Stranraer restoration in Canada

Thanks Mark,

There are two options

-a shattered wreck:confused:
-a fully restored Stranraer, one of only two extant.:)

Guess what my choice (and yours probably as well) will be.

The metal looks to be in excellent condition so perhaps a lot of
material could be incorporated.
Canada still is a haven for extinct or rare aircraft types, but the
restoration record needs to be improved (constructive critisism
chaps).

Cheers

Cees

I can remember when this aircraft was still operating. They had to pump the water outof the hull every morning. We were offered the aircraft for our collection in Calgary, but couldn’t manage to move it, just like the Sunderland in New Zealand without engines. Wouldn’t be a problem today, but in 1964 no one was interested.

Thanks Steve,

Yes, this is an exciting project and we all hope it will result
in another complete restoration. Canada must still hold
many wrecksites don’t you think?
Do drawings for the Strannie survive?
Cheers

Cees

CF-BYJ was recovered from its west coast crash site many years ago, yes; the present news is about its being transferred as a project to the Shearwater Aviation Museum clear across the country on the east coast for restoration. I was very pleased to hear this, what with Shearwater’s track record on a Swordfish (albeit that was restored in Ontario for SAM) and an ex-Ethiopian Firefly. I hope they also find a way to trawl the Stran’s front end back up from the drink…

S.

Funny that Flypast reported on the Stranraer recovery as having taken place recentely. IIRC this was reported in flypast during the eighties including the same photograph.

Even old news is news I think

How are they going to tackle the rebuild, any plans available?
Cheers

Cees

…so this whole recent discussion has nothing to do with the Stranraer?

Confusing.

Couple of shots from my visit so people know what we are talking about! You can see the template on the rear view being the shiny metal further up the fuselage. The close up shows the original skin pieces being placed on it.
If someone knows how Jan removed the template I would be interested to hear!

Dave

Dave,

Beats me:D
All I know it that he told that the story was exaggerated and that there was no secondary structure inside the tail when seen from the port radio hatch.
As you say it’s a magnificent achievement.

Cheers

Cees

Cees

Well that is even more amazing, any idea how he got the template extracted when the pieces were initially glued on to it, without collapsing the whole thing?

Dave

Hi Dave,

I believe the template was used at the start of the project to be able to assemble the various pieces. But as she is now there is no substructure present when I looked into the fuselage during 2006, the connection pieces of the various skinbits can be seen on the inside and it’s a magnificent achievement. I wouldn’t be surprised that his marriage failed because of this. I have to be very careful myself sometimes with the Halifax cockpit and my other activities as well no to cross the line:D

Cheers

Cees

Ross,

That story is incorrect and has led a life of it’s own. The structure has been painstakingly pieced together. It’s mostly original material.

Cheers

Cees

Cees

I visited Jan back in 2000 when he was well underway in placing recovered pieces of fuselage skin onto the fuselage ‘template’ that he had built (he worked for Fokker previously IIRC). Amazing to look at really, how he could figure out what piece went where ( in jig saw puzzle style). I cannot verify any size deviation though. He started off with the project in his living room, which eventually cost him his marriage I was told!
He has since accumulated many original parts ( drop tank, spinner etc) and his acomplishment is nothing short of outstanding, however there has been a ‘creep’ towards it being reported as something it is not, a piece in FP a few years ago an example.
Anyway, I digress…..

Dave

Not sure if it is the cockpit of the Canadian Stranraer relocated by strong ocean currents but the wings appear badly bent

You must have some incredible currents in the Pacific to bend the Stranraer’s lower wings like that – and to manage to bend them both into exactly the same shape!

.
STRANREAR COCKPIT DISCOVERED IN AUSTRALIA?

Not sure if it is the cockpit of the Canadian Stranraer?

relocated by strong ocean currents?

but this item was reported on today’s news as being discovered floating in Sydney Harbour?

Its hull and cockpit appear intact?

but the wings appear badly bent?

photo and link provided below for your information!

Smiles

Mark Pilkington

?? photo isnt showing – here is its URL

http://images.ninemsn.com.au/resizer.aspx?url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/img/news_feeds/08

Story and photo also at this link
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/716094/fastest-greenest-powerboat-visits-nsw

Video here!
http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-au&brand=ninemsn&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:40e28da6-0ae1-43d1-9284-c392cf0f14b6&showPlaylist=true&from=articleinline&fg=news^national^716094

………..and I was thinking about how to construct a new thread involving data plates, the Stork Hotel and the Miles M.52 project!

Well, it’s my opinon too.:)

If that means that I am now officially mentioned in his will….:D:D:D:D

Cheers

Cees

I suspect that is the answer that Mark12 is waiting to hear….!

Ross,

That story is incorrect and has led a life of it’s own. The structure has been painstakingly pieced together. It’s mostly original material.

Can we please drop the issue of restoration/reconstruction/fake/caked whatever? This has been done to death these past few weeks. It’s distracting from what people are achieving all over the world.:confused:

Let’s just enjoy it.:rolleyes:

Cheers

Cees

I offer up the Bf109 from Jan (chap who came over with the Douglas cockpit for 2008 cockpit fest) for best use of original metal.

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Germany—Air/Messerschmitt-Bf-109G-5/1250829&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=27&sok=WHERE__%28aircraft_generic_%3D_%27Messerschmitt_Bf-109%27%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_desc_&prev_id=1269861&next_id=1249487

Undersized frame onto which recovered pieces are attached.

Regards
Ross

Bluebird K7

In respect of the use of original structure, the Bluebird project must be the market leaders in straightening out and reusing extremely bent and battered bits of metal.

see their website – it’s amazing!

Miles Student in Berkshire

If you want to see a perfect example of utilising as much original material as possible in a major static reconstruction, look no further than the Miles Student at the Museum of Berkshire Aviation in the UK.

I saw this as a pile of wreckage in the 80’s, and only a few weeks ago was happy to inspect its rebuild progress. Wherever possible they have straightened out and repaired original structure. Things have only been replaced in the main if they were missing, or destroyed.

It can be done.

In a static restoration such as this, there is no reason why a substantial amount of original material cannot be incorporated, even if it is repaired.

We have in recent weeks discussed a number of extremes – The Indian Firefly and Spitfire contain a great deal of original structure…..!

Bruce