Urgent Help Needed..!

thats ok…

I ll leave it be but it make s me wonder though. Over the last 30 days I will have had 12 xrays so what damage can a little paint do.. It looks alot better now and you can hardly notice the mark unless you get right up to it

Re: Its back together

Originally posted by peter
I heeded the advice and didnt take it apart. When I looked closely at the glas, you could see dust inside the glass so that settled it for me. finito benito I wasnt going to open it up at all. It is all back together now after an external clean :0) and a repaint of the metal faceplate.

I woun’t worry about it! Take it apart If you wish because if you want it certified they will have to take it apart anyway. I have a freind that has a avionics shop and he won’t certify anything that looks like that. Get some jewlers screwdrivers and have at it. It is no big deal to take the glass off. I wouldn’t even consider the health as a reason because the risk is very minimual.

Hi Peter,

Perhaps I should have stated in my first reply that my opinion is formed after studying Air Publications A.P.1275, 1275A and A.P.1086, Part 4, Aircraft Instruments. The Stores Reference No. you quoted was 6A/1275. I think you’ll find this is a typo on your part (6A/1275 is a Clock, Mk.IID) and that it is actually 6A/1273. A.P.1086 confirms that this Stores Reference relates to a Mk. XIVA altimeter with fluorescent paint finish.

Luminous finished instruments are the ones that contain paint with radium. If I thought that the dial contained radium based paint, I would echo some of the advice already offered.

Regards!

Hi Peter,
Better safe than sorry. 682al may be right, but I’m not sure. Can’t hurt to contact the Canadian Aviation Museum (http://www.nmstc.ca/nam/Eng/english_home.html) or as aj suggested, the RAFM: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk
Cheers
James

Its back together

I heeded the advice and didnt take it apart. When I looked closely at the glas, you could see dust inside the glass so that settled it for me. finito benito I wasnt going to open it up at all. It is all back together now after an external clean :0) and a repaint of the metal faceplate.

Thanks guys!

Thanks Al.
It sounds like you have dealt with this type before. I am afraid to damage the glass as I had this happen on one of my rpm guages and at some point it will need to be replaced. It is safely sealed up in a box for now.

Peter,

Your altimeter is of the later, fluorescent paint finish. There is no health hazard to opening it up. When you have removed all the screws holding the bezel on, the glass may seem to be stuck on, but it should lift off with (great care). If you’re not careful in prising it off, you risk chipping the rim which will be visible when you put it back together. I’ve sometimes used parafin as a releasing agent.

Good luck!

instrument

Haha thats a good one not married though. I had my Dad take a look at it and on closer inspection it seems that the glass is glued to the front?! The “oil” that i thought was running on the inside of the glass is infact the adhesive!

Just realised you are in Canada. Bonjour/’allo. Contact the Canadian Aviation Museum, Rockliffe. I’ve seen their Radioactive instrament pound in their store. I’m sure they will advise.
Cheers

Why not get the wife to do it for you?

No,
You are stuck with a face that doesn’t require surgury to stop you dying. 😉 Let’s have a perspective on cancer / vs toys here.
Thanks for listening, talk to some experts by all means.
Cheers

well i guess ime stuck with this then

Well i guess ime stuck with a discolored face.. shame though wish they hadnt used that type of paint

Hi Peter,
Tip one was DO NOT REMOVE THE GLASS. At the risk of being rude (for your health) which bit of this is causing you difficulties?
Tip Two is not to mess with the painted numerals, but if you ignore tip one, that’s mere detail.
Please read the links I gave you. It’s your neck, but have you ever seen the end of the film ‘Kiss me Deadly’? Think…
Concerned,

altimeter

Thanks guys.
It is not a metal case the case is black plastic. There are no identifying marks on it anywhere other than the face which has 6A/1275 on it. The paint on the dial is all intact with no flaking or anything. I do not wish to touch the dial at all just to get that glass cleaned o nthe insde. The adjustment knob has been broken off at some point many years ago and this wasnt discovered until the front faceplate was removed.

Peter

Have you had the geiger counter over this?

I am happy to be corrected by more knowledgeable but isn’t that a post radium paint instrument. Isn’t that a green and white numbered face requiring the U/V fluorescing cockpit lights to illuminate?

The instrument should be dated such *****/51. Is it?

Am I adrift here or are both types now considered deadly?

Mark

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“Never do today that which will become someone else’s responsibility tomorrow”

David Brent

I agree that opening this instrument is probably not a good idea!

If it has a metal case, it is probably held together with a solder joint at the front which you need special equipment to deal with

May I reccomend you don’t?

Despite my earlier post about H&S Hypocondria in the RAF Museum regarding their Seagull V which you are not alowed in because of the radioactive paint on the instraments, the dose issue goes up exponentially both when you take off or break the glass, and also when / if you touch or transfer or disturb the paint.

From your pic, those Nos look very bad.

Checkout:http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk and search for ‘radioactive’ for a debate about the issue.

And ‘Search for ‘Radioactive Boy Scout’ to see why I hope you are not my neighbour.

“Is your effort really necassary?”

Inside it should look something like this: