WV-903.Hi Dampervan,
Looked through my list of Dunlop AH and AHO Wheels Part Numbers and none of the ones you list are in it. Is there any more AH numbers you might have missed ?
Meteor AH wheels start with a number:- 8. Sorry I can’t help. Try posting some pics. here and dimensions might help.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Bruce,
Ahhhhh !! realized I worded that bit badly. What I meant was the EU is into controlling and regulating everything about us and the Yeovilton experience is just one of many things heading our way because of this.( Cascading ) But understand what you are saying. Really hope this can be resolved so team can continue with “Project Barracuda”.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Canopener,
Quite a write up on what led up to the Jaguars inception. All seems quite correct as I remember it too. I nearly made it into the TSR-2 Hot Weather Trials planned for Australia in late 1964. Was upset about this for many years but got to service Jaguar Internationals in Oman for many years in 1980’s-early 90’s. A great Aircraft and I enjoyed my time there at Thumrait and still do with the memories. Thanks for your input.
Bill T.
WV-903.Read through all the recent news on the “Barracuda” restoration project and had to have a day to think about it. These guys and gals who have been doing such a fantastic job on bringing scrap wreckage back from the dead and turning it into a Barracuda using all original parts,( probably only about 2% of support stuff not original) is real ground breaking stuff and I applause and salute you for your efforts so far and intentions. Then to have the rug pulled from under you like this comes as no surprise to me, I agree with Camlobe and Bruce, this smells highly political and by that I mean political from on high way above the Yeovilton Museums ways. I blame the EU and its meddling and taking control of our everyday lives and that cascading down to our inept government and shadow parties. So having said that I feel the Yeovilton Museum bosses are struggling to keep it all together under this imposed framework. But I don’t agree with their handling of the situation at all and I hope they are really not going to impound the Barracuda back to Yeovilton. If they do,(which so far seems as a done deal ) then the preservation world is so much the poorer and we now seem to have almost turned a corner that cannot be retraced.
If that happens, then these fine restorers will undoubtably be offered another “Gem” to re-build, but most likely from private individuals or sources. So the Yeovilton *********** !!!!
what ever it is !! will quietly fade away as these folks get to grips with BlueBird and pick over the offers that will certainly come in and a year or 2 down the line will just look back and laugh. They are these kind of people and they are going to be busy bees and will get over this if they cannot fight back to retain the “Barracuda project build” as we understand it.
So although this is a big blow, the future still looks bright and that’s where I’ll be looking,—— hope other forumites view this the same way.
Salute to the team.
Bill T.
WV-903.Looking Good rob.
Hi Rob,
Looking really good M8. The Sea Hawk retractable Gyro Gunsite mounting unit is,(I’m afraid) an extremely rare item these days. Most Guys with Sea-Hawk C/pits or C/pit mock ups have old unwanted bashed up/ damaged period ones off other aircraft and have cut them down to size to fit.
Here’s some pics of what (I think ) is my one and only GGS Mounting for Sea-Hawk WV-903. (Sparky has it all now ) Hope these pics. are useful to you.
All the best with projects Rob and have a good one.
Bill T.
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PS:- Poohh !!! Just realized this is a screw thread motorized one, probably ex Javelin. Long gone I’m afraid. I’ll keep looking to see if I do have correct pics. and post here if I find em. Incidentally——- Just in case you do locate the correct one, it would be a spring retractor (Short )type. Be aware that when working on them spring might be loaded into full extension and if so will release with one mighty bang when that happens. Chap we know out in N.Z. damaged an eye when that happened, he was restoring a Vampire one that let go and propelled a piece of shrapnel into his eye. So wear good safety goggles !!!!!!!!!
WV-903.Hi again Bob Kat and fellow sleuths,
Interesting are these last 2 items that Laurent has come up with. Item(pic ) 80 seems to me to belong to something lightweight, may be even to be carried in Aircraft. The swivel machined ends and aluminium alloy material suggest some sort of carrying handle for a box or gun ,or something and the length of handle part (twice width of my small hand ) sounds like that length so aircrew with heavy gloves on could get hold of it. Any picketing ring or handle that I knew of would have been of steel and generally screwed into a threaded hole on under side of mainplane, etc, once the light alloy plug was dropped out.
The Hydraulic external supply valve:- C7168 is even more interesting.( great diagram Allan ) I read through the Dia. write up and have been trying to configure it in with my memory banks of what components these early hyd. systems used. Peters ID of its location up in U/C bay sounds like it is a ground Hydraulic Fluid top-up point for those big Undercart Main Landing gear oleo legs allright. It certainly sounds like it is a DOWTY item too.
