Wow, I just found on the RCAF Museum’s site that their Halifax is already in the final stages of its restoration and will go for painting in its scheme on the 15th of this month. They say it’ll be on display to the public finished in November.
Well done to them, what a marvellous acheivement, and so rapidly too.
I look foreward to seeing photos of it completed
By: turretboy - 31st October 2005 at 15:54
The following article was also printed in the Trentonian, October 31, 2005.
Volunteers key to Halfiax bomber restoration
By: turretboy - 31st October 2005 at 15:48
The following article was printed in the Trentonian, October 31, 2005.
History unfolding at RCAF Museum
World’s only Halifax bomber to be unveiled Saturday
They are planning to have a simulated take-off of the Halifax as a part of it’s unveiling. Cool!
I really hope that the general public will get a chance to witness this display after the official dedication.
By: dhfan - 30th October 2005 at 11:17
Pedantic mode on.
As far as I’m aware, BAe Brough aren’t a descendant of the original manufacturer. Since Sir Fred wouldn’t join in with any other aircraft builders, the MoD wouldn’t give him any orders and Handley-Page went broke.
To be fair, I don’t know if one of the surviving companies bought the assets to make it technically true.
Pedantic mode off.
I think it’s a Halifax too.
By: HP57 - 30th October 2005 at 10:42
The “Halifax” Airfix at Elvington may not be the “real thing” but it still has the spirit of a Halifax.
Robert,
IMHO it’s a Halifax. The majority of the fuselage is from HR792, the covered waggon (covering the wing centresection) was rescued from Linton-on-Ouse, the tailsection, fins and rudders were built from drawings by BAe Brough (a descendant from the original manufacturer), the wing is from Hastings TG536. The Hastings was built in a similar fashion to the Avro York, which used Lancaster wings and tailplane. The Hastings used Halifax centre section and outer wings, only the intermediate section is of larger span than the Halifax. The engines are Hercules but of a later type. The tailplane has recently been rebuilt but this time properly and has sections from Halifax LL505 incorporated in it. The cockpit section is made from drawings but with wooden frames and some creativity. The props are wrong. and the landing gear is made from a steel frame with glassfibre covering which was moulded from the only original undercarriage casting supplied by the RAF Museum. The nose perspex looks a bit odd which does give the Halifax a bit of a botched up appearance but there are plans to correct this as well.
But in total I would say that about 70% of her airframe structure is genuine with the remainder easily corrected given time and the locating of proper propellers etc. I have been inside her and the structure sure is authentic.
Sure this will generate a lot of flak and so have the various Spitfire threads but they are still called Spitfires. This IS a Halifax and should be given the derserved credit to YAM as such.
Cheers
Cees
By: Robert Whitton - 29th October 2005 at 18:52
The “Halifax” Airfix at Elvington may not be the “real thing” but it still has the spirit of a Halifax.
By: HP57 - 29th October 2005 at 15:34
When FM213 was being restored the RAF still used Shackletons for which a mould was available to make a new batch. I have seen a photo somewhere showing the tyre storage of the BBMF and there were a lot of brand new tyres there. I think that FM213 got their tyres from the BBMF as well. So the tyres are Shackleton but are interchangeable witht Lincoln, Lancaster and Halifax.
Cheers
Cees
By: British Canuck - 28th October 2005 at 19:16
Yes I think FM213 uses the Lincoln wheels, brakes and tires combo…
I guess these tires are still in production…and I have seen spare original tires and wheels for Lancaster around but I would guess this rubber is no longer in production…
By: HP57 - 28th October 2005 at 18:03
I would say the they are similar as PA474 uses Lincoln type undercarriage (something to do with the brakes, more reliable?) and Shackleton tyres. Doesn’t FM213 fly with a similar set of “shoes.
Cees
By: Peter - 28th October 2005 at 15:21
I believe shackelton wheels and lincoln wheels are different size than lancs?
By: British Canuck - 27th October 2005 at 20:03
I know I am a little off topic but it is sorta related to heavy British bomber types….
Here is a question for anyone regarding wheels and tyres for the four engined British types…
Do the Lancaster, Lincoln and Shackleton all use the same size wheels and tires?
By: HP57 - 27th October 2005 at 18:38
57 rescue I think got them from a museum in the uk?
Peter,
Ian Foster saved one mainwheel and tyre that had been on display in an UK museum and which came from the crash of a civilian Halifax (from memory) but this aircraft was a much later version and the wheel and tyre (which was of the threaded variety which wartime Hally’s did not) are not comparable to a wartime Halifax but the axle or parts could be used. As far as I know they located a pair of Lancaster wheels and tyres (same as YAM did) as these are exactly the same.
No Substantial Stirling here in Holland so far (apart from the fuselage section found some years ago and now on display at Deelen) but we have found a very substantial Halifax wreck in the IJsselmeer so a Stirling must be around there somewhere as well.
Cheers
Cees
By: British Canuck - 27th October 2005 at 15:55
Are they the real thing? or Hasting wheels?
By: Peter - 27th October 2005 at 15:46
57 rescue I think got them from a museum in the uk?
By: British Canuck - 27th October 2005 at 11:56
The tires and the wheels to be used on the Trenton Halifax…where did they come from?
By: Peter - 26th October 2005 at 22:01
Attention HP57… please keep a look out for a Stirling as there must be a good example worth recivering in your area?
By: Bluebird Mike - 26th October 2005 at 19:02
Absolutely- there must be Stirling out there somewhere…
By: Moggy C - 26th October 2005 at 16:20
Simply lovely.
Almost worth the trip to Canada to see it, and to visit the airbase were my Dad was stationed during the war.
Can we have a Stirling now please?
Moggy
By: jeepman - 26th October 2005 at 15:44
I think you have to applaud the Canadian’s for their inspiration and determination in seeing this project to it’s end. Compare the British efforts with the Hampden and I feel
we have a lot to learn in involving the public and driving a project.
David
Are we talking the RAFM half and half restoration, or the East Kirkby resto or the donation by the RAFM of the Hampden nose to Canada -which admittedly has helped a very worthy restoration?
I hope that the success of the Trenton Halifax restoration and the way it was achieved are taken notice of – but I’m not going to hold my breath.
By: Peter - 26th October 2005 at 14:58
When she is open to the public again, she will have her nav and landing lights working and they will operate the flaps and bombdoors as well.
By: David Burke - 26th October 2005 at 12:52
I think you have to applaud the Canadian’s for their inspiration and determination in seeing this project to it’s end. Compare the British efforts with the Hampden and I feel
we have a lot to learn in involving the public and driving a project.
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September 5, 2005 at 2:55 pm