So they are smaller ,Braked (Pneumatic Bag type most likely, but could be a mechanical operation) Mainwheel. And they are divided(split) type Hubs too. Goodyear of course did make Aircraft Tyres, but that LAND Tyre is a puzzlement. It looks like, as you say, these tyres were fitted at some later date after their Flying life was over. Did these wheels come off a farm trolley of some sort ?. Hubs certainly are interesting and it would be nice to get them split and re-furbished. Usually old wheel hubs like this are seized together ,solid, —–chucking them in an old bath of Molasses/water mix for a month might free off the corrosion enough to get them split. Keep looking .I will.

Bill T.

Hi Foray,
It’s not Spitfire or Hurricane, but is earlier than that almost certainly off a 1930’s Military Biplane. eg:- AH 2006 Wheel hub is for Gauntlet 2 and Gladiator –AH 2004 Fairy Battle — AH2016 off Blackburn ROC and so on. ( These are definitely early Hubs as Gladiator also used later numbered ones. ) My Dunlop lists do not have that number listed so process of elimination might help. The AH Number is for DUNLOP Wheels. Best I can do, but other guys have yet to chime in. Also ,I think that tyre could be original type because of the embossed double radial fit lines you can see just above top hub flange rim. Can you post any more pics of other side of wheel and tyre (Both sides ) and tell us any markings ?

Hope this helps a bit.

Bill T.

Oo-er !! Head scratcher indeed.

‘Er… you remember I said that the throttle quadrant was next?
Pics to follow… now THAT’S what I call a challenge!
[ATTACH=CONFIG]228145[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]228146[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]228147[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]228148[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]228149[/ATTACH]

This one’s going to need all my little grey cells. They won’t buy me a replacement at the thick end of £2K!

Hi Windhover,
Must congratulate you/Project helpers on outstanding acheivements so far to bring these items back from the dead. (You too Alan ). very impressive indeed.

Looking at these pics. of those inner Throttle Quadrant Castings makes me cringe too. Don’t think there is any welding scheme for mag. Alloy, but as these items are for static Tiffie project, there are heavy duty Glue/epoxy/resins around, (thinking of Classic Cars Re-Building Suppliers ) that can be used and filed ,drilled and tapped when set. You could also “glue”on (For want of a better word )very small, thin, alloy/dural strips across these breaks and gaps,(after filling in ) to give more rigid plate support .Once painted over you’d hardly notice them. Obviously not fitting them where fouling would apply. and also where they could be seen from top view. And yes!! after clean-up and primer treatment, fill in those pitts with car body filler, thus saving a unique and rare item. Please keep up your reports on progress with pics. and my thanks for that.

Wow !! Hope someone has moved fast on those huge amount of “Tiffie” parts and wreckage at Barry Parkhouses place. Barry is very approachable and helpful( he helped me out enormously a few years ago ) but he’s nobody’s fool.

I have to say that these scratch /composites builds to static display condition of long vanished aircraft from WW2, etc. (and no doubt later years missing aircraft ) and parts and C/pit part.instrument panel displays,etc, is something I never thought I’d see emerge these days, but boy !! am I happy to be wrong. Salute you guys,—( you know who you are ), the satisfaction must be total in this absorbing side of Aircraft preservation.

Bill T.

Elect item in Para:- 686 (pic)

Hi again BobKat,
Not been able to contribute much over past few months as nothing I could put my finger on, (You have a pm ) but following it all with interest. As you say,”The picture builds” and all this assembled into context for the relatives visit will be very powerful indeed. Forum members must be very proud of how a forum like this can help to piece together a 70 year old “picture” of events ,personnel, pics and actual Aircraft parts from this tragedy to help them come to terms with it. I’m sure it will be well appreciated at relatives reunion. Not forgotten Laurent at all, I’m sure he’ll be on hand to explain further to great grand kids, Villagers ,etc. And he’s done a great job of gathering evidence. You and Laurent are the architects indeed. ( Still hope he is going to find that Merlin ).

Anyhow, looking just now at para 686 2 pics, The electrical item. That looks to me like the back piece of a leather flying helmet !! It was the clip that puzzled me,—-where had I seen that before ? then realized those clips were on Flying helmets to hold Mic/tel (Earphones ? ) cable in place. The bit of wires sticking out too. Question from me then is:- Is that “Manky” stuff on that item 70+ years old leather of a flying helmet ? Could Laurent confirm or deny this ? I don’t have any pics. of flying helmets of that period to hand, so this is a hunch.

Bill T.

Hello all,
I worked on ‘161 in the sheds at El Adam with grass ’78 to ’82. 30 odd years later, I’ve just put the Artouste from ‘161 into XM715 !! Who would have believed it!

“El Adim with grass” –lol !! Forgot all about that expression. Been there too. Glad to see some bits still left from Xl-161 (and working too) Good on yer 125 Brat. Well at least 2 early Victor 2 Nose sections are still with us, (Xl-160 and Xl-164 I think ) and those Cut off Control Yokes have to be around somewhere.

Bill T.

Every once in a while this forum comes up with some stunning stuff Sopwith and you have here. Wal Handley was THE man who on June 30Th. 1937 entered a Modified BSA “Empire Star” 500cc Iron Barrelled Model M-23 Roadster Motorcycle into the Races at Brooklands track and won a much coveted Brooklands “Gold Star”. And from that the most famous of British racing legendary Motorcycles was born, The BSA “Gold Star”. As a Lad I lived in Birmingham and used to regularly cycle over to Armoury Road (BSA works) and watch the riders testing the scramblers on their test track and the Testers bringing out the new built “Goldies” for the big test run up Armoury road, over the railway bridge and away, lovely exhaust sound.

Check out this M-24 Gold Star Website history:- http://www.bsa-m24.com/id1.html

I personally had no idea how Wal died or that he even owned a Bristol fighter Aircraft, and that it was scrapped at Hooton Park in 1936. ( Close links to Hooton) Wow !!! Got to get that Book. Any idea where Wal Handley is Buried in “Brum ” ?

Thanks Sopwith, brilliant!!!

Bill T.

Guys, WARNING !!!

Anyone working in or around this hunter should be very mindful that 10-12 years ago I noticed there was bad corrosion on the main legs. I was actually trying to help the Museum inhibit as much as we could at the time. The legs still had pressure in them as the “shiny” portions were as they should be, so we must be looking at some 1500psi in there if those legs haven’t collapsed yet. So be warned !!! and take a deflator cap (or Rig) and drop those leg pressures first. Eye up the Nose Oleo strut as well while you are there.

The main wheels were also inflated and sunk into ground, they were badly corroded in places too and still had pressure in them, though I would think they would be deflated by now. However, better safe than sorry, get a deflator cap on them too.

My interest in that Hunter was because it was at Valley same time as me and I wished(and still do) to see it preserved. I was one of the team that dismantled the Percival Prince years later and boy does she look nice now at Liverpool. Hats off to everyone who helped and contributed to saving her.

Bill T.