Trenton Halifax Pictures

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Hi Steve,

The engines are not my “speciality” so to speak, so I dare not comment too much on this subject, however, I can say that the bits you mention were a mix of both new & old parts.
Best advice I can give would be to contact the team direct via the website: www.halibag.com
If that fails, get in touch with the UK end of the team via Ian at 57 RESCUE, he will be able to help you better as he is also in the UK.

Good luck with your project too

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Good to hear from someone involved in the project, hope she’s coming along nicely.

I did ask a question earlier on in the thread about the steel tubing you’ve used for your gill ring assemblies. Were you able to source any original tubing, or did you have to manufacture it? I’m asking because I’m on the Skysport Beaufighter and will be looking for some of this type of tubing eventually.

Cheers,

Steve

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 18-11-02 AT 11:07 PM (GMT)]Hi Guys (& Gals?)

Thanks for all your words of support & encouragement regarding the restoration of NA337.

To answer a couple of questions…. Because we have been able to get hold of a set of brand new inner tubes, the aircraft will have her boots filled with air, however, the plan is not to inflate the tires fully, but only enough air to fill out the shape of the tire.
The gear legs will actually rest on a specially made set of brackets fitted to the hangar floor to support the full weight of the aircraft.

As for the gear legs themselves… Some of you have already spotted those “odd” looking gear legs in the pictures & thought they were Hastings or similar. Well, in fact these are the “inner” legs which have been specially made for the project. As many will know, currently there are NO KNOWN serviceable Halifax main gear legs available to us, so, we have been forced to make a set. Once completed, no one will be able to tell the difference from the “real” thing, and these will be used safely (including retraction if required) until such times as a “real” set of legs are made available.

Many “unsung heroes” in the UK have helped get this project to where it is now, and it is these people who also need to be thanked! Especially those involved in the “Hen Shed” recovery, the “Hercules Engine” recovery and the “Gear Legs” recovery, plus much much more besides! Thanks to them all (you all know who you are)

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Luckily enough Merlin I will be down there just shortly as I’m restoring my old trials bike(TY175) and it’s getting a rebore and +0.025 piston fitted , I’ll see Keith then. I don’t know what JEM stands for , he mostly builds and repairs marine engines and he is trying to get all the bumfp he needs to rebuild Merlins on a commercial basis , I’ll ask if we can pop down one day soon then while we’re down we can brassneck it and ask for some invites to his next open night , generally if you just turn up he’s ok anyway and like I said earlier he is an enthusiast , he will stand and talk for hours .I’ll see what I can do .

Alastair

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

ageorge

Hi I would love to see them sometime.

I will drop you a line and perhaps we can meet up sometime and go and have a look. Any chance of bringing my brother.

ps what is JEM?

Merlin

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Excellent Merlin thanks , just out of interest have you seen the collection of engines down at JEM in Falkirk .The chap who owns the place has a cood collection of Jet and piston engines , he has a Merlin on a test stand and the tank version , the Meteor in a big custom built trestle , he also has a Derwent in a test rig .2-3 times a year he invites people down to his workshops and runs all three of these up , he has a lot more engines but as yet he only runs 3.The Merlin was bought fresh from its packing crate , it was intended for a Boulton Paul Baillol but was never use , it now has a cropped prop and sounds superb , the Meteor REALLY looks good everything is black and all the fasteners and exhausts made in stainless by Keith himself.The Derwent scares me , it shrieks like a banshee , a few years ago it was chained to the side of on of Keiths steam traction engines and it managed to slew the steamer through 90 degree !! , I’ll get Keiths number , it’s not really open to public view but Keith is always there and is mega enthusiastic so you will get a tour , either that or drop me a line and I’ll meet you somewhere and I’ll take you down – there is an open day around about Christmas time , Keith usually puts out mulled wine and mince pies !!!!!

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Also did you know that the inner tubes for the tyres were sourced right hwere in Scotland. A local firm in Grangemouth had the very size for the tyres. Something I am told nowhere else so far had.

All thanks to 57 Rescue. Thanks Ian Foster.

So I think the Halifax may just sit on her tyres when she is finished.

www.57rescue.org

Merlin

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

ageorge are you talking about the Dundonald in Scotland.

If so I would forget about Dundonald and just go down to YAM. it is easy to find and there are signs at the major motorway etc.

YAM is really worth seeing and I think it says a lot for the Staff at YAM that they completed their Friday the 13th with the funding they had. It has truely done them proud even if the props are the wrong way round.

I wont say too much on this subject though as another post covered this ground before.

see IS FRIDAY THE 13TH A HALIFAX

http://www.keymags.co.uk/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=1…

Merlin

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Same here I ?? thought it was on Hasting undercarriage , unless , the photo a is of set of a Hastings ?? .
Has anybody been to the YAM ? is there a cafe nearby , I’m going ( hopefully ) in two weeks time , I’m going to visit the Dundonald museum in the same day so if anybody could give me directions from Dundonald to YAM it would be much appriciated

Thanks
Alastair

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Can anyone tell me what the second photo is showing?

I thought the ‘Friday 13th Halifax’ was on a Hasting undercarriage

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Hi ageorge,
The nose section you’re talking about is on display at the Imperial War Museum at Lambeth in London,and not with the RAFM at Hendon. I think they felt it made a good stablemate for the Lanc nose,so were unwilling to part with it.It’s also been converted as a walk-through exhibit,so grafting it onto the nose of the Elvingdon example might not be as simple as it sounds.

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

The people who are responsible for the Halifax in the RAF Museum should have a look at these photos , both aircraft we’re salvaged from similar situations yet the RAF one is preserved in the same state she was found in and the Canadian one a credit to all who are working on her.Do the RAF Museum not realise that the Halifax was one of the BIG bombers during the war ?? , and she should be restored as a tribute to all who served on them . They have built the American dome as a tribute to all the Americans who gave their lives in the name of freedom , surely there should be a similar effort made to pay tribute to all the aircrew who came from all over the Commonwealth ???, I know there are the Stirling and Whitley groups , these teams should be given the backing of the RAF Museum to build composite airframes , Imagine a Lanc , Halifax , Stirling , Wellington and Whitley in one line up !!.
On another point – why did the RAF Museum not volunteer to give Friday the 13t hat Elvington the nose section they have ??? .

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

I was especially pleased to see these pictures – thank you. A few years ago I was part of a team that helped to retrieve a Beaufighter Hercules engine off the Isle of Lewis. With the help of 57 Rescue (Hi Ian!) an RAF Puma, and personnel from RAF Leuchars, it was salvaged and shipped out on a Canadian Herc. I can agree with the above comments in that our salvaged engine components were indeed in a poor condition so perhaps some fabrication has taken place – what a fantastic job those people are doing!

I have a special interest in this project: Grandfather ex 644 Sqn Halifax’s – was on the same SOE mission during which this one got shot down…)

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Steve , one of the other topics mentions that there is a Belfast Hangar at RAF Theal under threat ,put this in the gap at Duxford that would solve the problem !! , have a hangar dedicated to the V-Force ???

Alastair

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Steve,

I remember visiting the museum a a few years back in the early stages of the restoration of the engines and I do believe they rebuild or restored much of what makes up the exhaust ring and brackets themselves. After sanding and cleaning most seem to be very pitted and they did require quite alot of patching up and pieceing back together inorder to appear uniform and authetic. And since it was not to be restored to running condition I am sure they were able to reuse many components that would normally have to recreated from new if it was to have been run again. Still it is amazing to see the engines in detail when you consider how long they have been under water. And once they are installed on the Halifax all of this will no longer be seen..hopefully an engine cowling might be left open for those to see the quality in the restoration. Now sure if this helps or not but I am glad that I am share these pictures with others and hopefully encourage others to visit.

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Andy, thanks very much for taking the time to post these excellent photos.

The top one is especially useful to me as it shows the two things I was hoping to see; the little half size gill plate at the top of the ring and the size and shape of the gill ring mounting brackets. We’ve got drawings for two types of Herc gill ring assembly, and this picture confirms what I thought about which ones are right for the Beau.

One final question, which I’m not sure you’ll be able to answer. The steel tubing which forms the gill ring, do you know whether Trenton manufactured that themselves or whether they were able to source it?

Thanks,

Steve

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

The balance of the Trenton pictures. This Halifax is abit of a hard one to capture in pictures due it’s present location but still it gives you abit of an idea as to her process. Anyone know what plans they have with regards to how it will be sitting? Will it rest on it’s tires..if so what kind or will be have it’s undercarriage supported to take the weight of them. I know the airworthly Lanc’s use Lincoln wheels but not sure about this Halifax? What does Friday 13th use for wheels and tires(Hastings stuff?)
Attachments:

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

In place of the Valiant!! No way! Expand the building so it takes both.

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Now that would be a line up worth seeing !! a Lanc,Stirling ,Wellington and Halifax under one roof. What about a front row consisting of the Hampden , Blenheim ,Battle and Defiant ???.

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Money, of course!

But they SO need to restore that plane, even if it means it’s off show for however long-it would still be a genuine Halifax, and one that had a real history, and it should stand proud next to the Lanc and Wimpey. Then all we need to find is a Stirling somewhere, and put it in there in place of the Valiant!!!