Prince G-AMLZ Restoration Progress

Please dont congratulate me!

I am just the tech savvy one who posts the pictures. Other than giving the odd helping hand when needed I haven’t worked on her properly for maybe a year.

As for the nose wheels yes we got around the issue in the end. Martin Keen over at Liverpool Flying School kindly supplied a pair.

One more thing, does anyone know of a passenger door going spare? A recent attempted break in has left the current one looking a bit sorry for itself.

Jon

Excellent result with a great project, thanks to you guys for taking on something that may not be an attractive job for most museums etc.

As a matter of interest the Pembroke is listed as being equipped with Dunlop tyres,wheels and brakes, this may explain why the Prince has a different tyre/wheel size as it’s fitted with Palmer wheels & brakes?

Pembroke mainwheels and brakes are definitely Palmer (27A/2907), it’s a twin wheel unit so completely different to the Prince.
Sea Prince mains (again twin unit) are Dunlop AH9379 or 2753, 27A/2753, the nose wheels being Dunlop AH9408, 27A/2754, nose wheel tyre part no. 27A/2757.

Out of interest Jon, did you get around the tyre problem?

Totally agree with Roborough’s sentiments. Well done to Jon and the crew of MLZ 🙂

Rob

A long overdue update picture taken today. Has only taken just shy of 5 years so far!

Full credit to the small but dedicated team who have been beavering away week in week out to get to this stage.

Jon

My goodness she is looking good. Almost good enough to fire up?
Well done!

She looks superb! Many congratulations to those involved. Tremendous effort, especially for an aircraft that’s not exactly high on the glamour stakes.
Regards
Bill

A long overdue update picture taken today. Has only taken just shy of 5 years so far!

Full credit to the small but dedicated team who have been beavering away week in week out to get to this stage.

Jon

The aeroplane certainly looks a lot better than the last time I saw it at Caenarfon! Well done!

Regards

You might also like to mention, Jon, that we tried to remove the propeller from the engine shaft too so that a new spinner backplate could be fitted.

A five-ton bearing puller didn’t touch it, presumably due to corrosion on the shaft and/or seating, so we put it all back together again and resigned ourselves to resorting to plan B – to cut the backplate in two and fit it that way.

The prop had been re-fitted previously over twenty years ago and the pressure dome was not replaced so allowing the salt-laden sea air at Caernarvon to find its way inside the hub and sieze things up.

The whole prop hub assembly has now been liberally covered in Waxoyl, inside and out, so that things won’t get any worse. The replacement spinner should keep the worst of the weather out after that.

Overall, the aircraft is looking good and it is a tribute to the continuing efforts of the SAHG members who have been working on it.

Anon.

Sorry for my omission 😮

Jon

Prince progress

You might also like to mention, Jon, that we tried to remove the propeller from the engine shaft too so that a new spinner backplate could be fitted.

A five-ton bearing puller didn’t touch it, presumably due to corrosion on the shaft and/or seating, so we put it all back together again and resigned ourselves to resorting to plan B – to cut the backplate in two and fit it that way.

The prop had been re-fitted previously over twenty years ago and the pressure dome was not replaced so allowing the salt-laden sea air at Caernarvon to find its way inside the hub and sieze things up.

The whole prop hub assembly has now been liberally covered in Waxoyl, inside and out, so that things won’t get any worse. The replacement spinner should keep the worst of the weather out after that.

Overall, the aircraft is looking good and it is a tribute to the continuing efforts of the SAHG members who have been working on it.

Anon.

Got told off by the lads at the weekend for not posting update pictures recently so here are some from Saturday 🙂

Picture 1 – Moments after rudder was refitted. Scary to think over 3 years have passed since I removed it!
Picture 2 – a general shot taken at the end of the day – looking like a proper plane again isnt it 🙂
Picture 3 – the completed strap repair over the fuselage cut.

