Phantom FGR2, XV490 has sat, outside, at Hack Green, near Nantwich, Cheshire for over ten years. Since she was scrapped nearly 18 years ago she has not been afforded the luxury of a roof over her canopies – and it shows.
‘490 was Ray Walker’s pride and joy. Sadly, as we know, Ray passed away two years ago and due to Ray’s illness before his untimely demise he was not able to do very much to her. However, the Phantom is a sturdy aeroplane. It was designed for use at sea and its paint work and protection was as good as it got. For an aluminium aeroplane, she has fared very well, considering its long-term exposure.
XV490 will be attending Cockpit Fest next weekend so it seemed appropriate and necessary that she got a spruce up in time to wow the crowds again. The folllowing pics are a very abbreviated snapshot of the work required to give her her dignity back.
They start with the condition “as found” earlier this year and illustrate, I think, that even though the weather had taken its toll, with a lot of care and attention – to say nothing of lots of Waxoyl and WD40 – she soon began to look like her old self.
1. First sight – a bit worse for wear:(
2. Front cockpit – bare and needing a good vacuum out, cleaning and Waxoyling.
3. Rear inst panel, looking through the inter-canopy arch – lots of holes to be filled.
4. Elbow grease by the bucket load.
5. Well, someone’s go to do it.
6. Some of the modules, which fit into the side consoles all of which needed a good cleaning and preserving.
7. The dismantled telescopic sight (TeSS) ready for fitting.
8. Rear panel cleaned, protected and filled, including all the black boxes of tricks – of which there are many in the Nav’s cockpit.
9. The H7 seat in sections – Pan, Beam and Harness/para pack. The Phantom seat was designed to be installed in pieces: first the ejection gun, then the Beam, then the Seat Pan and finally the harness is fitted and locked into position, so that the canopy did not have to come off. It’s still bl**dy heavy though. I was sat aside the windscreen, ten feet up trying to feed the beam down onto the gun rails – a bit of a scary experience:eek:
10. A bit of the “plumbing” and wiring behind the front seat – a characteristic of the Phantom.
Ten pics for tonight (I hope the captions tie up with the pics:confused:). I’ll post a few more tomorrow.
PhAnon
By: Wyvernfan - 26th October 2011 at 22:02
Hope you dont mind me adding this one Mike :). See you Saturday.
By: Wyvernfan - 26th October 2011 at 22:02
Hope you dont mind me adding this one Mike :). See you Saturday.
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th October 2011 at 21:49
NAM aeroboot
If you read Twin Otter’s posts regularly you will be aware that the Phantom, XV490 is still to be found at the Newark Air Museum.
The NAM trustees have kindly given me permission to open up the Phantom to visitors for this coming weekend’s aeroboot there, so, if anyone would like to look her over or try her for size then please come and have a gander.
I’ve tried posting a few pics of the Phantom at the Fest this year but they refuse to upload. The reason is given as “A security token is missing or mismatched” – typical computer gobbledegook!:mad: What does that mean? why doesn’t it just tell me in plain English. Rant over.
Anon.
By: Arabella-Cox - 26th October 2011 at 21:49
NAM aeroboot
If you read Twin Otter’s posts regularly you will be aware that the Phantom, XV490 is still to be found at the Newark Air Museum.
The NAM trustees have kindly given me permission to open up the Phantom to visitors for this coming weekend’s aeroboot there, so, if anyone would like to look her over or try her for size then please come and have a gander.
I’ve tried posting a few pics of the Phantom at the Fest this year but they refuse to upload. The reason is given as “A security token is missing or mismatched” – typical computer gobbledegook!:mad: What does that mean? why doesn’t it just tell me in plain English. Rant over.
Anon.
By: TwinOtter23 - 15th June 2011 at 23:25
I may catch you tomorrow – can we add a ‘tightrope act’ to the list?? 😮
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th June 2011 at 23:23
More Phun
A few more pics of the prep of ‘490.
She is being picked up tomorrow (Thursday) morning between nine and ten a.m. so, all being well, we should be arriving at Newark about one p.m.
The rear seat, main panel, stick and HUD go in at Newark so I will be busy with that in the afternoon, then hoping to get the tent up before the rain and the missus arrive on Friday;)
1. Pully113, Jon H and Mick B came to lend a hand
2. There’s always one!:D
3. The nose u/c leg area came up well with a good scrub and a liberal coat of wax.
4. Overall view of ‘490 after her wash and treatment. The radome will need some attention at a later date as the paint has been quite badly affected by the weather.
5. Nav’s-eye view of the front cockpit. It’ll be good to fit the main panel and stick top then it’ll be time for the bone dome and some jet-like noises (when nobody is around of course:o).
6. Some juicy morsels for Phantom Phans – all cleaned up and ready for the final fit at Newark.
7. Not much room left in the van – and I’ve still got to get the mannequin, my bags, sleeping bags and helmets in:eek:
Looking forward to meeting up with the usual crowd and seeing a few Forumites at Newark. Do feel free to come across and try the Phantom for size.
Anon.
By: pully113 - 15th June 2011 at 22:42
Awesome stuff mate!
My F.2 is there but I think the FGR.2 will dominate it! I will be working on the F.3 sim tomorrow so will see you Friday morning!
Si
By: Griffhawk - 15th June 2011 at 13:04
Looking good. Great to see even after these old girls have been grounded that they still get alot of TLC. Look forward to seeing updates on this bird
By: TwinOtter23 - 15th June 2011 at 12:23
😉 Sorted Anon – can I delete you email now? 😀
I’ve just finished printing off a few forms for WOS for the weekend; now for a bit of photocopying at the museum on Thursday!! 😮
The local weather forecast is currently showing light showers on Saturday and light cloud on Sunday – fingers still firmly crossed.
The Phantoms got a mention on the radio yesterday as well as mistyar66’s Dominie / 125!!
By: FLYING SAUCER - 15th June 2011 at 12:19
Hi there, what a marvellous effort all round, well done to all concerned!
As you may or may not know, we are part of a Living History Group “INTO THIN AIR” And one of our members will be wearing RAF Mid 1970’s F4 kit with full skeletal harness sometime over the weekend.
We will come and see you as it would be great to takes some shots next to the F4. Heres hoping for decent weather!
By: Pure Lightning - 15th June 2011 at 07:36
Wow theres alot of hard work going on there well done:cool:, i cant wait to see both Phantoms this weekend…..
I reckon you should have some Queen playing in the back ground;)
al the best Matt
By: bravo24 - 15th June 2011 at 01:02
F4s at Newark.
Well she has shaped up nicely, I reckon that My efforts with the German bird will be totally eclipsed. See you at the weekend!!!
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June 15, 2011 at 12:52 am