We visited last week and my daughter had such a good time and it made a huge impression on her, so much so that that I’ve now had to pick up a model to go in her room but it has to this one!

I’m glad your daughter had a good time and liked WR963 so much. 🙂

If you want to do a model in the current scheme (grey tops, white overall) the only hard parts are the code letters, as roundels are fairly easy to find. Sanger do a 1:72 decal sheet for the Shackleton MR2 and MR1 but it doesn’t carry the code letters or serials for WR963.

You could print your own if you’re handy with a computer –

http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/.Inkjet-Water-Slide-Decal-Paper_151.htm

Alternatively I suppose you could achieve it the same way we did on the 1:1 version, which was by careful masking?

Kind regards,

Rich

That is more or less the plan.

The aim is to try and achieve it before Airbase at Coventry closes. This is the third week in a row we’ve had upward of a dozen people working on the aircraft at once. If we don’t manage it, its not for lack of trying.

As soon as we get the front prop on, I’ll post the date we’re aiming for.

Regards,

Rich

23 July

Well, my car related wanderings have passed for the year so I’m back at Coventry of a weekend.

As you’ll have realised from other threads, rumblings around the internet, and from what you hear around Coventry, things are a little unsteady at the moment with the upcoming move of most of the Classic Air Force (was Classic Aircraft Trust, Classic Flight) to Newquay. Hot on the heels of this is the proposal for the redevelopment of the airport, to include areas close to where WR963 currently stands.

We don’t yet know for sure whether we will have to move. While the latest news is that we are good to remain for at least two years, the final say is going to be with the airport owners once they take over the fenced area that Airbase currently occupies at the end of September.

With this in mind a Trustee’s meeting was called and various methods of moving a Shackleton were discussed, and old plans from previous bad and good times dusted off. All methods of moving the aircraft were discussed, including the one that would involve seeing WR963 leave by her own efforts… which would be very slightly mad and glorious all in one. I’m of mixed feelings over that. As it stands, we have a couple of plans in place, but until things become a bit more stable, we’re just carrying on as before, with one slight exception.

If we want the public to be able to see WR963 taxy, we have to do it before the end of September.

So we now have a target…

Saturday

While I was away we gained two more volunteers, who have previously worked on the Vulcan at Wellesbourne, so are used to the problems big Avro’s pose. Working with a couple more of our team and with a set of ‘giraffe’ steps in place, they are tackling the cockpit side windows. New sliding items are in place and look great. The larger fixed windows that sit just behind these are being worked on, but are slightly more difficult to remove, as the frame is secured using a mix of very small crews and a number of Avdel rivets.

When these windows are done it will leave only one eyebrow piece, and the very top windows to replace. Its amazing the difference it makes looking at the aircraft, so we’ll have to get the bungees replaced and start using the cockpit cover more to stop UV deterioration. We’re already starting to scowl at the astrodome and front gunners cupola as they’re letting things down badly now, having almost deteriorated to a milky white.

Over on No 2 engine, – yes, the long dormant new engine – efforts have started to get it ready to wake up. We have a built up rear propeller to collect from Carlisle (thanks to Peter Grieve) and the generator was located in our store by the tag left on it by our electrician. Having lugged this heavy beast the hundred yard or so across to the Shack, we started to scratch our heads about how to get it in…

We were hoping to drop it in from above, but the large engine mount supports and priming supply pipes put a halt on this idea. There simply wasn’t room. In the end a combination of manpower and ratchet straps had it lifted up from in the undercarriage bay, and the retaining clamp locked it in place. I had this unenviable task of threading myself between spar web and generator as I am told my body is about the right size for it (lanky thin git apparently…) The steady bracket will be sorted next week, as the bracket is locally manufactured and was slightly ‘off’ in dimensions. :rolleyes:

A short trip out to the store was made to look for any front prop parts for the front prop, and to see if we could find an Elsan toilet for the Lancaster team at East Kirkby. A fruitless search on both counts, as it looks like the Elsan I remembered seeing was the one we traded for some turret parts. I’m sure there was more than one so we’ll keep our eyes open.

A little bit of touch up paint is being done under the wings, as one constant niggle that we have never had time to rectify is the missing serial number and roundels! Strangely no-one has commented on this… maybe because as its not there, it can’t be in the wrong place or colour? :diablo:

Sunday

Mark Chitty and Vic Marriot set off down to Cornwall to visit this forums own Barry Wallond (spitfireman). A couple of posts ago we showed the state of the crack in the tailwheel assembly on WR963, and that a Canberra unit would serve as a replacement.

Mark and Vic collected the leg from Barry, decided not to go for a paddle, and the new leg is now safely back on site. Next weekend will see us searching out jacking adapters and seeing about getting the job sorted.

Regards,

Rich