Colin, could you refresh my memory, as to what A/C it was that was dug by your group in Ramsden ; as you probably remember I owned the field for about 10 years ,but that was after 2 seperate digs were undertaken, on one ocassion an engine was removed; is that with you at the fort? When I did make enquiries locally the only record of a downed plane was in Swan lane Wickford, although I’ve spoken to long time residents from the area ,no one seems to remember it; could the one from Ramsden be the same one ,(if it had carried on a bit further it would have ended up in Swan lane) I seem to remember it was a Heinkel

Don,
Get yourself an ex banksafe (its what I’ve got) the “Yahoos” or pikey scrotes (as I believe they are known as in Shropshire) wont be able to get in, and they are fire resistant , as I believe its not unheard of that certain persistant types will have a go with the oxy/acetylene.

Does anyone know the name of the property auction company?

My advice is hang on to the stuff, put it in a glass cabinet in the spare room be proud that you have these items,as your son will one day (fortunately university cool doesn’t last forever,) and it will be his link to the past through you; My paternal grandfather was in the navy, (interwar) I don’t even have a photo of him , and as for my own father I dont have enough information to get his service record ,as you need either his last unit when demobbed or else his service no.

My advice is “get a gun ,shoot yourself in the foot ,go home!” seriously though the biggest headache is sourcing parts; the eb@y thing is killing off any chances that up and coming “builders” might get to aquire original parts or even reproduction bits; it is sounding the death knell for aerojumbles and what is left is going to far flung places, that otherwise wouldn’t get a look in (which might be fair and even handed, but b*gger that, I need parts now!!).

G B Replica’s is the name of the company making them currently; they get a lot of “interested” inquiries that taper off when the price remains firm; basically they are expensive (around £20k) if you really want one then you need to be persistant ; just a fuselage will probably be £10k plus, and inside they’re a bit of a shock! some of the older ones (piece of cake era) have lumps of box section steel where you might want to sit. The chaps name at GB’s is Stuart (is that the Stuart you were thinking of Ben?)

What a shame that the Monarch is to be displaced.
Still, the good news is that the secret master-plan for aircraft preservation to be limited to examples of the Vickers-Supermarine Concorde in Red Sparrows colours is gaining ground. Joe public will then be equally satisfied no matter which collection they live near and will have no incentive to visit other locations. That will cut down on the country’s petrol consumption. 😀

Never a truer word spoken than in jest; Yes the “general public” does want it all on a plate, but you can undrestand why , for example I went passed the FAA museum the other day (on other business) but I, noted at the time I had been driving for 4 hours, so assuming that I got the family in the car at about 8 o/clock in the morning , we might be there for lunch, which gives us a couple of hours to look round before another 4 hours drive home; hardly relaxing! .East fortune is twice the distance from me (and for a lot of people) they do need something special to attract a significant no. of visitors;(whether its Concorde I can’t say), what is obvious is that museums located centrally within the country are the answer, and flying events ,that bring the A/C to you (figuratively speaking).

Having listened to the “alternative” sound track I can only be grateful that it was rejected; the downbeat darker feel that it gives the film, would have caused any young boy playing with his meccano (in front of the telly) on a Sunday night, to have an early night and, as such it probably wouldn’t be discussed here now ,the true sound track by Ron Goodwin has inspired another generation (my son) all over again.