GOKONEE-BAY ITEMS UPDATE
Garry,
The big point is this – that while you didnt mention the company by name, you picked on items that they were selling, and that would be well known.
To say they were hopping mad would be an understatement.
This thread is for the discussion of items being sold on ebay, and not a discussion on their prices.
If companies (including mine) can make a living on ebay by selling items at whatever price they see fit, then that is entirely up to them. In these difficult times, it is hard enough to make a living without having people sniping at us from the sidelines. If you don’t want to pay the prices, then by all means dont, but please dont tell others not to do so.
Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Thx for the reply. I’m sorry for the problem this originally caused, but my naming of certain items were prompted by a number of things-
If it was a newspaper that had posted the original comment then I considered that any report might just mention costs for certain items offered on e-bay being regarded as high by many preservationists and other observers in aviation, while covering hopefully both sides of the story besides getting feedback on them. I appreciate this dosen’t seem realistic on a forum however.
It was also due to comment that has cropped up regularly regarding such items over some years now and I was mindful of some straightforward and frank comments in particular last year, that were posted in relation to a large item that was being sold at that time – I never checked to see if these were deleted subsequently and they may well have been on another site.
I also wrote my comments while being mindful of selling terms and methods that were freely seen by presumably millions of people worldwide over some years, and which I considered had obviously been given by sellers historically, when quoting them in relation to the items. I didn’t realise this couldn’t be commented on with specific reference to the items concerned.
I never considered that having previously advertised seller terms and conditions restated by myself would make any concern hopping mad, as they would not be any different from what had actually been advertised on seller sites previously, while we have all seen the media employed by some concerns in the past so that there has not been any shying away from publicity to achieve a sale when an item has stayed on offer.
Digital comment has been naturally high as a result, though I see now that it has to be restrained on the forum and I’m sorry if the wording came across as bashing due to my comments on costs – its just the concern as to the effect of what are regarded as high costs and the knock-on to preservation and collectors.
We all understand its business but its the degree of what is being demanded by some companies for certain items as buyers struggle to survive like sellers and some costs have caused concern for a number of years now. The future of preservation is in many people’s minds and the point that B.Honeydew made, as to who /what is going to replace us if no one comes along after us due to high costs, was an apt one.
With the national debt making future generations indebted thanks to inept politicians and not enough houses being built alone, its not like any new (potential) collectors will have much money, while high online prices for certain items that drive up expectation will put many lesser players off and they will move onto other things – I wonder what the average member age is in many museums nowadays?
If the subject is unsuitable for this thread then fine also, though this never occurred to me as I was obviously responding to another posted concern about high prices and didn’t know it was meant to be about e-bay finds – so I gave my own opinion on it and I don’t regard the valid concerns originally raised which I responded to as sniping via the examples I mistakenly gave too much detail on originally. I don’t regard this as a happy hunting ground scenario – the concerns raised are important and they will not go away in preservation.
I would contest that if the prices being paid weren’t made that some companies wouldn’t exist, due to some (but not all) of the high sums involved for certain items not being realised in a sale. I like to think that I don’t tell others NOT to buy, I think its fair to be free to say however if some items are thought of and can be alluded to (in general) as being high in cost however, and of course I wasn’t referring to you in the first place.
If no direct comment can be made on a forum as opposed to say, that of an independent press association regarding the concerns I have mentioned, then I will refer to matters like this in an indirect, general and generic fashion in future and on other threads if you still object to this one being used, while remembering not to quote clear cases that many are already familiar with and which are always discussed at aeroboots, other forums and private e-mails.
One other general thing – I’m already hearing that many of those who rely on e-bay to sell a few occasional or minor items are finding the new postal charges unaffordable – a contact reports that “most things cost £2.50 to post now so its loused it up for lots of low-value items that poor people are trying to sell to keep their heads above water”.
