Inside the Spitfire factory

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Discussion

Dr Jekyll

Original Poster:

23,820 posts

262 months

Monday 28th September 2020
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More 4 at 9PM.


Looks like a new series about restorations/rebuilds.

bluey1905

248 posts

198 months

Monday 28th September 2020
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I just noticed this is on, should be an interesting watch.

CanAm

9,252 posts

273 months

Tuesday 29th September 2020
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Thanks for the heads up, I nearly missed that and only caught the end, but it was repeated in the early hours, so series now recorded.

It was followed by a repeat of another program featuring Guy Martin, following the "restoration" of a Spitfire recovered from the sands of Dunkirk. They mentioned getting a replacement airframe from a firm in the IoW (same company?) at a cost of about £200 - £250,000. Sounds like a bargain.

Eric Mc

122,077 posts

266 months

Tuesday 29th September 2020
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Not a bad programme at all. Will watch the following programmes.

Dogwatch

6,232 posts

223 months

Tuesday 29th September 2020
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I knew restoring steam engines was a thriving industry, I didn't realise there was a fair sized Spitfire restoration scene as well. Opposite ends of the engineering spectrum but both good for youngsters who want to get their hands dirty.

Eric Mc

122,077 posts

266 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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Not just Spitfires. All sorts of warbirds are getting restored all the time by these specialist businesses. As well as the one featured in the programme, there is the ARC at Duxford, Hawker Restorations and a company at Sandown on the Isle of Wight. There are a few others as well.

And that is just the UK.

If you want an idea as to what is going on in the US, have a look at Kermit Weeks You Tube channel. He owns a large number of warbirds and has quite a few scattered around the US with various restoration companies.

CanAm

9,252 posts

273 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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I found the Guy Martin one a bit sad. They brought along the pilot's two daughters and one said she could feel her father's presence. Bearing in mind this was pretty much a 'gear-knob restoration' it's almost as if they'd been duped.

outnumbered

4,092 posts

235 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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Eric Mc said:
Not a bad programme at all. Will watch the following programmes.
If it comes with the Eric seal of approval, I'll check it out!

Eric Mc

122,077 posts

266 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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Narrated by Al Murray too.

There is a little bit of "false jeopardy" built in to the narration (i.e. an artificial deadline) but once you get over that, the actual demonstrations of the restoration processes and parts hunting - and the people involved is very good.

CanAm

9,252 posts

273 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
Narrated by Al Murray too.

There is a little bit of "false jeopardy" built in to the narration (i.e. an artificial deadline) but once you get over that, the actual demonstrations of the restoration processes and parts hunting - and the people involved is very good.
I missed that Al Murray was the narraor. There's a lot more to him than the Pub Landlord.

zombeh

693 posts

188 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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Eric Mc said:
and a company at Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
One of the best things about working just up the road from Airframe Assemblies is being able to look in at all the shiny things when they've got the doors wide open in the summer.

Eric Mc

122,077 posts

266 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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A few years ago I was allowed to wander around the front of their hangar and have a good gawk inside. There were about three Spitfire fuselages in jigs plus various sets of Spitfire wings. It was really interesting.

CanAm

9,252 posts

273 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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What's the ruling on "rebuilding" these old wrecks. Do they have a points system like the DVLA, or is it a case of, "There's the VIN, we've rebuilt it."?
Or "its got a brand new chassis (airframe) to manufacturers spec" so it's ok.

outnumbered

4,092 posts

235 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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Just watched the first episode, it was a good programme. I'd have liked to have seen some photos of the owner's original garage restoration project, that must have been more of a challenge than doing one in a modern workshop with all the space and tools.

Can anyone explain how the peening on those bolt heads helps with locking them?

rev-erend

21,421 posts

285 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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CanAm said:
What's the ruling on "rebuilding" these old wrecks. Do they have a points system like the DVLA, or is it a case of, "There's the VIN, we've rebuilt it."?
Or "its got a brand new chassis (airframe) to manufacturers spec" so it's ok.
Maybe its a 'Triggers broom'...

LotusOmega375D

7,651 posts

154 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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outnumbered said:
Can anyone explain how the peening on those bolt heads helps with locking them?
Not just me then!

Yes, interesting show. It’s a bit like that classic car restoration show, where Fuzz does the work and Tim buys the bits.

Great to see the veteran reunited with a plane he flew.

CanAm

9,252 posts

273 months

Wednesday 30th September 2020
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rev-erend said:
Maybe its a 'Triggers broom'...
Except the handle and the head are still in the cupboard with the "repaired" one outside.

Lets face it, the one on the Guy Martin programme had precious little of the original in the "rebuild".

eccles

13,740 posts

223 months

Thursday 1st October 2020
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I thought it seemed to concentrate a lot on the owners son, and his explanation of what a smiley rivet was didn't match the damage shown in the footage. I've not worked anywhere where that sort of damage would have been acceptable.
It was nice to see them showing people crawling in little holes which seems to make up so much of aircraft maintenance.

99hjhm

426 posts

187 months

Thursday 1st October 2020
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outnumbered said:
Can anyone explain how the peening on those bolt heads helps with locking them?
Let me know when you find the answer!

williamp

19,267 posts

274 months

Thursday 1st October 2020
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99hjhm said:
Let me know when you find the answer!
I did wonder if its the same as going to stores for tartan paint, or a long weight, or....