There is a Wirraway Order, including a drawing IIRC, for fitting the message hook – I just cannot find my copy at the moment. I horrible feeling it may’ve been lent to someone and I haven’t got it back. 🙁
The IAF Museum Wapiti at the very least deserves to be rebuilt to a historically correct standard, if only to preserve as an example of 1930’s technology for the education of future generations. It is not the only surviving Wapiti, although it is the closest to being the most intact – there are at least two other projects that I know of. If there is the opportunity to bring one of these back to life, it should be encouraged, because I do believe having a static machine is much like stuffed animals in a museum – it only tells part of the story to the viewer.
Yes, there are Jupiters “out there” and other Wapitis too, looking to be “reborn”. Yes, I would love to see a Jupiter running again, hopefully attached to a Wapiti, despite what some the damp squibs say here.
I can’t help you with the part numbers, but the upper fork end fitting on the right hand photo looks like a manufacturer specific part, where as the lower looks like a standard AGS part.
The brass lock nuts were (are!) standard use with flying wires/tension rods, to prevent any over-tightening from damaging the wire or rod – it would be much more desirable to tear the threads out of the lock nut than set up a latent failure in the wire/rod.
I think you need to factor in the fact that a lot of these engines “sit around” for extended periods and display work is usually short duration at higher power settings. Lack of use, especially when engines are not “pickled”, “kills” engines just as much as constant use.
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