1954 Avro Shackleton Mr2
Discussion
richw_82 said:
See what the next few weeks bring. Dad was in bits writing that; having to tell evryone it'll likely never fly again, but the level of support he's seen in the last 24 hrs has roused his spirit somewhat.
Fingers crossed that something can be sorted out in the future. My boy loves the Shackleton since we got on board for an engine run a couple of years ago. I met your parents then and their enthusiasm was infectious
My regards to them.
His name was also meant to be in the bomb bay too, plus I was one of the kickstarter backers for the ndt, so not all the new members are charlatans!
(Sounds like I won't be sitting in the copilot seat for an engine run anytime soon
)PeetBee said:
His name was also meant to be in the bomb bay too, plus I was one of the kickstarter backers for the ndt, so not all the new members are charlatans!
(Sounds like I won't be sitting in the copilot seat for an engine run anytime soon)
Almost all the names are in the bomb bay. As for any of the Kickstarter rewards that are still owed, I mentioned that to Dad earlier and he still intends to find a way to honour them. So if you were owed a seat up front during a run up - you'll get it, even if it takes a while to get back to a point where it can be done.(Sounds like I won't be sitting in the copilot seat for an engine run anytime soon
)Rich this is awful news for those of us who didn't realise JUST how involved you are/were with her and consider you one of those 'un-met friends' we sometimes get
I know of course how much support you have given to we modellers with queries about the big bird so it goes without saying how sorry I am for both your folks and for you
I wondered why your enthusiasm had gone, now I understand a bit better
I pray for good news for you all SOON
And for the Shack, long may she prosper
I know of course how much support you have given to we modellers with queries about the big bird so it goes without saying how sorry I am for both your folks and for you
I wondered why your enthusiasm had gone, now I understand a bit better
I pray for good news for you all SOON
And for the Shack, long may she prosper
richw_82 said:
Almost all the names are in the bomb bay. As for any of the Kickstarter rewards that are still owed, I mentioned that to Dad earlier and he still intends to find a way to honour them. So if you were owed a seat up front during a run up - you'll get it, even if it takes a while to get back to a point where it can be done.
Cheers Rich, from my perspective I don't want him to stress over things like that, I'm sure there are far more important things to be dealt with. Just sorry that is ended up this way and a big thanks for all the hard work and best wishes for the future.
Cheers Rich, seen my son's name is on there, he couldn't believe it when I showed him the picture! (he's only 10).
Also, new update on facebook https://www.facebook.com/avro.shackleton2/?hc_ref=...
I wish I could get there this weekend for the engine run, especially as the Nimrod will be running too.
I hope that WR963 gets as much support as possible.
Also, new update on facebook https://www.facebook.com/avro.shackleton2/?hc_ref=...
I wish I could get there this weekend for the engine run, especially as the Nimrod will be running too.
I hope that WR963 gets as much support as possible.
I've been following on Facebook ever since I met you guys at the last Waddo show (I was on the 748 next door), and was devastated to see the post hinting that it was all over.
I've very glad now to see that things are beginning to get back on their feet
I've very glad now to see that things are beginning to get back on their feet
Edited by ChemicalChaos on Monday 17th October 00:26
Timeline Events who I've done a few (train) photographic charters are running a charter in December.
http://www.timelineevents.org/product.php/281/a-wi...
http://www.timelineevents.org/product.php/281/a-wi...
Hi all,
Another month, another update on WR963. Although the weather at Coventry yesterday was absolutely Baltic cold, there were four of us braved it and got some work done.
First up was stopping the oil leak on No 1 engine. It was thought to be the timing plug, but turned out to be another plug further up on the engine block above it, with a perished gasket. Cleaning it up and refitting it cured the leak, and the cleaning up of the lower cowlings took longer than the repair itself!
Next up were some general airframe tasks, and as we were going around more stuff got noticed and added to the list. Things that could have been done over the last year or so but were missed, half done or ignored. Here's a selection of what's going to be keeping us busy over winter.
Blocked drainholes. Never a good thing, and probably the easiest bit of servicing to do. This very noticeable one on WR963's front bomb bay bulkhead has blocked up and corroded pretty badly. We'll be grinding it out and treating it as soon as possible.
DZUS fasteners on the cowlings. Several on No 4 engine have departed this life altogether, and I provided the tools to fit new ones shortly before my hiatus.
Over on No 2 engine, someone's had a go at replacement but done it in a bit of a half arsed way. The new fastener is latched, but not rivetted on as the remains of the broken clip are still in place.
Last but not least, No 4 engine's front spinner has picked up some new large dents, by way of a heavy blunt object, applied with violence. Likely done to try and 'persuade' the spinner to latch (rather than servicing the latches) its now rather deformed and tight so we're going to replace it.
So, we decided a trip to the stores was in order, as we had a bit of a shopping list! We managed to find most of the items we need, as well as discovering the contents of some of the larger boxes were a brand new fuel tank. amd another tail fin/rudder bringing the total in stock to a pair. Someone was suggesting we start trying to put VP293 "Zebedee" back to a full Shackleton again, but I think we need a few more bits yet... We also managed to find a couple of surplus coolant radiators, so if any of our Gatwick friends are reading this you need to drop my Dad a message.
One of the boxes in the store had some interesting writing on it which gave us much amusement when we opened it. All the way from Avro, half way around the world, and back, never yet used.
I metion him in passing further up this post, and we've not been neglecting "Zebedee", work has started again on more restoration for him. I got on board during a quiet moment and removed the Engineers panel blank, ready to get it cut for fitting some new switches and gauges. A nice find was in the cleaned up drawer below it, the master fuse list is still there.
Gareth Morgan is our glassfibre/composites expert, and he has taken on restoring the DF Loop fairing which came adrift earlier this year. The next few photos are his and show some of the work he's started bringing it back to a good condition.
A lot of the new work starting on Zebedee is helped by the recent gift of an AP for the MR MK 1 Shackleton.
So there we are. We're going to be sitting out November while we get a few more bits done, so the next run up will therefore be the dusk/early evening run for Timeline Events on 3rd December. The reason for deciding to get the work done now is that we want to start next year by taxying WR963 again. To make the taxying goal, there's a few bits like the brake line which blew back in April (which showed that they all need going through) and a cunning plan in the works to keep the brake pressure up to implement.
One last thing.
WR963 now proudly wearing her poppy in Remembrance of the 156 aircrew lost in Shackleton aircraft.
Regards,
Rich
Another month, another update on WR963. Although the weather at Coventry yesterday was absolutely Baltic cold, there were four of us braved it and got some work done.
First up was stopping the oil leak on No 1 engine. It was thought to be the timing plug, but turned out to be another plug further up on the engine block above it, with a perished gasket. Cleaning it up and refitting it cured the leak, and the cleaning up of the lower cowlings took longer than the repair itself!
Next up were some general airframe tasks, and as we were going around more stuff got noticed and added to the list. Things that could have been done over the last year or so but were missed, half done or ignored. Here's a selection of what's going to be keeping us busy over winter.
Blocked drainholes. Never a good thing, and probably the easiest bit of servicing to do. This very noticeable one on WR963's front bomb bay bulkhead has blocked up and corroded pretty badly. We'll be grinding it out and treating it as soon as possible.
DZUS fasteners on the cowlings. Several on No 4 engine have departed this life altogether, and I provided the tools to fit new ones shortly before my hiatus.
Over on No 2 engine, someone's had a go at replacement but done it in a bit of a half arsed way. The new fastener is latched, but not rivetted on as the remains of the broken clip are still in place.
Last but not least, No 4 engine's front spinner has picked up some new large dents, by way of a heavy blunt object, applied with violence. Likely done to try and 'persuade' the spinner to latch (rather than servicing the latches) its now rather deformed and tight so we're going to replace it.
So, we decided a trip to the stores was in order, as we had a bit of a shopping list! We managed to find most of the items we need, as well as discovering the contents of some of the larger boxes were a brand new fuel tank. amd another tail fin/rudder bringing the total in stock to a pair. Someone was suggesting we start trying to put VP293 "Zebedee" back to a full Shackleton again, but I think we need a few more bits yet... We also managed to find a couple of surplus coolant radiators, so if any of our Gatwick friends are reading this you need to drop my Dad a message.
One of the boxes in the store had some interesting writing on it which gave us much amusement when we opened it. All the way from Avro, half way around the world, and back, never yet used.
I metion him in passing further up this post, and we've not been neglecting "Zebedee", work has started again on more restoration for him. I got on board during a quiet moment and removed the Engineers panel blank, ready to get it cut for fitting some new switches and gauges. A nice find was in the cleaned up drawer below it, the master fuse list is still there.
Gareth Morgan is our glassfibre/composites expert, and he has taken on restoring the DF Loop fairing which came adrift earlier this year. The next few photos are his and show some of the work he's started bringing it back to a good condition.
A lot of the new work starting on Zebedee is helped by the recent gift of an AP for the MR MK 1 Shackleton.
So there we are. We're going to be sitting out November while we get a few more bits done, so the next run up will therefore be the dusk/early evening run for Timeline Events on 3rd December. The reason for deciding to get the work done now is that we want to start next year by taxying WR963 again. To make the taxying goal, there's a few bits like the brake line which blew back in April (which showed that they all need going through) and a cunning plan in the works to keep the brake pressure up to implement.
