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Weston Catalina

Could anything tell me what was salvaged from the sorry affair and if anything is still available please

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By: FarlamAirframes - 27th February 2014 at 09:18

Mike – it was painted with:

Leonard Birchall – Saviour of Ceylon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Birchall

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By: Arabella-Cox - 26th February 2014 at 22:48

May have done, Mike J. I’m only going on what I heard from the seller. France, I believe he said – but I may be mistaken, it was two year’s ago.

Anon.

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By: Mike J - 26th February 2014 at 22:34

The observation blisters were sold previously and went, I believe, abroad.

I thought they went to Biggin Hill.

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By: Arabella-Cox - 26th February 2014 at 22:30

Aah, so you managed to sell it eventually, Brian?!

Remind me, what was the artwork you applied to it?

Anon.

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By: FarlamAirframes - 26th February 2014 at 22:25

The Nose Hatch is now in Germany!

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By: Arabella-Cox - 26th February 2014 at 17:33

I visited Ireland in 2012 and viewed what was left of the aircraft with the scrappers. I purchased the (overhauled) propellers and viewed the Wright R-2600 engines with a view to possible purchase. Due to their having been ‘dunked’ in sea water at the time of the aircraft’s demise I decided not to buy them, so not sure if they are still around or not or whether they will have gone to the smelter by now.

There were also the wheels with cut-off undercarriage legs, a float, cowling parts, nosewheel doors, a couple of wing tips and some smaller miscellaneous parts at a couple of locations.

Also extant were the bare instrument panels and some switch panels along with the control wheels on the distinctive Catalina up-and-over hoop arrangement as well as the nose hatch for sale. I bought these and ferried them back to blighty for a couple of UK enthusiasts.

Not much else exists as far as I am aware. The airframe proper was completely scrapped. The observation blisters were sold previously and went, I believe, abroad.

Anon.

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