Rathmines Catalina update

Latest news

“The Association is progressing on the proposed Museum/Display at Rathmines. At present we await the approval from the State Heritage Council to proceed with our plans.
We are also extremely grateful for the encouraging support and assistance from various sectors within our community, both locally and interstate.

With great work from our band of keen volunteers,things are progressing steadily on the restoration of the engines at Kilaben Bay, as well as on the fuselage.
One of our volunteers, Ray, has made excellent progress with soda blasting the fuselage. This has achieved a much better result and much easier than sanding.
The port engine has now been completely stripped, after some difficulty was had in removing two seized cylinders that were locking the engine. All cylinder heads are now cleaned, ready for painting & re-assembly for display. Work has also progressed on the restoration of a hull door, and it is now ready to be painted, after being riveted. When this is completed, work will commence on re sheeting sections of the hull. “

Good to here Daniel, thanks for the update

Some news on Rathmines Catalina static project

“RCMPA Business Plan.

Members of the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association Inc., (RCMPA), have been maintaining the Memorial along with the surrounding grounds, which stands in the Rathmines Park since its erection in 1972. The Association attaches plaques on the memorial walls, commemorating those personnel who served with Seaplanes during the war, as well as Rathmines during the life of the base.

During this time, there has always been discussions held about the purchase of a suitable Catalina aircraft and a suitable Museum to help perpetuate the memory of the old base, and in particular, those who passed through the gates during its lifetime.
Finally, after hard work and quite a few headaches over the past years, we now have an aircraft for static display under restoration and earlier this month, we received interim approval from Council officers for the construction of a Museum on the site, subject to approval by the State Heritage Council. Lake Council have undertaken to submit the plan to the Heritage Council on our behalf, and then we will submit a DA to LMCC for the construction of the museum on a mutually acceptable site. (Discussions have been underway concerning a suitable site now for some months, with a decision expected soon).”

CATALINA RESTORATION
“‘Our Girl’ on the move!
Again, with the grateful assistance of the ‘Daracon Group’, we are moving our Catalina from the Alkira Boat yard in Toronto, to the property of Penny & Rob Furner in Kilaben Bay. (Hopefully this week ending 23rd May. Dependent on weather conditions).
Alterations and preparations have been carried out at Kilaben Bay over the past weeks so as a suitable area could be allocated for the positioning of the fuselage so work can continue on the restoration.
Both engines are now located on a concrete pad, with excellent progress being made on renovation of one engine by volunteer Kerry.
The centre wing assembly has been relocated so work can also commence on this.
Having all components now in the one location, will make volunteer life a little easier.”

Rathmines Catalina – update March 2015 from the Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association Inc.
“Very happy with progress being made on fuselage of ‘Our Girl’. Terry, along with one of our volunteer’s Ray, has been making good progress on the rear section of the fuselage. Ray is also now up to speed with corrosion treatment etc.. All volunteers are now able to drop in as their time permits to spend an hour or two working on ‘Our Girl’. Won’t be long & we will be ready to prime approximately the rear 1/4 of the fuselage! (May have started by the time you read this).
Will then move up to the forward section & start prepping, whilst some sheet metal work is being done in the area around the rear hatches. After much thought about primer application, we are going to trial an area by roller. Envisage there could be too much of a problem with over spray on adjacent property, boats, parked cars etc..
Meanwhile, we have been fortunate to snare the assistance of a retired QANTAS engineer to assist Warren on the engines. We welcome Kerry to our ‘happy clan’, along with his expertise. Excellent progress has been made dismantling one of the engine’s, ready for cleaning & restoration to display condition. It is planned to take this engine, on a display stand, to various locations to assist with awareness of our project, to raise funds etc..
Since the above report was received, preparations are being made to relocate the fuselage to a suitable covered area so as work will be able to proceed under suitable weather protection. The move will hopefully be made in the very near future, with the support and assistance of DARACON once again.
Also, our Business Plan has now been submitted to Council, along with a copy to each of the twelve Lake Macquarie Councillors.”

A bit of good news for heritage. A happy end to a 12month trip to bring a Catalina from South America to Rathmines NSW has nearly finished. One part in honouring the WW2 legacy is nearly completed. Next the big important stage to restore and house this Catalina in a building… begins.

Rathmines Catalina Memorial Park Association Inc.

FINAL PIECE ARRIVES.
After looking like it would sail away unclaimed, the final piece of our jig-saw that is ‘Our Girl’ will be off loaded in Sydney late this evening. The centre wing assembly will be transported via the generosity of DARACON TRANSPORT to our depot in Lake Macquarie tomorrow. Red tape & brick walls popped up right down to the wire, but all has been overcome.
A 12 month journey!

See more at https://www.facebook.com/RathminesMemorialPark

Good work, thanks for the update 🙂