Yet another reports frustratingly:”I’ve had more non-payers in the past 3 months than I had in the previous 5 years !!!! What the hell do you do, Buyers have you by the short and curlies and you can’t leave the t—s negative feedback either”.
Regards, G
GOKONEDIFFICULT TIMES ETC
No, it was potentially libellous, and was removed by the webmaster following a complaint. Whilst you may not agree with offering items for a perceived large amount of money, it doesn’t make the sellers fair game.
They are trying, to make a living in difficult times. No-one can blame them for that. Bruce
Hi Bruce,
Thanks for the update, I didn’t receive any e-mails on it or whatever so wondered what was going on. I’m surprised that there was an objection(s) to my comments as the item wasn’t written with a ‘Fair Game’ mindset – the points were all considered and I wouldn’t deliberately try to be libelous in my thoughts on the company in question, or to embarrass the forum.
Any attempt to make a perceived large amount of money however means that buyers and others will rightly want to comment on such prices, so that sellers will be looked at closely – this is especially true today and its fair to comment on when we’re all struggling (politicians and others aside) to make a living in difficult times, for which no blame is attached.
Someone else who originally saw it beforehand said it seemed fair in the points it was making, while it seems now that some of my comment in illustrating some selling techniques have been inferred in the way of the litigious, so that interpretation not considered in the original writing may have arisen.
There were observations from myself on actual quotes made by the seller about one of the items that still hasn’t sold for some time now due to what many other observers would say were obvious reasons. Similar comments have arisen from many others and often in a very pragmatic manner, regarding other items offered in the past.
This is all a bit sad as its true that there has been an adverse effect on the collecting/preservation scene for some years now by commercial concerns that have contributed in so small part to making collecting and preservation harder for people to consider in retaining as an ongoing hobby, and in particular to the new generation (or potentially new generation) who are deterred by high prices. The selling ploys and techniques that have been evident to people for quite some years now have caused many to comment very clearly, in forums in the past.
If you can e-mail me what bits you feel need taking out then I’d like to look at it again for posting as it has a number of important points to make in aviation preservation and collecting today. For those that don’t take in big mails I can arrange to mail them privately if they prefer.
You can reach me on my private internal mail via the forum and I can mail you on my normal e-mail address if preferred but it would be good to comment on this in some acceptable form as it is an important subject and will continue to be so in the future.
If you can’t then I’ll understand, but I’d still like you to e-mail me what the offending bits were as aside from any possible issues over big prices (though people often talk about these) I obviously need to know what else is sensitive when I write about such matters in future.
Cheers
GOKONE“Reflections on Operation Black Buck”
Thx for that Howard, when known it would be good to have some links posted re the three camera crews who were there on the day, been wondering if they have done their editing etc or I think they would have been broadcast by the regional TV people by now.
G1
GOKONEENCOURAGING THE NEXT GENERATION: Q
Many active preservationists start as collectors but how the hell can they at these prices? They’ll take one look and go back to their play stations or nintendos or whatever. The same items can be found much more cheaply at aerojumbles but the potential new people will never know because this will put them off attending.[/QUOTE]
Hi,
I did a detailed response to this article today entitled something like:
“ENCOURAGING THE NEXT GENERATION”
It all seems to have disappeared without any explanation however so does anyone know what happened to it and if the content was too long?
G1 :confused:
GOKONEV-FORCE REUNION 2012 PIX
[QUOTE=Blue_2;1885197]Very good GOK! The Vulcan panel has now been reunited with its neighbour by the way.
Good to hear they’ll be on the wall sometime, here’s a review anyway before I go off to sample the wonders of the late night bus and DLR – including Boris’s 8% hike… still better than Ken anyway.
STRIP 1
1-2.‘Triple-M’ time as Martin’s Marvellous Models took the eye when entering the hangar on the stb’d side – an unusual model of the Vulcan hulk that languished at Valley(?) for many years made for an unusual diorama while amongst all the triple V models, the one of Victor XL513 in her ‘high white’ under-scheme gave a good contrast.
