In response to a request from Eddie in another thread, I thought I would update you on progress with the prototype.
We recently visited RRHT at Derby, to see how they are getting on with the engines. Both engines had been used at some time, but not in W4050! They were fitted to hold the propellers on when the aircraft was used at the SBAC shows.
They are making really good progress, and hope to be able to run one of them in a test cell before it is delivered back to us. Before you ask, we WONT be running it in the airframe once it goes back in!
The tailplane has been delivered back from Skysport. The aircraft flew with this unit, but it is not the original one; the original was somewhat shorter. Skysport have removed the lower skins, carried out repairs inside, and replaced the original skins. There was significant damage to the skins; holes had been cut in them for some reason, but they have been repaired – we kept as much original material as possible. We are now cleaning up the miscellany of brackets that fit to the tail unit beofre fitting them. Then we will fabric the unit and temporarily refit it.
The tailcone is being repaired in house, and has had much of the forward end replaced, as it was quite badly damaged. Again, we have used as much original material as possible.
BAe at Chester have just returned the top and bottom cowls after refurbishment.
Next job will be the ailerons, which have just been removed. One looks reasonable, the other has a large corrosion hole on the underside!
Thats it for now – any offers of help and money gratefully accepted!
Cheers
Bruce
By: Bruce - 18th August 2003 at 16:07
Timescale about 7-8 years – only Sunday Working !!
We will build a new hangar which will take all three, plus the Comet 1.
Bruce
By: DOUGHNUT - 18th August 2003 at 15:04
Very interested to hear that the W4050 will be repainted to a camo / yellow finish.
What is the time scale for this ?(sorry if this has been asked already)
Will she be returned to the same building as today ? It would be nice if she could share the main hangar with the B35.
DOUGHNUT
By: Bruce - 18th August 2003 at 13:51
Wait and see!!
By: Eddie - 18th August 2003 at 13:41
What markings are you going for with TA122? Or is that a surprise?
By: Bruce - 18th August 2003 at 13:37
Thanks!
The B35 needs a little remedial work, as it is now 13 yrs since it was completed. It could also do with some detailing in the cockpit and engine bays. One day….
TA122 is making great progress now. We still hope to have a coat of paint on the fuselage this year!
Bruce
By: dhfan - 18th August 2003 at 13:10
At last – ADSL. It’s wonderful, pictures are ever so quick!
Went to London Colney for the first time in years last summer. I used to live about 20 minutes awy, now it’s more like 2 hours.
I was very impressed with the work done on TA122. Last time I saw it the wing hadn’t been touched and very little had been done to the fuselage.
The restoration of the B35 is magnificent. It looked very tired in the late 70s when it lived outside.
By: Bruce - 18th August 2003 at 12:44
It first flew in an all yellow scheme – Trainer yellow, not the awful 1960’s ford colour it has now!
On acceptance by the ministry it was repainted with Brown and Green top camo, and yellow undersides, with the serial W4050.
It has the second fuselage to be built; the first one having broken during testing at Boscombe Down. We have parts of the original fuselage that have been donated over the years!
It will be painted in the camouflage scheme, using original colour samples still on the aircraft as a basis.
I meant to take some pictures yesterday, but forgot my camera!!
Cheers
Bruce
By: Willow - 18th August 2003 at 12:30
The part of my memory labelled ‘Mosquito’ seems to be MIA at the moment, but I’m pretty sure that the prototype Mossie wasn’t an official Ministry aeroplane until it had proved itself.
I think it originally flew as EO234, which is not a British military serial. It would therefore not have necessarily been in the standard Prototype colour scheme. I’m pretty sure it was always yellow though.
Due to an odd type of film being used at the time, it appears Black in many period photographs.
Willow
By: DOUGHNUT - 18th August 2003 at 10:35
I have always wondered about the colour scheme on W4050. Comment has been made about how the airframe was modified thoughtout her flying career, ie engines and props ect. Did she always wear the overall yellow colour scheme and which roundles were carried ? It seems an odd colour scheme to choose, surley a brown/green or grey/green camo top surface with yellow ‘P’ and a yellow underside would have been more normal.
DOUGHNUT
By: Bruce - 16th August 2003 at 22:30
I’ll take some more tomorrow and post them – nice to keep you all posted!!
Cheers
Bruce
By: neilly - 16th August 2003 at 18:55
& a few more
By: neilly - 16th August 2003 at 18:49
And some of TA 122
By: neilly - 16th August 2003 at 18:43
Hi All,
Here’s a couple of piccies I took last year.
Neilly
By: Bruce - 15th August 2003 at 22:26
You would all be more than welcome – just send me a PM, and we will organise something. But bear in mind I live in Norfolk these days, and can’t get there as often as I would like!!
Cheers
Bruce
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th August 2003 at 12:38
Bruce, thanks for posting the opening times up. Seems like quite a few of us are promising to visit in the near-ish future; possibility of a forum meet-up perhaps…?
By: Bruce - 13th August 2003 at 20:37
Well it has been discussed, but I dont honestly know what the plans are at present!
I’ll try and find out…
Bruce
By: Ant.H - 13th August 2003 at 19:36
Hi Bruce,
Staying with the topic of events at the museum,am I right in thinking there’s some sort of event planned to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vampire’s first flight??
Good to hear the Mossie is coming along nicely,looking forward to the pics.
Ant
PS. I’ll get down to London Colney one day soon,haven’t been in years.
By: Bruce - 13th August 2003 at 14:48
Steve,
Opening Hours are:
Tues, Thurs, Sat – 14.00 – 17.30
Sun 10.30 – 17.30
Until the end of October..
Willow (and others!!)
Yes, the B35 ventures outside from time to time, but I am unsure as to whether there are any plans to do it this year. We do need to do some moving around in the hangar, so we might well have her outside in September. If it looks likely, I’ll post it in a new thread – see how many turn up!
Cheers
Bruce
By: Willow - 13th August 2003 at 13:21
In addition to the above request, are there any ‘events’ for which the Mosquito B35 is moved outside. I’d be happy to come and visit (and I know a few others who would as well) just to get a good photo of it sitting in the sun.
Willow
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th August 2003 at 13:16
Originally posted by Bruce
There was a plan, but BAe wouldn’t entertain it.Frankly, we are probably better off where we are!
Bruce
And having the prototype housed at her birthplace is particularly appropriate. It adds to the history.
Bruce, I really must make the effort to drop in and see how it’s all progressing, especially on W4050 and TA122. Don’t suppose you could post the opening hours up on this thread could you?
Cheers,
Steve
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August 12, 2003 at 5:25 pm