle to connect to the mounting eye in the galley. However, packed in the bin with each drogue was a separate piece of rope with eyes spliced to each end and small spring clips bound on. They looked more like sections of rope barrier to me.
After more than a little browsing on-line and poring over Sunderland compartment diagrams, I eventually found the answers to the puzzle. This morning, I brought both drogues back to the workshop and laid them out on the floor. A couple of weeks ago when first looking for the safety line hook, I found some others that were permanently attached to wire ropes. Next, I went and got those cables from the store. They turned out to be about 6 feet long and with a shackle on the other end, just right to link the drogue to the airframe fitting. The best two are now joined to the drogues. The second drogue was also missing the tripping line which is used to collapse and retrieve the drogue after use. I remembered seeing a spare swivel and short cord on the spares shelf. That was soon attached, and extra cord tied on. Both drogues are now complete. I’ll return them to the Sunderland next time and maybe take a photo of one hanging out the hatch as a demo. The best of the spare ones has been reserved and that will be stowed in its position in the bow compartment when that’s ready.
As for the extra ropes, I discovered they are the safety lines that run down either side of the walkway through the bomb compartment. We’ll mount them back once Mike’s fitted all the newly painted floorboards there. That’s just some of this week’s gaps filled and mysteries solved.
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Post by emron on Jan 30, 2024 12:15:59 GMT 12
Last Wednesday I discovered the location for a length of rope that had been carefully bagged up and was amongst the Sunderland spares. It’s one of two that are mounted on either side of the starboard beam gun hatch. I’m guessing their purpose is to be as a safety rope and they could be strung up across the open ends of the gunners’ platform, when it was in use, to prevent a fall. The tattered remains of the other rope were still hanging down alongside the rear door, but cut in half and missing the hook. I found another hook and some suitably distressed rope and on Sunday fashioned a replacement, the one on the right. It turned out to be synthetic and too badly weathered to last, but it will do until we get a decent length of manilla. Both ropes are now back in place. safety_ropes by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The gun mount bracing assembly and handgrips are now finished, and I’ve turned my attention back to completing the backplate. gun_mount_parts by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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Post by emron on Jan 26, 2024 17:37:31 GMT 12
I spent most of my time on Wednesday assembling the replica beam mount and gun so didn’t get to finish off the panels, I’ll look at them again on Sunday. We used the best of the genuine parts that we had to complete the port gun mount so there’s only a few left over for the replica starboard one. Here’s the front bracing assembly that stiffens up the mount frame and prevents it from spreading when the gun is fired. The second bracket was broken and only half remained so I’ve made a new end that can be riveted on as a temporary fix. front_brace by Ron Wilson, on Flickr Likewise, the handgrips, shown here before they are trimmed and shaped, are of wood until we can make others from more durable material. handgrips by Ron Wilson, on Flickr The backplate for the mount has been the hardest part to reproduce and here its current stage of progress. It's topped off with one of the great gunsights that Andy from our tramway workshop has made, one of four for the Sunderland. backplate by Ron Wilson, on Flickr
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