RE: radioactive instruments

I noticed that the Meteor and other aircraft of the same era in the MoF are now sealed but I never thought this was the reason. Over the water , where the old Marconi factory was they had to a clean up as Marconi had been dumping Radium contaminated instrumentation and tools directly into the river Forth during the 50’s and 60’s , this had to be cleaned up before they were allowed to build houses on the site.

Alastair

RE: Forum Getogether?

Anybody from Scotland fancy making the pilgrimage ??? , I’ll drive FOC if anybody wants to travel down ???? .

Alastair

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Luckily enough Merlin I will be down there just shortly as I’m restoring my old trials bike(TY175) and it’s getting a rebore and +0.025 piston fitted , I’ll see Keith then. I don’t know what JEM stands for , he mostly builds and repairs marine engines and he is trying to get all the bumfp he needs to rebuild Merlins on a commercial basis , I’ll ask if we can pop down one day soon then while we’re down we can brassneck it and ask for some invites to his next open night , generally if you just turn up he’s ok anyway and like I said earlier he is an enthusiast , he will stand and talk for hours .I’ll see what I can do .

Alastair

RE: Merlin engine pics.

Excellent idea mate , you could easily make it transportable put wheels under the centre section and the tow hitch where the tailwheel would be !! , imagine passing that on the motorway ! , am I right in saying that there is a company selling Spitfire fuselage frames and panels ?? , where would you get an engine mount ? , instrument panel is no probs ? , I wonder if you could tow it on it’s undercarriage , Lancman this sounds like a project for you !!! , you could hang it from the pub ceiling during the winter.Mega.
Alastair

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Excellent Merlin thanks , just out of interest have you seen the collection of engines down at JEM in Falkirk .The chap who owns the place has a cood collection of Jet and piston engines , he has a Merlin on a test stand and the tank version , the Meteor in a big custom built trestle , he also has a Derwent in a test rig .2-3 times a year he invites people down to his workshops and runs all three of these up , he has a lot more engines but as yet he only runs 3.The Merlin was bought fresh from its packing crate , it was intended for a Boulton Paul Baillol but was never use , it now has a cropped prop and sounds superb , the Meteor REALLY looks good everything is black and all the fasteners and exhausts made in stainless by Keith himself.The Derwent scares me , it shrieks like a banshee , a few years ago it was chained to the side of on of Keiths steam traction engines and it managed to slew the steamer through 90 degree !! , I’ll get Keiths number , it’s not really open to public view but Keith is always there and is mega enthusiastic so you will get a tour , either that or drop me a line and I’ll meet you somewhere and I’ll take you down – there is an open day around about Christmas time , Keith usually puts out mulled wine and mince pies !!!!!

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Same here I ?? thought it was on Hasting undercarriage , unless , the photo a is of set of a Hastings ?? .
Has anybody been to the YAM ? is there a cafe nearby , I’m going ( hopefully ) in two weeks time , I’m going to visit the Dundonald museum in the same day so if anybody could give me directions from Dundonald to YAM it would be much appriciated

Thanks
Alastair

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

The people who are responsible for the Halifax in the RAF Museum should have a look at these photos , both aircraft we’re salvaged from similar situations yet the RAF one is preserved in the same state she was found in and the Canadian one a credit to all who are working on her.Do the RAF Museum not realise that the Halifax was one of the BIG bombers during the war ?? , and she should be restored as a tribute to all who served on them . They have built the American dome as a tribute to all the Americans who gave their lives in the name of freedom , surely there should be a similar effort made to pay tribute to all the aircrew who came from all over the Commonwealth ???, I know there are the Stirling and Whitley groups , these teams should be given the backing of the RAF Museum to build composite airframes , Imagine a Lanc , Halifax , Stirling , Wellington and Whitley in one line up !!.
On another point – why did the RAF Museum not volunteer to give Friday the 13t hat Elvington the nose section they have ??? .

RE: Trenton Halifax Pictures

Now that would be a line up worth seeing !! a Lanc,Stirling ,Wellington and Halifax under one roof. What about a front row consisting of the Hampden , Blenheim ,Battle and Defiant ???.