Were these oleos Liquid spring or Hyd fluid / separator and other side of that Air (Back then ) / or nitrogen charged ? I ak this because I’m not familiar with specific Lancaster Equipment, but back in early 1980’s after just leaving RAF and working for contractors at RAF Shawbury on Chipmunk Majors, I got tasked with going and finding where all the spare chocks and jacks had vanished to. So looking in this forgotten shed /small building out back of main hanger and sifting through the junk in there I found a complete and original WW2 Aircraft Hydraulic Topping up pump assy that was still in the service blue colour. It must have been in there for years and its looks were a basic flat board on which was mounted the pump assy. and a long arm with a T handle on top and flexible pipe that connected into the top up valve. This was a low pressure unit operated by one man who stood on board and pumped Hyd. fluid up inlet pipe, the man kept the small reservoir on pump topped up as he went. The hose had a screw on connector(around 3-5/8″ whit or BSF spanner size) Which seems to fit in with description of Dowty:- C 7168 Valve. Because on Air Ministry’s (Allan’s ) AP 1803 Diagram, you can see that the fluid inlet thread is normally plugged by that externally knurled cap, which shows that low pressure fluid goes in there, which fits in with pump I found at Shawbury (and other general Hyd. fluid topping up units with cans and pumps on ) The pump still worked too when I operated arm,—-with a sucking and gurgling noise coming out of hose end—lol !!! I knew about these type of pumps because we trained on them at RAF Halton in late 1950’s, and I think they were called Oleo top-up pump units.(Or something like that.) but this was first one I had seen since then. I remember the find fascinating me for ages afterwards. And nowadays, most of this is lost to history, so great stuff to link back to it again.
Allan do you have any reference to these types of hand pumps in your AP collection at all ? or any pics. ( so that I can be sure I’m not imagining it all —- lol !!!! :confused: )
So it certainly looks like you guys have nailed this one too. Remarkable how the jigsaw is coming together and jogging my memory of early time in RAF. Salute also to Laurente for his persistence.
Bill T.
WV-903.Wow Mike !! Seeing this pic of ED-908 after 2 years nearly of this thread running, certainly jolted me, as it will other folks. Many thanks for posting here, I had no idea about this chaps great work. Brilliant !! That 2nd link covers his stuff in more depth and gives you some insight into those night time Air raids and the nightmare of the dreaded Axis night fighter creeping up on you along with the loneliness/cold of the Turret gunners, flak danger, etc, etc. A very fitting addition to here.
Bill T.
WV-903.Ah found some pics. !!!!
Ha !!!! Found a pic. at first stab. Luckily Restored wheel was able to be separated easily as the Navy had applied Yellow chromate Grease on Main hub bolts, which was still good some 40 yrs. later. I was eventually able to inflate wheel to 60 psi and seat tyre beads. Used Canberra (New ) Nosewheel Inner tube inside. It took me ages to fit those Big castellated wheel nuts split pins exactly as we used to do during my mob time in tyre bays some near 50 years ago now. But wheel looks great now, In fact it is perfectly serviceable for a Museum or Ground taxying Aircraft if needed.(I moved it on to Jet Art Aviation- Chris Wilson ) as wife was not happy about garden full of aviation tat. lol !!
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Found more info.
The Place I get my tools, paints, all sorts of stuff from is :- “Frosts Auto Restoration Techniques”. As we are talking about static Aircraft display stuff most times in here, these people have really good idea’s and gear, a tad expensive, but really good quality stuff.
Link here:- http://www.frost.co.uk/
On my Wheel I used Dinitrol Converust RC 800 on steel parts and Eastwood Pre-Painting prep. Self Etching primer and “Aluma Blast”. Aluminium replication paint for wheel external surfaces. There are many others you can use though, highly applicable to our hobby, So have a look. OK have to go in loft , so will commence search for Valve assemblies.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hello again Darren,
Apologies for not getting back to you, (busy). That is a great job you have done on these pair of wheels and really considering their age and where they have sat for many years is amazing what you have “Clawed back” from this project for posterity. I never thought you would get those bearings out easily and the housings are in unbelievably good condition. And as expected the corrosion pitting around outer parts of wheel is as we thought. I’m also surprised at the good condition of Brake drum and housing, attach bolts, etc.
So as they sit as coffee tables, it at least gives you time to ponder on what sort of future they will have.
