Hi all,
The Halifax used a lot of plymax panels as floormaterial. Plymax is (three ply) plywood with a sheet of 24 Gauge of Aluminium glued to it. According to drawings I have of the flooring it is stated that the aluminium was glued to the underside of the plywood, so that the crew would be walking along a wooden surface. Does this make sense regarding the durability of such a floor?
And was plymax in general use in British aircraft? Any photo’s of similar sections?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Cees
By: HP57 - 11th February 2006 at 19:08
To answer my own question,
I have a Halifax repair manual and here were some drawings as well as a general description of plymax floorpanels as well as how they were fitted. At first I opted to turn the plymax panels around on my replic cockpit (aluminium on top of the wooden floor) but to keep it as authentic as possible and according to the drawings I have the plywood will be fitted instead.
Cees
By: HP57 - 8th February 2006 at 14:03
Cees – I seem to remember that we had discussions about the curious black and white chequerboard floor covering in the Halifax – I think this was spurred by some original wartime pictures of the short-lived ventral gun position which seemed to match the floor covering in the Trenton example – was this right?
Simon,
Yes, as far as I know this was generally fitted in Halifaxes. After the ventral gun position was abandoned the chequers were also to be seen on the Hallies with the Preston Green .50 ventral gun position and the supply dropping aircraft. I still don’t know why they did it as in a dark fuselage it would be difficult to find you ashtray there I think :rolleyes: . But I also don’t think that would be plymax as well, as boots would have worn the chequers away very quickly. I haven’t found any drawings for it sofar.
Hope this helps
Cheers
Cees
By: jeepman - 7th February 2006 at 18:45
Halifax floor covering
Cees – I seem to remember that we had discussions about the curious black and white chequerboard floor covering in the Halifax – I think this was spurred by some original wartime pictures of the short-lived ventral gun position which seemed to match the floor covering in the Trenton example – was this right?
By: HP57 - 7th February 2006 at 17:43
“11. Floors.-The flooring throughout the aircraft consists of Plymax sheet….The joints between Plymax sheets are covered with a metal strip to prevent splitting of the wood surface.”
Taken from AP1719 E, Volume 1.
It reads to me that the Plymax was laid wood uppermost, Cees. But, isn’t this something that the guys at Trenton could answer for you?
Could have Alan, but I assumed that they used metal for the floors as the photo’s I had showed very smooth and metal skinned floors. Then again, I hoped (knew actually) that you would react. I do have the AP1719E as well. I think I was lazy. 😮
Thanks again.
Cheers
Cees
By: 682al - 7th February 2006 at 15:35
“11. Floors.-The flooring throughout the aircraft consists of Plymax sheet….The joints between Plymax sheets are covered with a metal strip to prevent splitting of the wood surface.”
Taken from AP1719 E, Volume 1.
It reads to me that the Plymax was laid wood uppermost, Cees. But, isn’t this something that the guys at Trenton could answer for you?
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February 7, 2006 at 1:57 pm