I wouldnt be surprised if the ‘National Collection’ is started to be looked at as a whole. Thus duplication of effort would be avoided across the main 4 museums – IWM, RAFM, FAAM and AACM.

Bruce

Yes, I can see that happening too. Too many pressures and not enough resources might force this issue. Will the government just take the line of ‘if you want to preserve it, then you pay for it yourself’?

Still, I think having one MR shack in a national collection isn’t too much to ask? The AEW.2 at Manchester covers the equally as long time that the Shack performed that role, so I feel having XF708 in a national collection is still relevant.

Besides, is there any truth in the story of more people have died in Shack accidents in post war peacetime than any other British mllitary aircraft? XF708 could be a national memorial to these servicemen who paid the ultimate sacrifice during the cold war?

Kind Regards,
Scotty

The cooling system on the SE5 is fine as it is, it’s been venting coolant once it gets hot for as long as I remember (at least 15 years) and I think this is down to only having a small header tank on the radiator, and it has a small overflow tank in the leading edge of the centre section if I can remember right.
The SE is the only original one flying and has just had a rebuild to make it as original as possible so I don’t think modifying the system is on the cards, but as it only runs it’s engine for about 30 mins at a time I imagine it will stay like this, in truth I would expect if SE’s were used exclusively at low altitudes during the war these problems would have been encountered as well.
No offence taken or meant with my explanation I don’t claim to be an expert on the aircraft but I’m just trying to explain what I understand about this aircraft.

No, that’s cool – I was just thinking of something to try and not so much prevent leakage, but to prevent engine damage – a temperature gauge off the scale is never a good thing!

I completely understand the desire to keep it as original as possible.

Thanks for your explaination.
Kind Regards,
Scotty

Good link Pigeon

One in the eye for that “other” Nimrod base that often claimed the first rites.

It certainly claimed the last rites…..

Sukoi Su-7

.

I see it didn’t sell, not even for that low price. Fair bit of damage to the port side – I’d have thought this one is even further gone than Lightning XN728, (beside A1).

I’m sure others have restored worse (all you’d need is the data plate, right? 😉 ) but regardless of how rare it is in the UK, I’d have said that one’s a scrapper…. Might be easier to pick up something more complete from the continent and ship back?

Kind Regards,
Scotty

Mark,

I agree 100% with you. I know many won’t, but I think not having a completely restored example is just as important as having a complete example. As you have said, an airframe that is left in an ‘as recovered’ condition is telling its own story. And to be honest, look at all of the views on the scrapyard thread. We do like looking at aircraft that are not complete, although this one may be preserved.

I also believe that the only reason it should be removed is to stop the Do 17 being plundered. I doubt there will be much that can be done with it. Although holding shape, I’d imagine that aluminium is pretty thin by now. In fact, I will go as far to say that the sand inside it is probably keeping it in shape. Remove that support, and it will be dust. Once the fuselage is exposed to the sand and debris that is rushing past it in the current, its going to be quite literally sand blasted.

Aluminum and salt water isn’t a good mix without a magnesium anode attached. I’ve worked close to the Goodwin sands, and the current there is unbelievable at times, with a high tidal range IIRC.

If they are going to recover, then I’d think it would be better to do ASAP, other than that, protect the wreck until it is buried again. Given the sediment in the water at that location, I doubt it will be long before it does go back under.

Kind Regards,
Scotty

I’ve been thinking about this, I wonder if the guy who side-viewed this Nimrod copied a slightly over exposed photo of XV235, where the white and grey merged giving the appearance of total white?

Would make sense – the less knowledgeable might assume it as shadow. The only reason I could think of that she was painted completely white in prep for another paint job, but was needed in service. But even that argument doesn’t make sense, as if the aircraft was getting painted, surely it would be stripped down a fair bit prior to painting – you wouldn’t put something out on a temporary paint scheme just to take it back in for final coat. Especially as there was plenty of Nimrods around then….

Yup, over exposure is possibly the best explaination

Thanks for your replies.

I guess not then!:D

I don’t trust wings pallete per se, however, they do lead to some interesting side views that can be worth pursuing further.

Thankyou re: the 42 Squadron crest, that makes sense to my fuddled brain.

Sorry about the thread title, it takes a God or higher to change a spelling error!

I’m not going to spend time on this sideview (unless a photo turns up!!)

Thanks again

Baz

Barry,
I had some spare time to kill (trying to put off the decoration of the spare room) and I did search the internet this afternoon. I didn’t see anything tied to XV235 being all white, but I did see something on a modelling forum posted around 2008. Somebody was requesting a photo of the all white Nimrod, so this may pre-date Wings Palette web page, indicating there was actually an all white Nimrod. Maybe the paint bay ran out of grey!

Scotty

Sqn Badge

Barry,

I would say that it is the figure of Perseus, taken from the 42 Sqn crest. It is hard to make out, but appears to have a similar stance to the figure on the offical 42 sqn crest.