Hi folks,
As you know, I have been the fortunate custodian of this nose section since rescuing it with Dave T’s help from Orchards scrapyard in St Austell a few years ago. Although I was never able to convince Mrs Camlobe that it was a rational and well-thought-out plan (strange that), I fooled myself without difficulty. I spent 8 1/2 years helping look after Mr Rusty and her sisters in front-line Squadron service (the Great Eight) from September 1982 to March 1991, outside in all weathers Scotland could subject us to. I also flew more in WL 756 than any of the others, over 500 hours. So as you can see, she is close to my heart.
But my family are closer to me than even Mr Rusty (sorry old girl), and the last seven months have not been kind to my family. We have sufferred great pain (including three funerals in six weeks), and, understandably, I must focus on helping the family move forward.
This long-winded intro is setting the background to what is for me a major decision.
Mr Rusty needs to move on to her next custodian, someone or group who will be able to spend the time on making the deserving girl more whole and presentable. I am not looking for a massive profit. On the contrary, just a fair market price. This will go some way to cover the initial purchase and subsequent storage costs. She will come with a new front gunners windscreen (purchased a number of years ago by my loving daughter), an almost complete Flight Engineers panel (upper and lower, MR2 not AEW II if I remember correctly), most front instrument panels, and many of the instruments required to fill the holes. It will need to be traillered or trucked away, and she weighs TWO TONS (or so Orchards told me when they lifted it).
Mods, if I have crossed the line here, I will withdraw this post immediately. I am attempting to move this historic item on to similar-minded people, and therefore am not advertising Mr Rusty anywhere…not even eBay.
camlobe
By: Camlobe - 20th April 2013 at 23:00
Tony T,
It is with great pride that I can claim to have known Kev Thorneycroft. Big Kev worked for me for a few years and was one of the most outstanding guys I ever knew. He is also the guy who almost killed us both one dark night on the pan doing an inlet plug change…without safety-raiser. I still have the scar to prove it. Further details over a beer. The closest he got to Jags was looking down the pan at 226 OCU.
Sadly, Kev is no longer with us.
Yesterday, I managed to get some photo’s of Mr Rusty on my iPhone. Just need to upload them here next. Umm…
camlobe
By: TonyT - 19th April 2013 at 21:22
Hey camlobe, did you know Kev Thornycroft? Came of Jags as a flem, tried like heck to get posted back on them so naturally got Shacks lol.
By: Junk Collector - 19th April 2013 at 20:50
Any chance of those photos of the insides of the cockpit ?
By: Propstrike - 15th April 2013 at 11:23
This thread shows a photo.
Whoever performed that ‘ most unkindest cut’ did it in a pretty brutal place, turning it into an open cockpit Shackleton.
By: trumper - 15th April 2013 at 10:50
Trumper, I cannot claim any hard work done. She has enjoyed one wash when first rescued, a couple of years outside, and four years under cover. I have never managed any more than that. Jack Ruskin probably remembers better than I when I first rescued her.
camlobe
Well saving her is a first huge step 🙂
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th April 2013 at 09:57
Happy to post pic’s if it’s ok ?
By: Camlobe - 14th April 2013 at 22:22
Peter and Moggy, many thanks. Much appreciated.
WV-903, thanks Bill. I was greatly impressed with the way you conducted yourself during your own very trying time. Although Cockpitfest was always a target, we never quite made it.
Thanks to you all for your considerate words.
If I can manage it, I will try and get some pics of the old girl on here.
With luck folks, I will try and respond to your PM’s tomorrow.
Trumper, I cannot claim any hard work done. She has enjoyed one wash when first rescued, a couple of years outside, and four years under cover. I have never managed any more than that. Jack Ruskin probably remembers better than I when I first rescued her.
camlobe
By: trumper - 14th April 2013 at 20:11
Hope it finds a loving home where maybe alot of people will get to see your hard work.
I hope things personally improve for you as well.:)
By: Moggy C - 14th April 2013 at 19:31
Mods, if I have crossed the line here, I will withdraw this post immediately.
Not in my book.
Moggy
Moderator
By: DiverScout - 14th April 2013 at 18:20
As our Scouts have just missed out on one Shackleton that we had hoped to become custodians of, and had not just spent our money I’d also have sent a PM. As is I will watch where she goes with interest! If anyone needs a place to store and restore her in Norfolk, though, we’d be glad to help!
By: Firebex - 14th April 2013 at 18:02
PM Sent
By: Rocketeer - 14th April 2013 at 16:42
I will ask BDAC, sorry old chap.
By: Arabella-Cox - 14th April 2013 at 16:08
PM sent
By: Peter - 14th April 2013 at 15:59
I have no issues with it Camlobe.
By: WV-903. - 14th April 2013 at 15:41
Ahhhh It happens, its called –Life !!!
Hi Camlobe,
We know each other well of course and I’m very sorry you have to now do this. I went down the same sort of route a while back, so know how U must be feeling on Mr Rusty departing Caernarfon. The Shack is Iconic nowadays, so it’s a great idea you posted in here to alert Forumites first. I’m sure it will get to a good home and maybe even C/pit fest.
A nice project to consider guys, 2 tons !!! 😮 😀 Will follow this thread with great interest as will many others. Best of luck m8 !!!
BillT.
By: Junk Collector - 14th April 2013 at 15:17
Do you have any pictures of the interior ? would be interested to see them
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April 14, 2013 at 2:57 pm