Hi all,
Well, I managed to get down to work on the Shackleton but forgot the camera! I got a few snaps on my phone, and if I can persuade it to talk to the computer I’ll get a few put up later.
The weather was kind to us today so we got a reasonable amount of work done. Very strange to be at Airbase and not hear things happening… though we did have a few visitors later on in the afternoon, mainly people who work on the field. Lots of light aircraft buzzing about too but no classic stuff today.
By 10am, most of our little gang were present so we got on with the tasks we had to hand. LAS Aero had delivered a box full of the dope and thinner so that was immediately put to work – the port wing root being finished and some of the fuselage joints. There’s still a good few yards more of sealing tapes need doing in various places, but it’s easy to apply and most of us have got the hang of it now. The hardest part is getting some of the old stuff off.
The guys have been hard at work with the rubbing down in the past couple of weeks, and this showed, with us being able to finish the last grey patch on the port side in no more than half an hour. The paint was starting to go on at around midday, which meant that it caught the most of the afternoon sun. WR963 is now white on both sides, with just her belly left to do. The grass is keeping it wet though, so we might have to wait until spring. Downside of working outdoors I suppose.
One little problem which is going to get a remedy is the algae is starting to grow back on the unpainted areas of the roof, and causing water run-off to streak the sides. I intend to set about it with some kind of anti bacterial/fungal/vegetation detergent (it’s probably some left over Agent Orange the Americans used to kill trees in Vietnam..) and I’m going to wash it off next time I visit, before rubbing down the top of the fuselage.
We’re bringing grey paint the next visit as well so at least the top will have fresh paint on – the portion at the back is free from streaking and looks great.
A similar story is at the front where the old paint had steaked the white. This shouldn’t happen again, as the entire antiglare panel, and gunners canopy frame has been painted by one of our crew today.
Towards the end of the day a few people showed up at the gate trying to get access, they didn’t realise that Airbase was closed for the winter. In the spirit of things, we gave them the date of the night runs, and Airbase’s website address. We may have a couple searching Flypast forums and the Shackleton out too through the wonders of the internet… I couldn’t really miss an opportunity could I?
The “Friends of 963” group has also been restarted, which is good news. The Vulcan can raise so much money in a month, we can surely find a few more members to help support 963 and a fraction of that funding too. More details to follow on this development in a bit.
Regards,
Ric
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