I’ve been meaning to upload some more recent pics of the old girl’s progress, finally got time today. The fuselage jig is now complete, save wooden profile boards being cut. As for the wing, the lads are in the process of skinning but the wheel well skin is being a bit of a pain so there’s a bit of ‘tweaking’ taking place. It will hopefully be riveted up by april all going well then it’s a matter of getting the fuselage into the workshop and stripping it down. Enjoy.
Tom 😉
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By: Tom_W - 28th February 2003 at 18:38
LOL, nah she’s not in need of a major rebuild yet, I think that I’d be in need of one before her as I’m the ‘old man’ seeing as she’s urrrrmmmm a ‘few’ years younger than me 😉 Saying that, my ‘plane’ Mrs does still need quite a bit of work though.
Tom 😉
By: Yak 11 Fan - 24th February 2003 at 21:31
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
Tom,
Is it strictly fair to say your Mrs was getting a bit long in the tooth and in need of a major rebuild??????
By: Tom_W - 24th February 2003 at 19:20
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
Cheers folks, sorry I’ve not been able to reply earlier but the Mrs takes precedence 😉 The old girl was getting a bit ‘long in the tooth’ and was in need of a major rebuild, the tailplane was rebuilt a couple of years back which leaves the rest of the airframe to do although the Port wing is finished apart from armament and the Stbd is nearly finished as you can see in the pics. The trouble is with spits is that when manufactured they were assembled using Magnesium rivets which go very brittle in time, though admittedly they weren’t exactly expected to last years what with dodging bullets/ropey pilots etc, All of the structure therefore had to come apart and be restored and riveted up using an Aluminium spec rivet which will last for years given the airframe is not overstressed. She’s done well to last this long really given the service she did at OTUs and postwar, even MH434 didn’t last this long before a total restoration and that is a younger airframe. Victor Gauntlett doesn’t own the aircraft now, it’s owned by Sheringham Avaition who also own C-47 N1944A which resides at Kemble. In the end I’d love to see her in the stripy cowled finish but that decision will be up to the owner, I just hope we can indeed fit a Dh prop to make her into a ‘proper’ MKI.
Tom 😉
By: Arabella-Cox - 23rd February 2003 at 15:27
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
Nice shots Tom, thanks for posting the link. Much as I love the sight of any Spitfire flying, there’s always been something special about the early marks. Can’t wait to see her back up where she belongs. 🙂
By: EN830 - 23rd February 2003 at 13:43
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-02-03 AT 01:44Â PM (GMT)]I thought this serial looked familiar, I have the Log Book of W/O R G E Wilson who flew this particular aircraft on a number of occasions during his time with 53 OTU.
24 May 44 Airtest from Stbd exhaust,excessive smoke.
26 June 44 Air Test Major inspection
5 July 44 Air Test after block change
Ian
We’re not mad, just psychotic.
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By: alexis_lambert - 22nd February 2003 at 19:00
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
About time too, i thought she was in dire shape when i sat in her about 5 years ago. There were 3 phillips screws where rivets should have been. If Victor still owns her it’s about time he put his hand in those very deep pockets.
It’ll be great if she’s to be restored to her original colours with stripy cowling.
By: Ant.H - 22nd February 2003 at 15:34
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
Thanks for those Tom,I’ve been wondering how she’s progressing.Interesting to see a fully painted fuselage in a workshop jig.Was there a particular reason for rebuilding her or was she generally in need of some tlc?
By: Tom_W - 22nd February 2003 at 12:21
RE: AR213 rebuild pics
….urm the words “soppy” and “tart” spring to mind, forgot the link:
http://community.webshots.com/user/kartmann109
…always doing that.
Tom 😉
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February 22, 2003 at 12:19 pm