Millom auction – where are they now ?

As long as it remains undercover, it should be fine.

The problem is that the wood needs to breathe, to allow it to naturally shrink and expand with different air moisture levels, which they are able to do quite well with fabric and dope, although even then it will often crack the paint.

Fibreglass doesnt solve all the problems, but in this case, having been well applied, it looks very good.

Bruce

part of the problem we had with the Vampire next door to NEAM when i was a cadet there, was repairing the rotted wood, as you can see when you look at it, it didnt work too well, we had opted for fibreglass resin too, sadly the guy leading it never got round to it by the looks of things, id left the squadron by then,at least with the FGR on it Neil it should last longer 🙂

Great Job Neil,

Makes my idea of breaking it for spares look pretty daft!

Where does the colour scheme come from? I know it carried it whilst at Millom, but wonder what its history is prior to that?

Fibreglass will fix a Vampire ‘on the edge’, but once it goes over, its hard work all the way!

I’ve got some pics of it at Millom in 2005 – I’ll post them up when I get a mo.

Bruce

Good Work!

Don’t worry Neil, it’s not the first tim this has been done to a Vamp, and it won’t be the last. The time, space and money to do it as per the repair manual is prohibitive to most!! At least she has been saved for future generations….

Cockpit Fest 2012 Neil??

“How did you repair the wood damage?” – Yep as Phil says we had no choice really but to use fiberglass resin, shame but she is now stronger and waterproof so should last a good few years!

Neil, I’ll sort you out as best I can on the canopy!!

As for the repairs… They were fibreglass resin were they not Neil?

Looks great! amazing transformation 🙂 How did you repair the wood damage?

Thanks Phil / Wyvernfan,

The only major left to do know is repair / buff up the canopy anyone get any idea’s on the best way to do this?

And if anyone had any pictures of XD425 in service they would be most welcome, in fact any pictures!

Cheers
Neil

😮 Blimey… what a transformation. You would never know that was the same cockpit section. Great job!

Vampire T.11 XD425

As a way of an update to show what Neil McCarthy has done to XD425 since she left Millom, see below. The paint work was all done by SERCO at RAF Leeming where the post restoration pictures were taken.

At Millom just prior to transportation to Neil’s home:

On Neil’s drive:

Post restoration, SERCO, RAF Leeming:

Smirky,

Thanks for that but it’s going to be a flat screen monitor with an overlay for the instruments.

Here are some pics of it’s current state of (dis) repair.

Smirky,

Thanks for that but it’s going to be a flat screen monitor with an overlay for the instruments.

Here are some pics of it’s current state of (dis) repair.

any interest? 😉

any interest? 😉

Got a few bits that will probably be surplus. Couple of under fuselage skid clamps and original panel immediately spring to mind. I will PM you a list if you want. Quite a few electrical and fuel valve type bits also.

There seems to be a real shortage of control parts hence me getting the cyclic stick made. Niel Airey got me collective for the left seat but I desparately need one for the right hand seat with the throttle and switches etc. Nothing in place for the pedals either so I’m really struggling there.

Patty

Got a few bits that will probably be surplus. Couple of under fuselage skid clamps and original panel immediately spring to mind. I will PM you a list if you want. Quite a few electrical and fuel valve type bits also.

There seems to be a real shortage of control parts hence me getting the cyclic stick made. Niel Airey got me collective for the left seat but I desparately need one for the right hand seat with the throttle and switches etc. Nothing in place for the pedals either so I’m really struggling there.

Patty

Yes please. What original parts do you have surplus (if any) ?

.

Yes please. What original parts do you have surplus (if any) ?

.

I was informed folk were wondering where Jetranger G-OJEF went so thought I had better log in and update. I bought the Jetranger off ebay in and as a regular volunteer there intended it as a project for Millom. When things went belly up I brought it home for safe keeping.

It is currently with me in Whitehaven where I am working on it as a project that will go to shows raising money and awareness for and the local air ambulances. So far I have stripped all the wiring and panel out and made one control stick. Jon Fellows of Spitsim controls fame is kindly helping me out with the dual control /mechanical movement to PC conversion.

Not much progress for 18 months of ownership I know but the spitfire cockpit production line gets in they way!

Could post a photo as I suppose it’s still relevant to this thread.

Patty

I was informed folk were wondering where Jetranger G-OJEF went so thought I had better log in and update. I bought the Jetranger off ebay in and as a regular volunteer there intended it as a project for Millom. When things went belly up I brought it home for safe keeping.

It is currently with me in Whitehaven where I am working on it as a project that will go to shows raising money and awareness for and the local air ambulances. So far I have stripped all the wiring and panel out and made one control stick. Jon Fellows of Spitsim controls fame is kindly helping me out with the dual control /mechanical movement to PC conversion.

Not much progress for 18 months of ownership I know but the spitfire cockpit production line gets in they way!

Could post a photo as I suppose it’s still relevant to this thread.

Patty