Now the posting thingy works again, here are some pics courtesy of Karl Kjarsgaard, who himself was instrumental in recovering her in the first place and he is going to do it again with LW170.

She looks a bit like PA474 undergoing maintenance.

Cheers

Cees

I saw those switches and straight away thought… hmm they look like Bulgin switches… how sad…..

Alan,

Nice photo’s, how about some more of you control wheel/stick/throttle boxes collection.

This is the juicy stuff. By the way I have send you the reference numbers about the Hampden instruments as you requested.

Cheers

Cees

I agree old fart, but no one else seems to 😮

I agree as well, any more out there?

Cees

Here’s a piece that’s been on a shelf in my garage for I can’t remember how long. I bought it at a Tangmere aerojumble many years ago.

Judging by the part numbers, e.g. 528103 and Inspectors stamps HP41A, it’s from a Hampden. And it’s obviously an ammunition box for a .303 in. gun.

The Hampden had four Vickers K guns, three in flexible positions and one fixed in the nose.

I’m guessing that the flexibly mounted guns were fed by round ammo drums and that only the fixed gun would have had a box such as this, but can anyone actually confirm this?

Anyone got a stash of Hampden porn that they could share with us?

Cees, have you got “a bit of a thing” for the Halifax’s older (and prettier!) sister?

Al,

Mmm, I have to admit I do have “a bit of a thing” for the Hampden as well. I received a next batch of Halifax drawings this afternoon and among them were some Hampden instrument panels drawings so that confirms it. 😮

Imagine myself at the local HPA meeting (Handley Page Anonymous) standing up and admitting:

Ok, my name is Cees and I like Hampdens (as well)!!!!!

I fully agree with Bearoutwest that this is the ammunition box for the fixed forward gun, all others used the drum type.

Nice item, Would make the team at East Kirkby very jealous 😎

Cees

When did I say that he wasn’t? Doesn’t mean to say that I have to be happy with his decision? Surely everyone is entitled to his/her opinion?

Yes, that’s true but then again he is paying the bills.

Cees

I can understand the reason for those museums to be better safe than sorry and I agree that it has all been the result of the fear for being sued.

Some years ago the cockpit of Halifax PN323 at the IWM, Lambeth was closed off to the public because of this reason (after having had thousands of people walking through it for decades) and a general refurbishment was started (which was a good thing). During this refurbishment the instrument dials were replaced with photographic copies.

When this work was taking place I visited the museum and had asked permission some time before my visit and was told there would be no problem. When I got there and reminded the man in charge, I was told that no access was granted. I was furious as that was one of the reasons I vistied London but was politely told to come back in six months time 😡

By coincidence my wife and I visited London almost six months later and I took the opportunity to visit the IWM again, and the same question was asked. Again I got a NO-reply but when I reminded the person about the conversation that had taken place six months previously, he told me to wait and went away.

Some time later another person appeared on the scene and told me to follow him. I was granted permission to enter the cockpit but only under supervision of the person.

So I got in and could take as many photo’s as I wanted (fortunately the perspex had been removed due to the work and repainting that was taking place).

When we left after about 30 minutes my wife told me to remove that silly smile from my face, but that took a few hours to get back into shape. :p

Cheers

Cees

You rang M’lord?

This pair of rudder pedals was subject of discussion a few weeks ago, I think TexasTomcat posted some photo’s of it on behalf of a friend. They are not Halifax, but Peter, they would make a nice addition to your panel.

Cheers

Cees