3. All displays and models were of a high standard and despite the absence of a power point for their DVD movie unit the ASR displays of the Cold War Intercept group were to the fore again. The MS 5 Liferaft prompted Vic Pheasant amongst others to recall many V memories, including how stomach-churning it was to be in a 5-man Liferaft.
Cold War Intercept reported:
On Saturday we attended the bi-annual Tribute to the V Force event at Newark Air Museum England. Over 400 past serving RAF Aircrew members who flew on Valiant, Victor and Vulcan throughout the Cold War (many quite elderly now) turned out on a bitterly cold day to exchange stories and generally reminisce about past times. Quite a large timespan to cover, some 40 years, so we concentrated on 1950s/60s era gear and ancillary survival kit.
We exhibited our MS 5 Liferaft (yes, V bombers did carry one!) and single seat Liferaft along with other items such as Pressure jerkin and Air ventilated suit. Large cast metal Victor B1 model (used in RAF recruiting Office windows in the 1960s) along with various period adverts from 50s / 60s magazines. The stories we heard throughout the day relating to the equipment we displayed were truly amazing and a fount of knowledge as it came from people who had actually used this gear.
STRIP 2
1. A planned four-table display had shrunk to two on arrival with the Valiant MBC photos that I had measured up for and e-mailed after the last Aeroboot taking up the first two as planned, but we managed to get by after I cadged two camping tables and used my emergency one until the Sunday, when I used the two full-tables from Cold War Intercept. The Valiant photos drew a good deal of interest and special wooden base clamps worked a treat so more to come from them again I’m sure.
2. Vulcan B.2 AEO Power Supplies panel restoration in special carry box.
3. VC-10 fan Michael Eskriett had an impresssive fully-illuminated Victor K.1A co-pilots panel on display with a vast array of air pipes and electrical boxes and other electronic wizardry at the back. This was in addition to uniforms and other items, more of which later.
STRIP 3
1. As an unusual backdrop to his table Michael had four VC-10 interior window facades into which he had stripped scenes from the runway of Ascension Island during the Falklands campaign, a nice touch.
2. Bill O’Sullivan is transfixed by the overpowering majesty of the MS 5 liferaft display at Cold War Intercept.
3. A lovely flying model of Vulcan B.2 XJ824 which was put through its paces later in the day.
STRIP 4
1. Not sure if the Valiant model flew but a Victor one certainly did as per Blue2’s shots, wonder why airliner’s don’t use crescent wings today as Sir Fred certainly tried all he could to get a civilian version of the Victor into production with related savings but mandarins and politics ruined that one yet again, not to mention the military transport version which would have been far superior to the politically motivated and limited-run Short Belfast.
2. Great to see Vulcan author Craig Bulman attend again with his own stand with many photos on display.
3. ‘558 arrives to overfly the museum’s own Vulcan B2.
STRIP 5
1. V-Force helmet and oxygen mask as displayed by a former pilot in the V-Marquee.
2. Some of the 48 early Valiant Medium Bomber Course photos on display from the early 50’s onwards.
3. VC-10 fan Michael Eskriett also featured this powered Delco Carousel INS that I believe the Victors used as taken from VC-10’s during the Falklands War.
STRIP 6
1. The Avro people also had a desk full of excellent models that showed Avro’s presence in aviation from early days onwards.
2. Following the signatures I picked up on my XL190 door in 2010 the museum also began to get pilots to sign theirs also as collected by former V.A. member Darren Simons. These will no doubt grow in future and I was also pleased to get the signature of Bob Tuxford added to mine, who kindly obliged after I missed him at the last show.
3. Limited edition prints including those of a V nature were also on offer in the setting of Hangar 2.
STRIP 7
1-2. A beaut of a Vulcan engine panel hand-made (including the many guage mountings), with a lovely piece of carpentry and logo application to set it all off too – from the XM655 stand.
