I won’t tell you you’re wrong Tony because I agree with you 100%. Lightning parts are not the easiest to get hold of but, in principle, the cockpit is perfectly restorable.

It clearly wouldn’t appeal to the ‘just screw bits back on’ type of ‘restorer’, but to those of us willing to get stuck in, bash some tin and actually make bits it would be a viable project.

If it was a Spitfire we wouldn’t even be having this discussion would we? No-one would be calling “scrap it!”. In fact they’d be expecting to see it fly again one day.:rolleyes:

Yep does amuse me how quick some people are to write off a potentially lovely project….I suppose it is because they are in the ‘moon on a stick’ fraternity!!

And Pagen01 old chap, I did’nt miss out one important fact…..money….I assumed that anyone going for this as a project would have some money to do something with it! No point in getting it otherwise.

Regarding difficulty in getting parts…..all my cockpits were empty, found all the parts…takes time yes….even my Lightning was empty when I got it….when it was passed on just before my divorce, it was full!

Chances are its not for sale (yet), chances are if it was, it would be expensive. Lightnings have lots of fans….It would make a good project….but only for someone with the foresight to see the potential.

firefly?

Incredibly sad….thoughts to all concerned.

Please can we avoid speculation and disection of this sad event.

In the case of these two Corsairs we are talking about two specific individuals in two different aeroplanes. Not a multitude of souls inside a single ship.

Surely its very simple. The families of the two pilots, if the families are found, should decide any outcome. Not salvage organisations, museums, restorers, courts, governments, or just those “….with a view”.

I don’t see that the wishes, desires, intentions or legal orders of any others besides the families concerned have any relevance.

Of course you are right Andy. I suppose my view is one of those entrenched views!

Generally, I suspect there is little chance of it ever happening. However, I have detected a “softening” of the MOD stance on these matters from an entrenched position in the 1970’s where they felt that disturbance was to be avoided at all costs to a position, now, where they consider “closure” in such cases to be a “good thing”. Although this has not caused any shift in official attitude over the Sebago case.

I think that lobbying of the current Government and perchance D Cameron at this particular time would possibly bear fruit. They are all looking towards vote winning for the next election.

It is a disgrace that they are still in the aircraft, in known locations. In the past, to protect sites containing remains from disturbance, it has been known for remains to be recovered. As Tangers said, it is ironic given the huge amount of support for ‘Bringing our Heroes home’ in the US with POW MIA.

I am sure there would be support both sides of the Pond.

I have a few control grips that I would like to tidy up and wonder if someone can give me some advice on painting them. They’re 1950’s RAfF types… Hunter, Vulcan etc. What paint should I use? Are Should they be matt finish or are they more satin? Any help would be gratefully received.
Regards
927

Mark is right, satin for most Dunlop grips (i.e. the ones you have quoted). I tend to try to leave my grips as original as possible if I can, however, they can corrode (mag alloy). In which case, I remove all corrosion very carefully with fine wet and dry. A heavyily corroded example would benefit from bead blasting but care is required again (low pressure/bead type – def not sand!!) to avoid eroding good metal. I use a dremel (other tools are available!!:)) with an engraving bit to clean out deeper pitting. The best primer is etch….you can by it in spray cans now from Light Aero Spares and it is cheap. I often use a fine brush to ensure it goes deep into pits. Any car spray satin would do for the top coat (most collectors have preferences, I use Halfords). The bakelite/thermoset covering used by Dunlops can be replicated (it has been in use on aircraft types from the Hawker Fury/Hind/etc up to Tornado F3!) if you wish to stop a crack in the covering rub in 5min Araldite into the crack (I rub it in hard with my finger though H&S blah may suggest that not good :D)….
hope this helps.