As promised, this hopefully the first in a series of Stirling Project updates for this forum. After a bit of a lull in action for a couple of years, things have got a bit more active again.
Anyone that has kept up with the Turret updates will have seen the minor disaster that befell our FN5 Nose Turret, when the original perspex suffered a stress fracture. This has now been remedied by the manufacture of a new LH panel which has finally been cut to size and mounted complete with the rear cupola shell. All that is really needed now is a new seat back and new doors to be manufactured (anyone have any leads to these rare beasts?;) ). Eventually we hope to complete the wiring up of the turret and allowing the gun sight, lamps and call light to function.
Due to an enforced re-location due to the RAF needing our premises, we are having to move to a new workshop within the same hangar at Wyton. Fortunately the RAF have been very supportive and have given us a similar sized space with which to work although we will not have regular access to the hangar floor, also our storage space has been reduced which has meant that some of our artefacts will have to be located elsewhere.
As we have had less space we have had to address some of the wreckage that was brought back from our recovery of the last of the Mickle Fell Stirling items. Last weekend, we managed to rotate the u/c assembly surprisingly easy considering it had been exposed to the elements for many years), so that it has returned to its correct orientation for the first time in over 60 years. (see attached photos). Unfortunately the tyre was beyond redemption as was the hub, but the leg that was buried in the peat is remarkably well preserved with no corrosion on the fescalised portion and with the brake shoes and rubber pipes still in situ.
This coming year, we are commencing work on the cockpit rebuild starting with the pilot and co-pilots seats. Hopefully if our move is successful, we will be able to exhibit again at Newark along with the main instrument panel and throttle box.
Next update should hopefully be shorter:)
John
By: 12jaguar - 31st March 2025 at 13:33
Tied in to the associated Veterans day thread, the Project is now more mobile thanks to the kind assistance of the PFF Museum and RAF personnel. this allows us to more readily move exhibits like the turret and instrument panels. Also it allows the public to get up close and personal with the exhibits, like the young chap in the turret:)
By: CeBro - 31st March 2025 at 13:32
Good chance to win some souls eh?
Cees
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 28th January 2025 at 10:33
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 28th January 2025 at 10:33
Cracking
By: 12jaguar - 26th January 2025 at 08:51
By: 12jaguar - 26th January 2025 at 08:51
So yesterday saw myself and Cliff on site picking up where left off with the bomb frames.
First off was 13, which took a bit of persuasion to fit followed by 14 which by comparison was a doddle. Being at the very end of the bay with better access certainly helped. This just leaves us with 8 and 12 to fit and will be progressed once the remaining bomb beams are finished.
Talking of access we removed the outside of the bomb bay jig as these were serving no other than getting in our way.
Meanwhile, we have taken delivery of the 6 bomb beam covers and support doublers that have been made by Chris Bunn. They look fantastic and Chris has done a great job with them and they work exactly as advertised with refurbished and remade Simmonds type T fasteners. Chris and his brother Andy have also donated some air tools and gripper pins to the project. Thanks Guys
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 24th January 2025 at 12:14
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 24th January 2025 at 12:14
How cool are those tie down points. Thanks John, bonus update.
By: 12jaguar - 23rd January 2025 at 11:14
By: 12jaguar - 23rd January 2025 at 11:14
A bit of an update from the midweekteam at Gravely.
We have received some new manufactured canopy cover tie down points which have been 3d printed in metal. We have recovered some originals from BK716 but not nearly enough as these are dotted throughout the fwd fuselage.
We’ve also started stripping down the bomb door operating transverse torque tubes and door opening mechanism. Not need just yet but certainly in the not too distant future.
John
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 21st January 2025 at 10:08
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 21st January 2025 at 10:08
Definitley not boring John, bring it on.
By: 12jaguar - 19th January 2025 at 09:28
By: 12jaguar - 19th January 2025 at 09:28
At the risk of boring you kind people, yesterday was more Frame tinkering. It wasn’t quite as cold but was still brass monkeys in the workshop.
Cliff and I finished up fr10 by picking up the pilot holes, then made a start on Frame 11. This took a bit longer as it took us a while to get everything lined up ready for drilling.
Once this was finished we made a start on Fr13, which should be ready for drilling next weekend. As with Fr 8, we’re going to leave fr12 for the time being whilst we’re waiting on completion of the remaining bomb frames.
As an aside Cliff also undertook his favourite hobby of deciphering pieces of wreckage and found yet another part of the jigsaw that is the bomb aimers compartment
Cheers
John
By: Peter - 14th January 2025 at 15:36
By: Peter - 14th January 2025 at 15:36
That looks amazing guys!!
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 14th January 2025 at 14:53
By: FKA Trolley Aux - 14th January 2025 at 14:53
WOWSER !!!!
By: 12jaguar - 12th January 2025 at 09:44
By: 12jaguar - 12th January 2025 at 09:44
Yesterday was frostbite Saturday, with only Cliff and myself braving the elements. After a warming brew we cracked on with fitting the frame 9 outers, the two of us getting into swing of fitting these now.
9 was a relatively straightforward activity, just requiring a few tweaks here and there. With 9 fitted, we had just enough time to pin 10 into position, with all the holes drilling next weekend.
We’ve left 8 for the time being as the 2 bomb beams at stations 1 and 3 aren’t quite ready for use yet and these set the distance between Frs 7 and 8.
John
Sign In
December 31, 2007 at 3:40 pm