3. The rear of Michael Eskriett’s Victor panel shows the work and detail that has gone into making this a working exhibit, with a compressor, pump, and varying voltage power units for differing instruments amongst all the wiring and tubing. Mike feels he could do with some valves putting in the lines for the Pitot and Static but he’s just not sure yet where to get them from though he feels a good aquarium shop should have something he can use.
STRIP 8
1-3. ‘558 overflight of the museum interspersed by a ‘Cyberman’ air-ventilated suit Mk.2 as worn by V Force crews and others.
STRIP 9
1-2. Some people felt obliged to inspect at closer quarters the picture of a line-up of American lovelies gathered outside a 617 Sqn Vulcan during a visit to Pensacola in 1961 to celebrate 50 years of American Naval Aviation. That these ladies are now grandmothers (someone uncharitably said great-grandmothers) seems very hard to take on board when looking at such a parade. Some of those Vulcan pilots had certain hard taskings in the 60’s it seems in addition to the defence of the nation. From Shoreham Aeromart in March this year and another welcome addition to my V displays.
3. Bob Tuxford of XL189/Black Buck 1 fame was amongst many welcome V-Force personnel at the reunion.
4. BIG ‘V’ giro with advertorial for a forthcoming Victor book in its 60th anniversary year, with a Lincs shield from Vulcan B.2 XL388 “Mayflower II”.
STRIP 10
1. Some people are massively talented – a VC-10 image from Michael Eskriett’s table as cut out from a Conway turbofan blade, with inscribed detailing – how was that done then?
2. Meteor Lake, Newark Notts.
Hope that gives a flavour of the event and all tables were worth a look including the usual excellent displays and pics of the Vulcan XA903 stand. Here’s to the next one! 🙂
GOKONEPOPHAM, POPHAM 2012
ITS NEARLY HERE AGAIN, A FEW DAYS TO GO, STILL GETTING OVER THE V REUNION AND LINING UP BOTTLES OF VARYING HUES TO TAKE WITH US, HOPE THE WEATHER HOLDS OUT AND THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER 3 DAYS TO REMEMBER, WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF THE HIKES IN SELLER’S PITCHES PRODUCE LESS PEOPLE COMING ALONG TO SELL.
GOKONE558 DISPLAY AT V REUNION, NEWARK NOTTS
IIRC – XM594 pretty much emptied on Saturday when ‘558 was finally confirmed as being in the area; but sadly it only did fly-bys and it did not fly over the museum site! 🙂
Are you sure?
saw this is a report somewhere…….“The familiarity of the Newark crowd with the usual Vulcan display routine of three singletons can be seen in this picture as they talk to one another about the forthcoming City-Manu clash and the cost of fuel. ‘558 is seen about to make its low pass before returning to undertake an opposition roll in conjunction with the large-scale flying model of XJ824 which is climbing at left to formate into position…..” 😀
GOKONEITS COMING…
[QUOTE=FLYING SAUCER;1884531]:cool:
It didn’t feel like that at 8.00pm on Saturday as I fiddled between manual and auto modes to get various brackets as the sun went down. Fingers were too cold eventually and I had to call it a day and get back a bottle of red, some tortilla ham wraps and three yogurts.
RAF socks and my new cheap sleeping bag kept the feet warm until next day in der hangar! A good time was had by all though, just wish that rain had gone off somewhere else after the morning at least, there was a lake outside the Meteor when I left. Still plenty to do before the Fest so I’d better get on. 😉
GOKONECOCKPIT FEST 2012
Possible early Egyptian cockpit being investigated for this year’s event! 😉
Its kicking in………
G1 :p
GOKONEPOPHAM AERO/EVERYTHING BOOT
Why’s it called an `aero jumble` ?
Last time I went it seemed to be more car spares, washing machine bits, wooden ducks.
