Forum Get Together – RAFM Hendon 01/12/07

(Ollie spotted in Hannants later on, not sure if he bought anything though….)

Was looking for decal sheets. Didnt find anything that i needed.

…dammit, missed the photo opportunity, but at the time we were in the B of B hall, trying to identify the Luftwaffe types in the dark recesses of the building – is the dim lighting a conservation measure, either of paintwork/perpex etc, or is the museum conserving money ?
A couple of things come to mind. Firstly, contrasting with my early visits in the 1970’s, you can see more of the types represented now flying somewhere or other in the world, even take a ride in some. Secondly, as an experience it is still somewhat disappointing, it could be so much better (more diaramas putting aircraft in context, more cutaways explaining construction detals etc) but I suppose it all boils down to money.
However, nice to meet you guys, please say hello if you spot ol’ 91Regal at OW or Dux.
(Ollie spotted in Hannants later on, not sure if he bought anything though….)

anyway, a coupl of shots I like:-

So balancing the tripod at a funny angle did work out then :p

Thank you to everyone who attended the forum meet at Hendon. It’s nice to put some faces to some “virtual” names! 😀

See you on the next one.

At least one of the people in that picture looks to be trying to work out how to get the clam doors off that Mustang….

We started off as a fair-sized group, but most headed straight off to the main museum, rather than starting with the GW Factory as originally planned.

Soon after taking this pic (which shows six of the group) I headed off to the Factory to make sure there would be someone there to meet up with latecomers who planned to try to find us there. About three had turned up there, and all set off individually for the main museum once they’d seen enough of the Factory exhibits.

Having become ensnared by the charms of the bookshop – particularly by a couple of books on the TSR.2 – I totally forgot about the 12.30 meetup for a group photo…

Having worked on the TSR.2, one of my goals in visiting the RAF Museum yesterday was to buy one of the display models of the aircraft advertised on the Museum website. However, I was saddened to see how crude the model was. For example, the inlet half-cones are egg-shaped. The panel lines are far too crudely applied, and the front end of the fuselage fails to capture the elegant lines of the original. To my eyes, the nose radome looks completely wrong. At a tenth of the asking price, I might have been tempted, but give its pricetag I decided not to buy it.

Sorry, RAF Museum – I’d rather you’d made a more accurate model rather than adding the gimmick of including a pair of titanium fasteners.

Battle of Britain Hall Stupid Opening Hours

Criminal that the BoB Hall, arguably the most important gallery in this country, only opens at 12 due to staffing…disgusting….I shall write to the PM

anyway, a coupl of shots I like:-

Not a bad turnout really….good to see some old faces and some new ones!

Diff to organise a Forum meet, diff to know what peeps want. The best one was the original meet with Ashley at Dux when Robert Rudhall gave a chat etc…..saw some good shots from Dave ‘the Hornet’ Collins!! Stuart is looking thinner and more handsome and I must be a turkey as I am being fattened up for Christmas!!!
Anyway, sorry I had to leave early…bereavment in my girlfriends family.

So, who were there then at all?;)

Cheers

Cees

I rolled into the GWH about 10.40/45 and apart from Ollie, hi Ollie, I didn’t see any one that looked like they were in a forum outing.

If you saw someone with a mono pod, with their camera up in the air, that was probably me. Quite enjoyed the visit, back again next year when the Typhoon is in place.

Will post piccies tomorrow.

Brian

There was another 2 of us in there at the time. Chris (Yak 11 Fan) and someone who i forget their name right now.

I rolled into the GWH about 10.40/45 and apart from Ollie, hi Ollie, I didn’t see any one that looked like they were in a forum outing.

If you saw someone with a mono pod, with their camera up in the air, that was probably me. Quite enjoyed the visit, back again next year when the Typhoon is in place.

Will post piccies tomorrow.

Brian

Good to meet you guys today, looking forward to seeing any photos put up. Was nice to see inside the Claude Grahame-White hangar, even if it was only briefly

List updated; another “one in, one out” 🙂

Thanks BR:)

List updated; another “one in, one out” 🙂

Sorry chaps, I am currently residing in the sunshine in Grand Canaria (26F!) The flight home is not today but tomorrow at 2 PM. hope you all have a great time.
hope to make it the next time eh?

No idea – I hope so! There’s some interactive thing up there, so not sure if they just opened it for the school parties that go home at around 3 and just leave it open afterwards. Would be nice if they renovated it a bit, apart from the pretty planes there’s not much information on WWI stuff

Booogar. Spoilt the surprise with them photos now.:D

Are the upper galleries open permanently now?

Brian

A wander around Hendon, 30/11/2007

Had a look around Hendon this afternoon, here’s my photos

The removal of the wooden Eurofighter mock-up in preparation for a real one being moved in made it possible to get better views of the Sopwith Camel and gondola car from the airship Santos Dumont ‘Nulli Secundus’.

SN 1,650lb bomb, which were dropped from the Handley Page O/400 bombers. It was the biggest bomb used by the RAF during WWI. Interestingly, this one has a cylindrical casing around the rear fins, whereas the one at IWM Lambeth, like the ones i’ve seen in photographs, has a different style of rear fins (I think it looks more impressive stood up personally as well)

Eurofighter mock up now in the Bomber Command Hall

German WWII ‘Fritz X’ guided bomb next to the Airspeed Oxford, presumably a new addition.

One of quite a few Harvard photos I took, the others can be seen on the Beech Restorations message board here http://www.easyfreeforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=1635855&eff=504#1635855

The upper WWI/Trenchard brats/Uniform/Medals gallery was also open which was nice, even though a lot of stuff has gone now from the WWI area. It also made it possible to get a good vantage point of aircraft below.

In a hidden corner of the upper gallery I found this very nice model of a British airfield 1914-1918 with examples of aircraft used in the war, such as this Handley Page O/400

Updated: one in, one out.

Mrs.91Regal has been persauded to go shopping on her own, so you may yet have the extremely dubious pleasure of my company, Thameslink and London Underground permitting.:p