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alanaitch

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July 26, 2015 at 6:21 pm in reply to: Your Favourite Control Column Stick/Yoke/Grip! #850799

alanaitch
Participant

Hello all,
Does anyone know where I Can get hold of a Yoke for a de Havilland DH106 Comet?

June 13, 2015 at 7:38 pm in reply to: Wanted – Comet/Nimrod parts #889444

alanaitch
Participant

OK, where did the one go from XK695? Perhaps the ones I was thinking of are indeed fitted in ‘NX. They came from Hatfield just before it closed.

I must come over one day and have a rummage – I bet I can still identify most of the stuff in the various stores around the site.

You’re right Bruce, the Pedestal in NX is from 695…so you’re saying there’s another one knocking about? I do hope so!!

June 13, 2015 at 6:33 pm in reply to: Wanted – Comet/Nimrod parts #889474

alanaitch
Participant

Alan,

There used to be a throttle pedestal loose in the fuselage. Perhaps it’s under the floor. There were two complete control columns kicking around the site that I found on eBay many years ago.

A great deal of Nimrod stuff will fit. There wasn’t a huge difference between early Comet 1 and late Comet/Nimrod in some areas.

Bruce

Thanks Bruce, I’ve got the control columns….well done you for getting them when you did…those can go in 695! I’ll check under the floor for the pedestal…I hope there is one there and that it’s not the one that is installed in BGNX!
By the way, the instrument panels are now painted and ready to fit…well almost. The Engine instrument panel is fitted, complete with instruments etc…the others will go in as soon as I’ve finished making 2 new triangular panels.
How’s business?
Regards
Alan

June 13, 2015 at 12:38 pm in reply to: Wanted – Comet/Nimrod parts #889784

alanaitch
Participant

Thanks Tony but I haven’t seen items 2,3 or 4…and I’ve only seen a yoke complete with a control column!!! If you know any better, please let me have the ebay item numbers!!

June 13, 2015 at 11:38 am in reply to: Your Favourite Control Column Stick/Yoke/Grip! #889809

alanaitch
Participant

Morning all
I know this is a very long shot, but I need a yoke for a Comet restoration project I’ll soon be starting…does anyone know where I can get one? Also, and this is an even longer shot, I need a throttle pedestal too, although an early Nimrod one would suffice, I guess!
Even if you can’t help directly, any leads you can provide would be helpful.
Regards to you all
Alan
de Havilland Aircraft Museum, London Colney

May 3, 2015 at 11:56 am in reply to: Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects Part 2 #920059

alanaitch
Participant

Oops, just noticed your latest picture showing you’ve sourced them….sorry
Alan

May 3, 2015 at 11:54 am in reply to: Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects Part 2 #920151

alanaitch
Participant

Hi Ian…by light units, are you referring to the panel warning lamps at the top centre of the instrument panel in the photo? If so, please let me know what the Rotax part no is (H27XX or H28XX) or the section/ref no 5C/ or 5CX/ and I may be able to help or point you in the right direction.
Alan

May 3, 2015 at 11:41 am in reply to: Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects Part 2 #920159

alanaitch
Participant

Latest update on progress on pilots instrument panels for de Havilland Comet 1A (or is it 1XB?) F-BGNX at the de Havilland Aircraft Museum at London Colney. Newly made panels (to original drawing for this specific aircraft) have just been trial fitted in the cockpit. Will be sent for paint in crackle black within next two weeks. All 48 instruments have been sourced although some later variants of some instruments may have to be used eg mk 19B ALtimeter instead of Mk 14. All other hardware, correct screws, nuts, switches, warning lamps, dimmers, dolls eyes also obtained…all ready to fit. 3D printing used to make missing panel mountings and hinges in Nylon12. Hopefully all will be installed by mid-June.
Alan
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January 25, 2015 at 2:44 pm in reply to: Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects Part 2 #921485

alanaitch
Participant

Thanks for this info, Terry. Glad to say that I managed to acquire a number of Sangamo S64-5-207 Jet Pipe temperature gauges with a 0-7 x 100 deg C scale which I’ll probably get modified to read exactly like the first two examples you attached to your post.

January 10, 2015 at 5:38 pm in reply to: Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects Part 2 #852317

alanaitch
Participant

Has anyone got a (or better still 3!) Jet Pipe Temperature Gauge Section/Ref 6A/2191…Needed for a DH Comet 1 Engine Instrument Panel.
Here’s hoping
Alan

December 11, 2014 at 3:41 pm in reply to: De Havilland DH106 Comet 1A instrument panels #875628

alanaitch
Participant

Hi Ed
The archive is open to the public for personal visits by prior appointment. They may also be able to answer simple research queries, but there are only 2 members of staff and they are not directly employed by BAe, but by a Document Warehousing company that, I think, is only charged with keeping the records safe, not with providing a research service. I’ve spent 4 days there now, rummaging through box after box of indexed original Comet 1 drawings!!
If you tell me the exact nature of your interest, I’ll ask them what they can accommodate.
Thanks for your tip on paint! It’s important that the finish is “crackle” rather than “wrinkle”! I’ll see what I can find online.
Alan

December 8, 2014 at 8:48 pm in reply to: Aircraft Cockpit Sections/Instrument Panel Projects Part 2 #878603

alanaitch
Participant

Just posted this in a new thread titled “De Havilland DH106 Comet 1A instrument panels” before I saw this thread!!

Hello everyone,

I’m working on the team restoring the fuselage of the Comet 1A F-BGNX at the De Havilland Aircraft Museum at London Colney. Specifically, I’ve taken on responsibility for re-equipping the aircraft with pilots, engineers and navigators instruments panels!!!! Given that it hasn’t got any, there’s quite a lot to do.

Anyway, work is progressing: we’ve found (at the BAe Systems archive at Farnborough) the original drawings for the Air France aircraft pilots panels and have almost finished re-drawing them in CATIA V5 prior to having new panels made. We’ve sourced many of the instruments already, although I may be posting begging letters before long!

My question at this juncture is this: the drawings call for the panels to be finished in “D + PC Black” which I believe to be a crackle black paint finish. Can anyone cast any light on what this finish was and how it might be replicated today?

Alan

UPDATE: Found out what the acronyms mean: D refers to a surface treatment to be used on the aluminium prior to finishing. PC means Crackle Stove Enamel finish. I haven’t been able to find anyone capable of reproducing this finish today, but can recommend Unimet Enamellers of Reading for their Crackle Powder Coat finish, available in black….it is almost exactly what the Comet Instrument panels originally looked like.
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