Duxford – 14 Jan 06

The upper centre section’s now in place. There are a couple of photos here http://forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=765

Thanks for the HU Robbo. This is another big step forward! 🙂

Stieglitz

And the plastic Spit is a new marketing tool.

Is it going to become part of a museum display or some sort of travelling exhibit.

A travelling exhibit would be quite good for IWM propaganda, appearing at airshows and big public events. The slogan could read, “If you think this replica Spitfire looks good, we’ve got 15 real ones at Duxford.”

What’s the chair thing actually for then? Think i’ve seen a similar mount used by the Home Guard during 1940 as an improvised aa gun, but also reminds me of a similar mount used on armoured cars

It’s not improvised, it *is* an AA mount. Two Brens with 200rnds and a ring and bead are better than a poke in the eye with the proverbial. Similar seated twin mounts were mounted on vehicles, but I understand they could be used wherever basic AA capabilities were needed. The single tripod type is the one more commonly found in photos of the time.

As for “motley”, it pretty much is! Actually I think it’s named after the guy that invented it – not sure.

I am following it there eagerly. I cant wait for it to fly.

To see progress on the gladiator rebuild try www.duxford-update.info the news & links section

Think it’s pretty safe to say it won’t be this year!

Whenever it will be i have my fingers crossed for a formation with the Shuttleworth collections example.

Any rough date on the gladiator flying? Is it likely to be thhis year or next year?

Think it’s pretty safe to say it won’t be this year!

What’s the chair thing actually for then? Think i’ve seen a similar mount used by the Home Guard during 1940 as an improvised aa gun, but also reminds me of a similar mount used on armoured cars

Any rough date on the gladiator flying? Is it likely to be thhis year or next year?

Did anyone notice the progress in the Gladiator project. I see a lot has been done since this summer. This realy makes my day! 🙂

Stieglitz

Yep she’s making great progress, word has it that the stops are being pulled out on this project as the Guv’nor want’s it completed!

Did anyone notice the progress in the Gladiator project. I see a lot has been done since this summer. This realy makes my day! 🙂

Stieglitz

The chair is a Motley AA mount with two Mk.I Brens plus cartridge case catchers. It still needs two 100-round drum magazines. It’s not known which particular type of Motley it is, so if anyone knows or has documentation or indeed any photographs relating to this type, please let me know.

And the plastic Spit is a new marketing tool.

Motley seems an appropriate name for it! 😉

Poor old Hastings, slowly mouldering away . . . does anyone care?

It is waiting to go into the restoration hanger. Apparently it has to be manouvered over some grass to get in to the hanger and they were waiting for the ground to dry up or freeze over. Considering the cold nights we have had the past week, it should be under cover by now.

Brian

Poor old Hastings, slowly mouldering away . . . does anyone care?

The chair is a Motley AA mount with two Mk.I Brens plus cartridge case catchers. It still needs two 100-round drum magazines. It’s not known which particular type of Motley it is, so if anyone knows or has documentation or indeed any photographs relating to this type, please let me know.

And the plastic Spit is a new marketing tool.

I believe the Spitfire (heavily cropped picture) is a plastic dispaly model and another angle of the ‘Chair’

Brian

Nice pics – I’m with AJ on No.5. I’d love to see someone try to **** me off at work then! 😀

That looks like a Fibreglass Spit in the last shot, too.

Speaking of which, I’ve never heard of Bren guns being used in aircraft (particularly with bipods still attached), or is it a ground AA unit?

Sorry for being so thick.

And I’ll outbid aj for that to be moved to my office!