January 12, 2014 at 6:22 pm
The following request for assistance has been added to the NAM News Page regarding the cockpit fixtures and fittings for WB491:
โNow that work is well underway to get the fuselage section of Avro Ashton WB491 more mobile the museum trustees are keen to make more progress on the internal restoration and refit of the fuselage.
We are keen to know why the cockpit area and front fuselage was stripped out and especially what happened to the various items that were removed.
Record photographs that we have available from its early days at Rhoose in South Wales seem to indicate that this area was complete and undamaged; this was before it went to Woodford near Manchester.
A small album of photographs has been added to the Museum Gallery page on the website and this contains various pictures of the Ashton, with both internal and external views. Any suggestions or information about what might have happened to the missing parts would be greatly appreciated.โ
Can any forumites offer any recollections or assistance?
An album of photographs has also been added in here and hopefully more images will be added in due course regarding what it looked like at Rhoose.
By: SADSACK - 13th April 2018 at 21:01
I have lost count of how many unique exhibits NAM have!
By: TwinOtter23 - 13th April 2018 at 17:00
OK.
By: Runway06 - 13th April 2018 at 16:59
Ok thanks for trying!
By: TwinOtter23 - 13th April 2018 at 16:45
Sorry it’s highly unlikely that NAM can get the Ashton open tomorrow – the normal opener for that exhibit is away; the best that might be possible is to arrange something for later in the year at either the V-Force event, or Cockpit-Fest sorry!
By: Runway06 - 12th April 2018 at 19:39
Thanks for the information and update, if it doesnโt get open that often would be a great opportunity just to see inside such a rare exhibit. My interest is in the Avro Tudors which I believe this was derived from
By: TwinOtter23 - 12th April 2018 at 19:33
I was over at NAM all day today & I did not see the Ashton on any open cockpit lists for Saturday; it’s not something that gets opened very often (difficult location & high up).
Ordinarily I might try to get something sorted out and try to open it myself, but I suspect that I’m going to be rather busy; there are a few site access/weather related issues to try and manage that I suspect will keep me occupied for much of the day (another update will go onto the other thread later).
I am due to be over at NAM again tomorrow, following the funeral of a much valued trustee and I will ask if anyone might be able to open the Ashton on Saturday. To be honest there’s not a great deal to see, as per the attached photo of the cockpit area.
By: Runway06 - 12th April 2018 at 18:23
Is the Avro Ashton going to be open for inspection this Saturday ?
By: TwinOtter23 - 11th November 2015 at 18:08
Very few items were in the fuselage when it came to Newark. It is believed they were in situ at Rhoose (as was the nose cone) so they may exist somewhere โ so really itโs a case of hopefully finding, or making!
Iโm told that the instrument store has taken a hit to put this one together! ๐
By: Wyvernfan - 11th November 2015 at 17:27
Very nice Howard. Does the museum have cockpit fittings such as control columns and throttle box etc or are these on the to make / find list?
Rob
By: TwinOtter23 - 11th November 2015 at 11:22
A little progress can be seen on the Ashton control panel in the Museum Work Gallery โ here!
By: TwinOtter23 - 26th February 2015 at 20:25
The work on the Ashton is progressing steadily but thereโs not been much to report recently and there’s only one picture of the cockpit work in the Gallery area on the new website.
However by a strange coincidence the Aston is on the Acquisition Timeline page of the NAM website today โ it moved to Newark on 26th February 2003 details in here!
By: Runway06 - 26th February 2015 at 19:32
Any updates as to how this project is coming along?
By: TwinOtter23 - 7th January 2015 at 14:48
During my visit to NAM this morning I was shown the work that has been started on the main instrument panel for the Ashton; and advised that at least one photograph had been added to the Restoration & Behind The Scenes album in here!
Not a brilliant picture but it’s a start!
Hastings wing information to follow later!! ๐
By: TwinOtter23 - 25th August 2014 at 15:15
I hope that everything settles down for you all in the not too distant future; change can be unsettling but hopefully you’ll be in a better position in the long run.
As I’ve posted before one of the best things that NAM ever did was purchase the Southfield Site; this was viewed as a slightly controversial move by those that just wanted more aircraft, but in hindsight it was the best decision that could have been made!! ๐
By: 12jaguar - 25th August 2014 at 13:25
Hi Howard
No problem, yes we’re having to move again. It was always on the cards as the Alconbury site is being redeveloped (Housing / Light industry), our landlords have relocated us temporarily into another building which unfortunately isn’t suitable, but hopefully we’ll know a bit more in the near future about the availability on site of another building which will be more suitable and hopefully with a bit more longevity of tenure.
John
By: TwinOtter23 - 25th August 2014 at 09:43
No problem John, I hadn’t realised that you were having to relocate again.
It was also good to have a brief chat with MerlinPete at the BAPC meeting in Doncaster.
By: MerlinPete - 24th August 2014 at 22:02
Hi Howard
sorry only just picked this up; been busy moving our workshop…….again! I was aware that our BAPC membership was discussed, didn’t know though that it was NAM that proposed us, ta muchly:very_drunk:
John
Welcome back!
Pete
By: 12jaguar - 24th August 2014 at 20:03
Hi Howard
sorry only just picked this up; been busy moving our workshop…….again! I was aware that our BAPC membership was discussed, didn’t know though that it was NAM that proposed us, ta muchly:very_drunk:
John
By: TwinOtter23 - 24th August 2014 at 18:02
Not at the moment (holiday season) – something maybe forthcoming next month.
By: Runway06 - 24th August 2014 at 15:58
Any updated photos of how the interior is getting on? In particular the cockpit area?