For myself, to see them back with tyres on, lock rings ,bearings and plates fitted, (tyres filled with something as you cannot pressurize units now. and unit and tyre creep marks painted back on back. You can achieve this with a bit of “cheating” so that wheels would look perfect for a static display in an historic aviation setting somewhere. Tempest wheels are now a rarity so this is worth doing. What I would do with those loose flanges (If they will not budge through corrosion ) is to saw them through across the worst bits, so relieving the pressure on the hub, then they should eventually slide off (with gentle persuasion). These Loose Flanges can be “Glued” (so to speak) back together on that cut with any of the excellent modern “Metal Set” applications around these days. Then wheels and loose flanges can be:- Pits filled, primered and top painted to give a nice effect. Tyres put on. Loose flanges re-fitted. Scratch made up lock rings (any soft bar will do) fitted in wire locked (For effect). And (when I find em) I’ll donate you 2 New inflation Valve assembles that can be “Glued” further inside to give effect of ” All ship shape and Bristol fashion”. Grease and fit bearings, paint and fit lock plates and and finally paint on Unit and tyre Creep marks. Then take these to Newark C/pit Fest next year and let other enthusiasts see what you did. They will be very interested.
I’ll put up some pics of a Sea Hawk wheel I did this sort of job on, to give you an idea of how it worked for me. , will also mention what materials I used.
Hope this helps Darren and best wishes with this excellent project.
Bill T.
WV-903.Low life pond bottom feeders !! Preserved Railways suffer badly from the predations of these untrustworthy filth.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Dave,
This is first time I’ve ever seen any reference to these various ww2 attacks ( Just passing by really today ) and it tallies in with my books and pamphlets,etc, I have from 1970’s that made me realize what the Aussies and Kiwi’s were achieving in WW2 and they achieved one heck of a lot indeed. I don’t remember reading about these dams attacks (at any time) so your postings here have “Woke me up” so to speak. So this is good reason now for me to go back into all these books and refresh my memory.
My abiding interest is what I found out about the Aussies at Milne Bay, when they stopped the Japanese advance towards Aussie dead in their tracks, unbelievable and totally absorbing books reading. Since 1970’s, I have mentioned to enthusiasts over here in UK about Milne Bay, but met with (generally) blank stares, because no one seemed to realize or understand what went on. This battle and many others ,now including your posts describing these dams raids are part of the same thing. People just don’t know. But you are educating folks nicely Dave. I just now followed the link about ME 109 (Black 6 ) I had no idea of it’s history, but I do now. So keep up the posts Dave and If I find anything of interest relating here, I’ll reply.
One of the first pics. you show is of . Aircrew sitting around with what looks like Beers in hand. Would that be a home brew or would barrels of the stuff have been flown under wings of KittyHawks, etc. I know the RAF in Middle East WW2 certainly did that with Spitfires. Can you also imagine what the effect on pilots would have been if they ran into enemy planes. “Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat !!!!! jettison the Beer barrels, not bloody likely”——lol !!!!
Bill T.
WV-903.Very sad to read about your experiences at Hendon guys, but unfortunately, brace yourselves for idiot officialdom increasing. We still have the independent Museums, so give them your support and by-pass the trite.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Darren,
Great job. I just typed out a huge screed to you on further restoration, but lost it all because of timing limitations here in forum(Even though had saved it all ) 😡 So breaking out the liquid refreshment and will get this re-typed and posted again in a few days time. Catch up later. Aaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!
Bill T.
WV-903.Nice one Jon.
Had it been made by another company the possibly, but the BGA inspection stamp (Blackburn General Aircraft) means it was built for one purpose. 🙂
Jon
Excellent ident. Jon. Nice unit. V-Bombers rear crew seats were different again to this seat Mike. Good ending.
Bill T.
WV-903.Hi Aircraft,
Looking at the manufacturers plate, that indicates it to be a Type C Mk 1. A non Ejection Seat that has all the Martin Baker hallmarks about it’s construction. The Blue Harness equates to early 1950’s (Chipmunk,Helicopter, etc ) and the whole seat looks British military. But what it could be from, I know not. The lever assy looks like a seat lowering/raising handle and some sort of guide rail is fitted on seat back. The Arm rests appear ridiculously small,(But there must be a reason for that ) and they seem to be mounted on a cylinder or drum arrangement, so can probably be rotated backwards when not needed. Arm rests usually indicate seat will be used for long periods at a stretch. The release lever on stbd. side frame looks like it operates the harness top Lock / release, so /operator/gunner/??? can reach forward during normal flying.
I have a Mk 2D and 3A Martin Baker pair of ejct. seats, so am familiar with the generie.
Interesting indeed !!! How did you come by it ?
Bill T.
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