That’s what its become unfortunately but the aero bits that can surface are worth going for although the laughs we have make it one to go for just as much too – it was consistently good in the 90’s, loads of kit and dealers, Nev Martin, Mike Shaw etc with Staravia stuff along with many others selling good kit at good prices, and a good quantity of jet clobber with enough WW2 to keep people happy.
I bought a lovely painted 1A helmet off Nev for £40 one year and would like to go back now and have the second, had some good Harrier kit and Hunter too, while on the plus side of the ‘other’ goods on offer, you can have some good tools and things like cutting disks at 50p each which are impossible to beat in shops.
This was in the days of sensible prices though they’re still better than many dealers on e-bay today, before they put the wooden landing strip fencing up (think that happened 3-4 years ago) and I remember sleeping in the main marquee on a table one year with a mate under an old Wellington wheel cover after some beers.
Bit too cold now for that now, though I also remember one September event (they don’t do two now unfortunately) when we were freezing in the van trying to sleep and the rain was hammering down on the roof, besides the infamous patch of land that used to get water on and if you stopped when requested by a warden, you couldn’t as you knew you’d be stuck in the mud-
a few cries were made but what could you do, you had to keep moving!
One year I kept the Bluebird in 2nd as I was leaving gingerly on very wet ground and I just let it crawl along on tickover and didn’t stop for anyone as I was well loaded up and I knew if I stopped I wouldn’t be out of the main gates for some time to come, I just made it.
They eventually hardened up the problem ground near the aircraft corral, but the rain can be such that the event can be cancelled due to general waterlogging, which sadly happened 4-5 years ago if I remember rightly, a real disaster for regular goers then, and those that didn’t know about it until they turned up on the day, but that’s rain for you. When I say ‘regular goers’ I mean…., oh it dosen’t matter, I’d better not go go there. Rick & James probably will tho…
Come on A.M., you must have plenty of tall stories of beer-infused nights or of being called ‘chavs’ by more petite campers when playing some rock a little too loudly for their more discerning ears…:rolleyes:
Eve’nin’ campers…. :rolleyes:G1
GOKONERE POPHAM PRICE HIKE/ V-FORCE REUNION
Anyone else going this year?
I notice Dick’s put the prices up too. First time in many years but with the rising cost of fuel, it puts pressure on everyone. I’m using the same tactic as I did for the Shoreham ‘jumble, so I’ll arrive at Popham after a few days at The National Archives – more bang for the fuel buck.
Lots of goodies, thermals, weather proof gear and booze – yep, just about ready for the off.
See y’all down there I hope!
====================================
Course we are! Got to try this amazing cider of yours – not too much though – although we could try and get the infamous TIM MCSPLURGLE bladdered on it and have a ‘repeat’ performance as per last year!
Limited choice of beer this year due to the testing times but have done OK courtesy of Lidls, its good stuff and affordable – and on that subject a mate who’s been going for years is also wondering with other sellers why the pitch price has been hiked so drastically while the M’Bike Rally later has apparently been left as is.
Part of the fact of its ‘Pop’-ularity is that its been obviously well-priced and that has encouraged attendance over many years, and none more so than in these cash-strapped times, in which none of us feel that ‘us’ and our political masters/bas—– are ‘all in it together’ 🙁
My contact feels it will discourage the occasional sellers who want to clear something out of the loft or just get rid of some bits that are no good to them, but which may prove very handy for buyers.
It will only reduce sellers in general I think due to the fuel situation as you say as some don’t sell a lot due to the nature of what they’ve dug out or stand to sell at such an event, so the hiked fee along with fuel may well put a good number off.
Its already lost too much of its aviation content over the years and if this reduces further due to the increase then some regular buyers may start not to bother, not a nice thought as we’ve supported it since 1993 (I think).
If its down to higher running costs then none of us know what has caused such an escalation of fees since last year but we’ll see what happens over the holiday and lets hope we get some sun at least – had an excellent show at the V Force Reunion at the weekend, over 450 people I’m told and three film crews with a flyover (sadly muted and gentle as ever) of ‘558, though nice to see she can still fly.
