The first thing you notice on arriving, is the Omani Hunter FR.10 mounted as a gate guard on some poles opposite the main museum entrance . Since my last visit, the shuttering has been taken down from the around the Grahame-White Watchtower behind which is built a long shed in which the Tabloid and Bleriot, along with a few other bits and pieces, are now residing. It’s not open to the public yet but can be viewed from inside the G-W Factory. Taking up temporary residence in the Bomber Hall, is a Prentice which looks a bit lost parked in the space left by the Wellington. Another new addition to the central area between the two hangars is Tornado F3/ZE887. The film show in the BoB hall seems to be on the blink as the seating area was taped off and they nearly had all the lights on. I think it’s the first time I’ve managed to photograph the port side of the Spitfire. A new addition to the BoB Hall and positioned next to the Sunderland is Sea Plane Tender ST206. This particular type of launch was developed by TE Lawrence, of Lawrence of Arabia fame, into a fast response rescue boat from a British Power Boat Company design when he joined the RAF Marine Section and using the name TE Shaw in 1925.
I was shooting in RAW with camera on a tripod and the ISO fixed at 200, using a Sony 11-18mm wide angle lens and the ‘Steady Shot’ turned off. The Sony A550 was on Manual and using aperture settings of between F8 & F11, and using the histogram in the live view screen, setting the shutter speed myself so I could either lighten or darken the image depending on the artificial light that was available to ensure an even curve so as not to blow out the shadows or highlights.
More from RAFM Hendon HERE
Brian
By: Denis - 24th January 2011 at 18:12
So I see!
Honestly, the board describing the Typhoon as a model was upstairs in the gallery in milestones, and right next to the real deal. Mind you, there were quite a few displaced items on our last visit.
By: Pen Pusher - 17th January 2011 at 21:14
Then they need to change the information board!. I visited a few weeks ago and came away with the same thought. Having read the display board it tells you it is a ‘model made for a TV advert’ although I must say I thought it looked real.
It hoodwinked me, and a few others, judging by the comments from those around me that were reading from the same information board.
This is the only model made for a TV advert.
Brian
By: Denis - 17th January 2011 at 20:56
No it isn’t
Brian
Then they need to change the information board!. I visited a few weeks ago and came away with the same thought. Having read the display board it tells you it is a ‘model made for a TV advert’ although I must say I thought it looked real.
It hoodwinked me, and a few others, judging by the comments from those around me that were reading from the same information board.
By: Rlangham - 17th January 2011 at 19:51
WOW! The inside of the Watchtower and factory building looks superb
By: Jur - 17th January 2011 at 09:31
Very nice pictures Brian! That watchtower building is a beautiful addition. On my last visit to Hendon in November 2009, I was rather disappointed by the lighting inside the museum halls. Most of all I disliked the multi-coloured lighting in the BoB hall. I much preferred the “normal” lighting of the BoB hall during my first visit in the mid seventies.
By: Pen Pusher - 17th January 2011 at 09:21
Great Photos,
the ‘Typhoon’ (Currently in the milestones) is a plastic display model
No it isn’t DA-2/ZH588
Brian
By: Bruce - 17th January 2011 at 09:19
The Typhoon is a real one; the plastic one was replaced a couple of years ago.
However, I dont believe it is a milestone of flight!
Bruce
By: Amarok - 17th January 2011 at 09:11
Great Photos,
IMHO The Hunter should go into the Milestones Gallery (Excellent aircraft and a commercial sucess for UK) and the ‘Plastic’ Eurofighter Typhoon should go on the poles, I can see it now we will have photos in 2013 with the hunter looking shabby and corroded with the possibility of it being scrapped ! (mabey I am getting sinical in my old age but the RAFM’s track record on external airframes really sucks) at the moment the Hunter looks immaculate but in Oman Markings is it really relevent to the Royal Air Force the ‘Typhoon’ (Currently in the milestones) is a plastic display model and would in RAF Markings make a very good gate guard, and is better suited to external display. I think we really need to start looking after our heritage before it all turns to dust !
Mike
By: me109g4 - 17th January 2011 at 00:31
Great pics, many thanks
By: GrahamSimons - 16th January 2011 at 20:53
my god that’s bright!
By: Arabella-Cox - 16th January 2011 at 20:36
Blimey!
Somebody must have found a shilling for the electric meter.
Hurts your eyes.
Are those mini floodlights under the Spit and Hurri new additions? I don’t recall them being there before.
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January 16, 2011 at 8:19 pm