One last thing.
WR963 now proudly wearing her poppy in Remembrance of the 156 aircrew lost in Shackleton aircraft.
Regards,
Rich
I'm glad, no relieved, that you are back on board with her Rich
Did the clowns who've been messing with her for the last few months really think hammering bits into place or misfitting fasteners wouldn't have a detrimental effect if flying her ever became the option we all hope for?
Good to see your hand back in place mate
Even good-er to see the respectful tribute
Well done all of you at Cov now
re the bitter cold, it was bad enough for me to put off welding my Midget
and paying someone else to have a bash
brrrrrr!
Did the clowns who've been messing with her for the last few months really think hammering bits into place or misfitting fasteners wouldn't have a detrimental effect if flying her ever became the option we all hope for?
Good to see your hand back in place mate
Even good-er to see the respectful tribute
Well done all of you at Cov now
re the bitter cold, it was bad enough for me to put off welding my Midget
and paying someone else to have a bash
brrrrrr!
Great to see some good progress being made, and a far better outcome than what could have been. I will pop over to Coventry at some point; I'm still trying to get most of my post PPL skills test friends and family pleasure flights done 
I was over at Avon Park for the National Canmpionship drag racing events (crewing in Super-Pro) and noticed a Shackleton 'parked' there. Poor old girl looks to be in a very sorry state
I was over at Avon Park for the National Canmpionship drag racing events (crewing in Super-Pro) and noticed a Shackleton 'parked' there. Poor old girl looks to be in a very sorry state
SpamCan said:
I was over at Avon Park for the National Canmpionship drag racing events (crewing in Super-Pro) and noticed a Shackleton 'parked' there. Poor old girl looks to be in a very sorry state
That Shackleton is WR985, and there's a plan in place that will see some of us helping move her to a better location at some point in the future. The "somebody" suggesting on Facebook that VP293 + two fins could make a complete aircraft was my elder son, who shares my sarcastic but optimistic sense of humour! I used to be involved somewhat at Strathallan, so Zebedee holds some emotional attachment for me. It's a crying shame the rest of the airframe was scrapped - somebody should have bought it. Same with our Comet. The Hurricane was destroyed not long after, too, and the Lanc may as well no longer exist.
It was taken in the spirit it was posted, don't worry! We might need a bit more than just two tail fins though!
We have a lot of love for what's left of "Zebedee"... I've been marking out a new Flight Engineer's panel for him, the DF loop is getting repaired and there's a pair of AEW short front bomb doors going to be repurposed to get rid of the temporary panels sat under him on the trailer. I've also got a T1154 and R1155 radio sets to get fitted back in over winter.
Its a crying shame the aircraft didn't survive intact, but we'll do the best we can to make what survives as best it can be. Norman Thelwell did a fantastic job first time round, which was then undone by the vandalism and thefts at Duxford.
We have a lot of love for what's left of "Zebedee"... I've been marking out a new Flight Engineer's panel for him, the DF loop is getting repaired and there's a pair of AEW short front bomb doors going to be repurposed to get rid of the temporary panels sat under him on the trailer. I've also got a T1154 and R1155 radio sets to get fitted back in over winter.
Its a crying shame the aircraft didn't survive intact, but we'll do the best we can to make what survives as best it can be. Norman Thelwell did a fantastic job first time round, which was then undone by the vandalism and thefts at Duxford.
richw_82 said:
It was taken in the spirit it was posted, don't worry! We might need a bit more than just two tail fins though!
We have a lot of love for what's left of "Zebedee"... I've been marking out a new Flight Engineer's panel for him, the DF loop is getting repaired and there's a pair of AEW short front bomb doors going to be repurposed to get rid of the temporary panels sat under him on the trailer. I've also got a T1154 and R1155 radio sets to get fitted back in over winter.
Its a crying shame the aircraft didn't survive intact, but we'll do the best we can to make what survives as best it can be. Norman Thelwell did a fantastic job first time round, which was then undone by the vandalism and thefts at Duxford.
At least you've preserved some of it! Being involved with several cockpits myself I often get the "why did you cut it up?!" line as though I deliberately took an angle grinder to a good airframe...We have a lot of love for what's left of "Zebedee"... I've been marking out a new Flight Engineer's panel for him, the DF loop is getting repaired and there's a pair of AEW short front bomb doors going to be repurposed to get rid of the temporary panels sat under him on the trailer. I've also got a T1154 and R1155 radio sets to get fitted back in over winter.
Its a crying shame the aircraft didn't survive intact, but we'll do the best we can to make what survives as best it can be. Norman Thelwell did a fantastic job first time round, which was then undone by the vandalism and thefts at Duxford.
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