It fell down though yesterday and didn’t stop all day, I was glad to leave though only to lose the rain and cold behind! Got some nice atmospheric shots before sleeping in the van on Sat night with the Flogger etc in background and the sun and coloured clouds floating by – bitter wind tho.
Apart from that everyone had a great time and great too to talk to some of the pilots with some of the kit on display (like the ASR and dinghy display) prompting some excellent stories from pilots and groundcrew alike.
Excellent displays all round plus models as ever and another Victor nosewheel door appeared for signing after I took mine last time (and this) along with some other bits of metal for V fans to stick on the wall – and cheer up the wife/girlfriend.
Time to save up for the diesel, and put some away probably too if any more strike rumours start again – started by…..?
GOKONEGETTIN THERE
[QUOTE=WV-903.;1877476]Looking a milion dollars now G,
Great stuff indeed, If you’ve got one, the Sea Hawk used an E2A Stand-by Compass. But very folks would know the difference when peering in 838.
Now who do I know who would put it on e-bay for that kind of figure…..? 😀 Rory G used to say ‘Thanks a Million’ and I have to get back to a live concert on u-tube before I leave the office to remind me of Ireland’s finest and what exceptional guitarists youngsters are missing out on these days.
Have had great help from the museum as ever and looking forward to seeing school kids peer into it with their M&D’s saying cor! To this end Flixton’s welders Terry Elvy & Bob Palfryman with chippy David Hardisty have made some steps that hook over the mudguard to give safe viewing – the mudguards make up the third ‘step’ and green rubber to match will be put on them with contact adhesive.
Faffed around on Saturday looking at 5 different places for ali stair edging but nothing suitable so finally sorted out some anodized strip from B & Q and finished it off on Sunday with a metal countersink bit for the screws and added more layers of mahogany all-in-one varnish on the ply before putting a 2nd coat of Smooth Hammerite blue on the metal work.
Still unknowing where the port side wall radio box fits, none of the trays seems to take that later version that was hard to get but that we’ve all got one of now.
The job done on the headbox looks great thanks to David Dawson amongst many other things he’s done, I managed to find most of the bits and there was no time to de-rivet the strips on top that hold the old canvas in place – so he cut some new ones from ali strips and I sprayed them before he riveted them over the top of the originals.
I nearly gave the brand new ‘D’ ring-pull and face screen away awhile back! Your swap blue straps look great too thx Bill and I hope to do more on the seat refurbishment at a later date.
Mint triple press guage is still picking up dust on floor somewhere as I wonder where I’ve put its panel – couldn’t do anything with it as the two brass frames that hold info cards are off it and I wanted them sorted before refitting it – two different sizes are involved and I remember seeing stuff like that at the late-lamented Whittick Aeromart years ago, must do a time machine next.
I took some grabs from a Sea Hawk in flight on u-tube yesterday, will base canopy release handle stripes on that – I looked at Bill’s Sea Hawk, and one from the T & L site but I prefer yellow angled ones rather than the straight ones.
This could be even more of a project as a Buccaneer main fuel guage panel would set the stb’d console off a treat, would have been nice to see what a pair of Spey’s would have done to Sir Sid’s little bird too. Still unsure on that side also as to what is missing on side walls, will have to shoot both sides and leave it to the experts and see what gets thrown up.
Think I may have a 2A thx and will see if I can find it soonest, someone asked me to e-mail a logo today when I had a moment but I only know that word as a piece of confectionary at present.
Too much hassle to get my complete column in, so the the new stick top I bought off Mike Shaw at Popham years ago is now on while keeping the existing column in situ – it now goes back and forwards but no lateral movement, so assume bearings are no good but great to have some give in it and the end tubes have had extensions fitted so they don’t jam within the fuselage rear bulkhead.
