Having some spare time on Saturday I decided to drop in on the de havilland Heritage centre at London Colney, the reason for this impromptu visit was to see their superb composite restoration of FBVI TA122 which now stands on its newly refurbished undercarriage. A considerable achievement given the many thousands of hours of work that the volunteers have put in over the years. Although there are still many jobs to complete on the aircraft, the end is finally in sight.
There is no where else in the world where you see three mosquito’s in one museum, and some time hopefully this year three Mosquito’s will hopefully reside in the same hangar. There is even talk of a fourth PRIV Mosi restoration in the future!
Well here are those three Mosquito’s, the Prototype W4050, FBVI TA122 and TT/B35 TA634. Incidentally The Merlin engine next to the Prototype was the spare for the much missed and tragically lost RR299.
On the way home from the museum I made a short detour to the village of Chalfont St Giles, which 40 years ago this August was used to portray Walmington on Sea for the Columbia Pictures Dads Army Movie. So for all fans of celebrated series here’s a quick view down the high street.
Septic.
By: topgun regect - 6th April 2010 at 18:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V3SqxUomwk
Classic clip. Captain Mainwaring with his mannerisms always reminds me of my old Air Cadet CO :diablo:
Martin
By: Chox - 6th April 2010 at 15:52
Quite right, no idea why I said Hugh! … Crisp unt light brown…:D
By: topgun regect - 6th April 2010 at 14:43
I was even more of a Dads Army geek last year – went into Thetford to find the street where they filmed the infamous episode with Hugh Madoc as the U-Boat captain, and Cpl Jones with the bomb down his trousers.
It was Philip Madoc as the U-Boat captain but a classic episode all the same.
Martin
By: Dave Homewood - 6th April 2010 at 14:31
I have been to Thetford twice Chox, and seen many of the locations used in the town, including Mill Lane where the scene you describe ws filmed. And it was Philip madoc, by the way. Other locations in the town centre area are Nether Row which was in about four episodes, the Guildhall which appeared twice as the Town Hall (and is now a Dad’s Army museum), and the door to the Polish Club where Jones was accosted and made a POW. St Mary’s church also appeared in an early episode, as did nearby Newtown in several early ones.
By: Chox - 6th April 2010 at 14:19
I was even more of a Dads Army geek last year – went into Thetford to find the street where they filmed the infamous episode with Hugh Madoc as the U-Boat captain, and Cpl Jones with the bomb down his trousers. The street looks just the same but the satellite dishes on the cottages make it look a little odd! Then I drove out into the Stanford Battle Area to find the track where they filmed the closing titles clips of the characters marching past the trees. It’s still there, but boy is it a long way from civilisation – and you have to dodge the tanks firing!
By: Dave Homewood - 6th April 2010 at 01:59
Nice photos Gary, thanks for posting them.
Interestingly we have just been discussing the Dad’s Army film locations today on my forum devoted to the series, here:
http://walmington.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=314&page=1
It is a really nice little village. Apparently many films have been made there as it is within the bounds of Shepperton Studios. A friend lived there when he was young and saw loads of films being made there.
By: pagen01 - 5th April 2010 at 22:30
I do like that B.35, cracking pics Septic!
By: Septic - 5th April 2010 at 22:20
Sadly not Tony.
A few years back there was some rumours of getting TA634 back into the air, but I think they were very speculative.
Septic.
By: Hot_Charlie - 5th April 2010 at 22:19
The last picture encouraged me to look on google streetview. I see the bank is a pub in real life! 😀
By: Tony at BH - 5th April 2010 at 22:15
Any of these flyers? Are we going to see this lovely plane at our airshows in the future?
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April 5, 2010 at 10:03 pm