Hi All,
One chapter into the Freddie Starr Unwrapped autobiography by , so far so good…
With 40 years in showbusiness under his belt, Freddie Starr’s autobiography is full of humorous stories about his exploits both on and off stage, and his encounters with some of the biggest stars of the 20th century – from John Lennon to Elvis Presley and Dean Martin. But there’s also a dark side to the story of Freddie’s rise to success – starting with his tough childhood in post-war Liverpool. A father who would think nothing of challenging a workmate to a no-holds-barred bare-knuckle fight in his lunch hour. An elder brother who bullied him. A psychosomatic illness that struck him when he was only six years of age, robbing him of the power of speech and sending him to the only place he could be cured – a children’s home miles away from his family, where he spent two long years learning to talk again. The violent people he hung around with in his teenage years in the Liverpool clubs, in particular his employer and mentor. The young blonde singer who broke into her own house just to attract his attention! In this book, Freddie reveals the truth about his broken marriages, his “overnight” success at the Royal Variety Performance in 1970, the occasional court case, the show biz scandals and what really happened to that poor defenceless hamster. (Courtesy of Amazon).
Geoff.
Hi All,
Vintage Fighter Restoration Some of MH603’s History and in depth pictures during restoration :- https://www.vfr.net.au/spitfire-ix-mh603
Newqldspitfire – Thanks for the update matey and to add to your news a nice article here featuring some history behind the chosen paint scheme (To many pics to post) and top picture, Courtesy of Warbirds News:- ( https://warbirdsnews.com/ ) Article:- https://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/supermarine-spitfire-mk-i…
MH603’s first engine run:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2p82fmHESw
Above video courtesy
of:- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiBPSalkknuSlSHDv0g1LEQ
Geoff.
Hi All,
I have searched through 31 pages of threads and cannot find any featuring updated news, so please forgive me if this news is buried in another different titled thread.
Supermarine Spitfire MH603 Paintwork refreshed.
The following article courtesy of John Parker for :-https://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/https://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/
Actual article with a lot more pictures that I couldn’t possibly fit in the thread featuring MH603 itself/Chin-Engine and Side-Cowlings at varying stages of the work being completed. :- https://www.warbirdsonline.com.au/2021/09/28/supermarine-spitfire-mh603…
Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) at Scone NSW is undergoing a refresh of her paintwork. Following on from our report of the first engine runs of Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 in our news article of June 2020 we can now report on her progress towards her first flight in in over 7 decades. She’s edging ever closer with virtually all of the detail systems testing now complete and the detail of cosmetic completion of the aircraft is being carried out.
Recently the aircraft was moved from the restoration hangar at Vintage Fighter Restorations (VFR) to Pays Aviation Paint shop facility for a comprehensive refresh and detail of the paint finish on the aircraft. This level of accuracy is not to be hurried and a mountain of research has to be undertaken in an effort to ensure the completed aircraft not only looks good but is period correct. As this is the actual scheme it carried in January 1944, it has to be historically precise as well. In addition all the cowlings and access panels have now had their final fitting and adjustments they are being completely refinished and are in keeping with the rest of the airframe.
Whilst the Spitfire had been painted when it was structurally completed, the detail of the finish was not fully applied, including various stencils etc. Moreover during the extensive completion of the restoration inevitably wear and tear occurs to the paint finish so it was always envisaged that this comprehensive update of the paint scheme would be undertaken just prior to its first flight.
The paint work is currently being carried out by Bennii Walters in the paint shop of Pay’s Air Service. Although over the years, work on the internal painting, wings and exterior surfaces has also been undertaken by Rod Curmi and Mal Pittman and the finish so far is a real credit to the workmanship of this team.
Bennii is currently retouching all of the external camouflage on the aircraft in the original 331(Norwegian) Squadron scheme it wore in WWII coded “FN-B”. Every effort is being made to complete this scheme as accurately as possible with correct placement and colour matching of the serials, rondels and stencil markings.
Our selection of images taken during the refinishing process as it moves to completion will be updated once the aircraft leaves the paint shop soon. Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 will be ready for her first flight of since 1955. Warbirds Online will report on the first flight of Supermarine Spitfire F Mk. IX MH603 in the very near future.
We extend our thanks to Ross Pay and the team at Pay’s Air Service and Vintage Fighter Restorations for their help and assistance with this report. We wish to also thank Bennii Walters of Pay’s for supplying the images of Spitfire MH603, because of our limited ability to travel to Scone NSW due to the COVID-19 lockdown.
Did you miss the news on the first engine run by Supermarine Spitfire MH603? Then go to the Warbirds Online News article here.
Geoff.
Hi All,
Accompanying article:- https://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news-headlines/93443…
It is always sad to see photos of statics of aircraft in such poor condition, especially when it’s custodians have lavished care and attention on it in the past (Ref above) before whatever calamity has taken place to let the airframe get in such a state.
The bottom picture taken by Erwin Alexander and his Flicker has some cracking shots of other disused aircraft etc. page:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/erwinalexander/
When the aircraft was first starting to deteriorate visibly and new funding was lacking why didn’t somebody step in ? Or at the very least start the disposal/sale process instead of letting it get to the point of the 2019 picture ?
You know I always thought that cadet forces no matter what branch of the armed services are represented were always taken care of in the way of being given money. Along with the premise that they also organise events to contribute to wards these types of projects and that some companies even donate whatever to get the job done a sign of the times I suppose ? looks like I am completely wrong.
Seems to me though if the governments can offer millions on vanity projects around the world, they could just as easily fund a bit of paint etc. etc. to at least tidy up these sad looking airframes.
If not give directly at least the government could offer local firms tax exemptions/breaks for making donations these causes.
Geoff.
Hi All, I have just started is Sword Of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski. This is the second book in his Witcher collection, if you like your Fantasy/Sci-Fi as I do then you should like these books and will set you up perfectly to view the adapted for TV series. The Witcher starring Henry Cavill – (Superman) in the lead roll of which the 1st season has already aired on Netflix recently and I await the 2nd with anticipation.
Geralt is a witcher, a man whose magic powers, enhanced by long training and a mysterious elixir, have made him a brilliant fighter and a merciless assassin. Yet he is no ordinary murderer: his targets are the multifarious monsters and vile fiends that ravage the land and attack the innocent. He roams the country seeking assignments, but gradually comes to realise that while some of his quarry are unremittingly vile, vicious grotesques, others are the victims of sin, evil or simple naivety.
In this collection of short stories, following the adventures of the hit collection The Last Wish, join Geralt as he battles monsters, demons and prejudices alike . . .
Geoff.
Hi All,
Four chapters into another Clive Cussler book the second in his Dirk Pitt novels:- A Mediterranean Caper.
Geoff.
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