Shackleton Crew Door Question

I apologise I had used the terminology MR2/AEW2 as per the data on the Growler and UK serials.

https://www.thegrowler.org.uk/avroshackleton/mark-two.htm

From this I assume earliest would be WL739 and latest WL787 – assumes the fabricator of the door made several at a time rather than one individually for each aircraft when needed (?) e.g. WL738 first flew 12 days after the first data plate was stamped.

I also assume that the second data plate refers to the HSA Langar Phase 3 modifications so  we can delete some of these as the conversion was outside of the second data plate timeline. Also some were SOC before 66.

I will fabricate a new safety equipment panel for the door and repaint in  (Extra) Dark Sea Grey

P.S. pics of data plates for info

From what I can quickly glean from paper reference books (mainly British Military Aircraft Serials and Markings, BARG 1980):

The first batch of Shackleton MR:2’s followed the MR.1A’s on the Woodford production line, the first ten WG530-WG533 & WG553-558 being built and delivered in 1952 (so a late WG··· aircraft could just tie in with your 10/52 door build date).  Most were updated to phase 1, phase 2 and in a few cases phase 3 standard from 1959 onwards (so, could the door update in 1966 be during one of these upgrades?).

The second production batch of Shackleton MR.2’s totalled 40 aircraft, WL737-759 & WL785-WL801 and were built at Woodford against Contract 6/Aircraft/6129.  Deliveries took place between 1.53 and 11.53, with most being updated to phase 1, phase 2 and in many cases phase 3 standard from 1959 onwards (so door build date 10.52 would more likely be an early WL··· aircraft).

The third production batch of Shackleton MR.2’s totalled 19 aircraft (WR951-WR969), deliveries taking place between 11.53 and 9.54 (so well after your door build date). 

Beginning in 1971, 12 MR.2’s were converted by HSA at Woodford and Bitteswell to AEW.2 standard by fitting radar equipment, taken from Gannet AEW.3’s, under the forward fuselage.  In registration sequence terms, WL741, WL745, WL747, WL756 & WL757 were the earliest builds as MR.2’s to be converted to AEW.2’s.

FarlamA. The ‘epoxy glue’ is quite possibly an industrial grade of contact adhesive (similar to Evo Stik) that we used in the RAF. It was incredibly powerful and had fumes a that would induce a near catatonic state in the poor sod applying it. 

You are almost certainly correct about the MR2. However, the AEW2 had a F/F 30 Sep 71. The 12 so uplifted airframes started to arrive with 8 Sqn (RAF Kinloss) by Apr 72.  Remarkably quick by today’s standard. 

Thank you Oracal. 

Hi FarlamA. 1966 might be a tad early for an AEW 2? ISTR the aircraft vol 1 had details of the location of standard and emergency equipment, as well as markings. Mind you… it was 50+ years ago, so my shoulder computer could be having ‘a moment’. As for an oxygen cylinder – more likely a fire extinguisher?