Both pedals are now linked, the stb’d one being brand new inc strap (thx for not coming back to buy it off me at Shoreham 2 last year Naylan!) and I have a new Palmer strap on the existing port pedal too – from one of Hanningfield’s Canberras many years ago in the much-missed golden 90’s.
I repainted as much of the rear wall as I could including the front wheel receptacle – not on view really but good to give it a coat for future protection, and a brush and hoover were useful in getting any final dirt and debris out before painting started, I was surprised at how much was left when I started and I’m sure there’s some small pockets of mud in places still but that’s 40 years for you.. the rod and supports at back of guide rail right at the bottom was rotted through, have left it as a reminder.
I’d love to get her going ‘live’ but no great shakes at the doings of it, would be good to get some lights going at some point certainly, its crying out for it I think. I remember finding a company who advertised that sort of thing a year or so ago, must do a search on my folders as I’m sure I saved the URL somewhere.
Has anyone done a review of Shoreham yet? I ‘ll have to post a few pics on that sometime, better attended than last year I thought and got some excellent bits – WW2 people will probably moan but its still one to go to – fuel allowing. And the wife.
Beers, G
GOKONESIDE PICS WITHOUT REFLECTION = HEAVEN
hi guys,
just to show i am not sleeping, here is where i have got to, a very long way to go yet.
Hope this helps along the way, time to fill your boots thx to my having ‘838’s screens off recently.
I added my own side-screen demist pipe clip holders as mine didn’t seem to have any holes for them (port side had an elevated metal arrangement that didn’t seem to work well enough and the clip ends had rusted down) so I drilled the coamings and fitted a clip on each flat bottom of the coaming outer edges – see pics.
Then I just dropped the demist pipes done the nearest ‘hole’ further along near the front of the sight and it looks OK anyway – “the pipes, the pipes” are a bit puzzling as Bill says, so “If you’re in a tangle, let it dangle”.
Refurb of ‘838 is coming along well thx to the major input of David Dawson
at N&SAM and the week before last saw 4 trips plus Shoreham making up nearly 1,000 miles and over £300 in diesel for HM Excise Rip-Off Dept.
The headbox is notably transformed now and if anyone has the interfacing chart case that sits between the port console and weapons panel
I have the original ‘838 grip as a swap or whatever, in the meantime the WP is affixed temporarily to help make the ‘Fest in time hopefully.
The canopy recessess have been cleaned and hoovered out and metal strips put under the rails themselves to give a correct fit under the front screen when closed up while the Tucano mirror I bought off Mark J at Newark is
now painted up in black to help the overall effect.
Rudder bar is sorted and synchronized now along with some chopping and scheming that saw the oxy panel and column rubber gaitor fitted and coamings have the new main lights I got off Mr Air Ministry at Shoreham – remember to support your local and un-local aeroboots cockpiters!
Still need to sort an E2B from my kitchen sometime. Or was it the airing cupboard? 😮 Beers and good luck Sagin, if you need larger res then
e-mail me and I’ll sort something out.
G
GOKONESEA VIXEN XN696 / COCKPIT FEST 2012
Hi,
I e-mailed the attached ‘Before & After’ XN696 compo in to the website contact (who was it?) many months ago last year for uploading but it still hasn’t appeared yet so I thought I’d get it up here as its the most notable example I could never afford to bring along to the ‘Fest, after restorer Murray Flint did a lovely prep and respray on the cockpit.
I acquired her in the aftermath of the wind-down at Vulcan’s End in Halesworth around 5 years ago and she originally had a bog-standard RN paint scheme as seen at top. After seeing an old b/w line drawing of the Bullpup missile trials aircraft however I decided on the new scheme immediately after a ‘Thunderbirds’ moment. After inevitably losing her sheen somewhat while making an impressive outside exhibit for some years at Flixton I’m pleased to say she is now under cover at NEAM where her new keepers will ensure that she makes an excellent RN ‘triple’ presentation there with two other related cockpit sections.