Still looking for some nose wheels by the way folks 😀

Jon

A quick Google found this:

Due to a number of recent enquiries, the Club is considering the manufacture of a further batch of Dunlop DR6620 tyres, 7.25 x 7.75, suitable for Leopard Moth, Hornet Moth, Proctor, Prentice, Winjeel, BA Swallow and maybe others. Expressions of interest to deHMC HQ.

From http://www.dhmothclub.co.uk/advert/mm127.html

The de Havilland Moth Club advertisments section.
http://www.dhmothclub.co.uk/advert/index.html

Hi Jon,

The only aircraft listed with tyres of 7.25 x 7 3/4 size are the Prentice & Provost, the tyre having a Dunlop part number of DR6610.

Hope that helps!

Best regards

Dave

How about a tyre with a Dunlop part number DR6620? Found that today whilst removing one of the wheels.

Jon

Hi Jon,

The list only has it as Percival Provost under the section Light Aircraft-United Kingdom. There is mention in the military section of Jet Provost but no details, so would assume that it’s the Piston Provost!

Regards
Dave

Also given the Piston Provost was design P.56 and the Prince P.57 I am inclined to agree!

Looking at picture’s, Prentice mains are the wrong design so looks like Provost is the only other type that is similar.

So has anyone got a pair of Provost mains going spare? 😀

Jon

Hi Jon,

The list only has it as Percival Provost under the section Light Aircraft-United Kingdom. There is mention in the military section of Jet Provost but no details, so would assume that it’s the Piston Provost!

Regards
Dave

Hi Jon,

Chipmunk main tyre size is 6.00 x 6 1/2 with p/n of DN3065 (sec/ref 27A/2500) or DB3065

I do have a 1960 dated Dunlop Aviation Equipment Manual which lists the Pembroke having the same nose tyre as the Chipmunk main, but the Prince is not listed at all. As a matter of interest the Pembroke is listed as being equipped with Dunlop tyres,wheels and brakes, this may explain why the Prince has a different tyre/wheel size as it’s fitted with Palmer wheels & brakes?

The only aircraft listed with tyres of 7.25 x 7 3/4 size are the Prentice & Provost, the tyre having a Dunlop part number of DR6610.

Hope that helps!

Best regards

Dave

Ok…wasnt expecting that!! Cheers for looking it up 🙂

Provost wise we talking piston or Jet? Guessing the former given the vintage but never hurts to check 🙂

Jon

Hi Jon,

Chipmunk main tyre size is 6.00 x 6 1/2 with p/n of DN3065 (sec/ref 27A/2500) or DB3065

I do have a 1960 dated Dunlop Aviation Equipment Manual which lists the Pembroke having the same nose tyre as the Chipmunk main, but the Prince is not listed at all. As a matter of interest the Pembroke is listed as being equipped with Dunlop tyres,wheels and brakes, this may explain why the Prince has a different tyre/wheel size as it’s fitted with Palmer wheels & brakes?

The only aircraft listed with tyres of 7.25 x 7 3/4 size are the Prentice & Provost, the tyre having a Dunlop part number of DR6610.

Hope that helps!

Best regards

Dave

Sorry forgot to add earlier I think the hubs are made by Palmer.

Jon

Afternoon all,

On the hunt for more bits 😀

2 x nose wheels and tyres please is the current requirement. Like the mains these have been filled with concrete, but unlike the mains nothing is salvagable…. 🙁

Tyre size is 7.25 x 7 3/4 with a p/n of 27A/4675.

As for the hubs best I can do is a picture as they are truly stuffed (see attached). I am hoping that with the AM part numbers found on the tyres that they are the same as Sea Prince nose wheels to help cast the net further so to speak. Also a few people have suggested they MAY be the same as Chipmunk but happy for some expert input to confirm that either way 🙂

Cheers as always,
Jon

Sorry been away for a few days – what he said! 😀

I will be over your way Camlobe within the next few weeks so will pop over to say hello and collect.

Jon

LOL !!

Yes. One of those questions we already know the answer too 🙂