Hi,
Happy New Year to one and all!!
The best Christmas present for me arrived just before Christmas at the Wings Museum.
I am sure we all remember the long discussion on this forum about the FN4 in Australia but I thought I would start with a clean slate to discuss the turret’s future rather than it’s past.
Having been listed on ebay with no bids we managed to make a deal with the vendor and secure the turret for display in our Bomber Command section here at the Wings Museum. The short term plans are to get it on imediate display when the museum reopens in March but the long term plans is to restore the turret. Therefore naturally we are keen to hear from anyone with any FN4 parts that might assist with the restoration work, if anyone has a parts manual that would be a very good starting point so we can begin getting to grips with what is missing from the project. Even as is it is a nice display piece.
I know finding parts is going to be very difficult but that seems to be common practice with most of the projects we undertake here at Wings such as our P-63 and Invader cockpit etc. So we do like a challenge!! Please feel free to get in touch.
Dan
By: turretboy - 11th January 2017 at 20:36
Thank you for sharing the pics. You’re very lucky that it came with the control grips and rotation bearings!
Be sure to post some pics to the turret FB group.
By: Tin Triangle - 11th January 2017 at 18:36
Thanks for the pics! Looks like a good solid base for a project 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th January 2017 at 12:58
I would probably not strip it down very much as there are no corrosion issues to tackle and any damage is minimal and repairable in situ. The biggest problem is time, so in answer to your question we would only produce drawings of parts we end up reproducing for the project. The biggest hurdle really for me is the cupla as without an original it is going to be a struggle to make one from scratch, not impossible I know but I think one could be sourced in time? I guess we will see, whatever it is not going to be a quick project!
Hi
Assuming that you will eventually have to strip it down completely can I ask if you are planning to produce engineering drawings of each part? People following in your footsteps will then find it easier to rebuild their own projects, especially if they need to replace ‘missing’ parts.
Cheers
James
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th January 2017 at 12:52
Now that store looks amazing! the only problem I can see with a loan is if they want it back after its been built into our turret. There was a cupla for sale on Spitfire spares a few years back, that would have helped dramatically, but it’s now sold. I am planning on contacting the Ulster Aviation Socieity as they have done a fantastic restoration on their one which is now complete.
No problem – just pop up to your friendly UK warehouse to see what they have in stock and on the shelf for loan.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]250630[/ATTACH]
The box of parts for their own FN4 is a bit large so there may be some duplicates
[ATTACH=CONFIG]250631[/ATTACH]
Stafford Store
Ross
By: jamesinnewcastl - 11th January 2017 at 12:18
Hi
Assuming that you will eventually have to strip it down completely can I ask if you are planning to produce engineering drawings of each part? People following in your footsteps will then find it easier to rebuild their own projects, especially if they need to replace ‘missing’ parts.
Cheers
James
By: Ross_McNeill - 11th January 2017 at 12:12
Many thanks!
Cee’s a fine idea!! always open to ideas. The cuplua is going to be the hardest part I think.
No problem – just pop up to your friendly UK warehouse to see what they have in stock and on the shelf for loan.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]250630[/ATTACH]
The box of parts for their own FN4 is a bit large so there may be some duplicates
[ATTACH=CONFIG]250631[/ATTACH]
Stafford Store
Ross
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th January 2017 at 11:41
And some more…
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th January 2017 at 11:37
A few photos as promised…
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th January 2017 at 20:23
Yes of course I’ll get some pics the next time I’m over the museum
By: Tin Triangle - 5th January 2017 at 18:49
Congratulations on a happy end to this saga! Any pics to share? 😉
By: hawker1966 - 5th January 2017 at 17:55
Happy new year to all at the Wings museum,
And well done on adding yet another rare item to the museums collection.
Looks like i will be heading down to the Wings museum in March (not that i need an excuse)
Cant wait to see the FN4 project progress.
By: turretboy - 5th January 2017 at 13:42
That’s awesome!
Parts for that turret will be very difficult to come by, but not impossible. Just keep your eyes open.
By: Arabella-Cox - 5th January 2017 at 11:59
Well done, a good home it has too.
Many thanks!
Cee’s a fine idea!! always open to ideas. The cuplua is going to be the hardest part I think.
By: Trolly Aux - 5th January 2017 at 11:09
Well done, a good home it has too.
By: CeBro - 5th January 2017 at 10:12
Congratulations Dan!
A very rare turret, perhaps you can make a similar display as the Brussels museum has done with a new built Whitley tailsection.
Perhaps Elliott can help you out.
Cees
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January 5, 2017 at 9:21 am