I don’t think her history is generally known so here it is as compiled some time ago:
Sea Vixen FAW.2 XN696 : Service History
18.1.62 De Havilland Christchurch to RNAS Abbotsinch: 25.6.62 to 899 Sqn Yeovilton: 19.7.62 to RNAS Abbotsinch: 14.8.62 to 899 Sqn: 15.4.64 to ‘H’ Sqn Boscombe Down: 4.5.64 to 899 Sqn: 6.11.64 to Boscombe Down: 26.5.66 from ASU Brawdy to 893 Sqn, Yeovilton: 12.12.66 to NASU, Changi: 16.1.67 to AEA, UK: 22.3.67 to ASU Belfast: 30.5.68 to NASU, RNAS Brawdy: 6.8.68 to HSA Ltd Chester: 16.11.68 to RNAS Yeovilton: 21.1.69 to 899 Sqn: 11.5.70 to RNAY Belfast: 13.12.71 to NATIU, Lee: 8.2.71 Transf to FRU Yeovilton: 5.2.74 to F/Refuelling Ltd Tarrant Rushton: 15.1.76 to RAE Farnborough with Sea Vixen XJ494: 12.83, sold by MoD tender with XJ494 and on to Blythe Valley Aviation Collection, Halesworth Suffolk; 9.05 sold to Cockpit Classics and on to refinishers in Norfolk; 30.1.07 to N&SAM, Flixton; 2.3.11. to NEAM, Sunderland.
C.FEST 2012
Besides a special Falklands display and other Harrier/possibly Lightning exhibits along with some V material and memorabilia I also hope to bring along some temporary examples (though not necessarily all) of the following: Marston’s Burton Beer, Oak-Aged Innes & Gunn, Hobgoblin, Ruddles, Trafalgar, Spitfire, Abbot Ale, Gales Trafalgar, Gentleman Jack, Whitechapel Porter, and Golden Champion.
These may prove to be be available to view for only a relatively short period of time but I will endeavour to secure a group shot as with previous Popham affairs etc. Perhaps the overall 2012 champion might be rewarded with some appropriate samples of the last ale along with the trophy, but then again, perhaps its best that the general public are not encouraged to think that some cockpiters necessarily covet such beers in these PC times.
Great to see the preparation work on the NAM website re the new hangar which looks to be coming along very impressively at ground level, a great effort that will give protection to deserving aircraft I’m sure. Here’s to 2012, I’ll drink to that already 😉
GOKONETHAH’LL NAY LOOK BACK LAD…
I can only echo the posts above. Trust me, once you start helping conserve old aircraft you’ll not look back! And I can still say that and mean it despite our recent goings on in Yorkshire.
It’s true, Ive been doing it since ’93 and I’m still single and have never looked back, so it works……..! 😀
If you go I’ll see you there in the new year and show you around the V’s, in the meantime just talk to a member of staff and you can get to meet the Chairman Ian Hancock and others and you’ll find that all sorts of jobs will need to be done so you’ll gradually increase what you can do from the basic chores to more specialised areas that you can be taught in, or that you might have a hankering for.
Latest exhibiit is a beautifully restored 1961 MV Agusta 150cc Rapido Sport motorbike which was picked up by van in Surrey after a drive from London in late November, with a power-nap thrown in just before delivery and a fairly swift turnaround back to the smoke.
Transiting her earlier through the Dartford Tunnel and up the A12 along to the museum on a dark and cold Sunday 20th November, she looked splendid when placed in the Ken Wallis extension and will undoubtedly be a pleasant surprise for the many bikers and rallies which attend the museum during the course of the season.
The aviation tie in is that the Augusta company also have a helicopter division and in late November ‘Friends of 138 Sqn’ Valiant man Geoff Dann duly sent in one of his special cartoons showing an unusual combination proposal for the next C Fest, where it is hoped it will be possible to take the repainted trailer and revamped cockpit.
Not sure I’d like to brake going downhill with that behind me…
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