Fiat G.46 Progress

We’ve been making progress on a few fronts recently. Nothing major, but it all has to be done….

Windscreen……..We were recently lucky enough to obtain an original unused windscreen in Italy. This has now been stripped down and cleaned, treated and primed. The glass that came with it is nackered – the laminations have become too cloudy to use. They’re flat sheet with curved corners- the originals being of two laminations. With the demise of Suntex a few years ago can anyone suggest a suitable manufacturer of replacements? Being originally of glass, both front and side, I’d like to avoid going perspex if possible. That’s a pragmatic comment, however, so if going plastic proves to be by a long way the easier option………

The tailcone has been cleaned and inspected and is ready to be painted. We need a tail lamp if anyone has one available.

The instrument panels have been stripped and powder coated and with a few exceptions are ready to be fitted when the time comes. We’re still short of one altimeter. A Mk.19 would do well, or a standard American style would both fit, the panel cut-out will accept either. We also need a second ASI. The one we’ve opted to go for in the front panel is a Smiths KAB0804W and reads up to 220 kts on the outer scale and from 220 to 300 kks on the inner scale. There were a few of these floating around a few years ago, if anyone knows of any which may be available please shout.

Additionally the fin and rudder have been stripped and reduced to component form. Those parts which will go again have been cleaned, inspected and primed. They should start going together with new skins shortly.

Other than that we’ve been obtaining more parts to replace those items which were missing or beyond salvation. More details to follow as and when.

We’ll keep our Facebook page updated as we make progress, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Classic-Flying-Machine-Collection/111335502242209?v=wall&ref=sgm.

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