Mossie update

Rossco · **Posted:** Thu Apr 17, 2014 4:19 am

Quote:

I know it's the owners toy, and his money blah, blah, etc.,etc....... but, that really does look bloody awful in that stupid gloss paint finish. :ouch:

Such a shame to ruin what should otherwise be seen as a wonderful restoration.

But cleaning is soooo much easier. :drink3:

JDK · **Posted:** Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:17 am

ErrolC wrote:

Answer nicked from
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-499069.html

Quote:

What engine type is in this bird ? Being an anorak I can only count five exhaust ports, would have expected six per side.

RR Merlin 25 I believe.

The 5 stack exhausts are because with the proximity of the rear (of six) stacks to the wooden wing root, RR had to redesign the exhausts, and the rearmost two cylinders have a 2 into 1 siamesed stack arrangement.
On later two stage Merlin engined Mosquitos, the longer nacelles allowed for a normal 6 stack exhaust arrangement.

Bit mangled; the spar wasn't ever the issue (no-where near the exhausts, nor at risk from the gasses) proximity of the inner exhausts to the radiators in the wing roots was, and avoiding handed exhaust sets. Take a look at a plan view to explicate.

Regards,

Firebird · **Posted:** Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:43 pm

TriangleP wrote:

Firebird wrote:

I know it's the owners toy, and his money blah, blah, etc.,etc....... but, that really does look bloody awful in that stupid gloss paint finish. :ouch:

Such a shame to ruin what should otherwise be seen as a wonderful restoration.

I've read here that Merlins can pump oil only just a little less than Pratt & Whitneys. I have no experience here. But as the owner Bob Jens has gone on record as saying his B.35 will only fly rarely, if only once, it seems that the gloss finish will only pay off for the maintenance folks only just as rarely. Lets hope the gloss finish really indicates he means to fly it regularly...

It's a ruddy warbird, and it's painted to represent an aircraft that having done over 200 missions, was about as beat up and weathered as anything, as the original photos of LR503 show, even in it's last few days before it tragic demise when it had received a slight spuce up, which makes this gloss finish and what to my eyes, even wrong colours, look absurd. Maintenance issues....pah, the dirty it looks the better in my view.

I hope someone will make Jens an offer that he can't refuse, and it can go to an owner that will repaint it and fly it.

TBH, it would have been nice to see it back in it's Spartan AS colours

groundpounder · **Posted:** Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:20 pm

Firebird wrote:

TriangleP wrote:

Firebird wrote:

I know it's the owners toy, and his money blah, blah, etc.,etc....... but, that really does look bloody awful in that stupid gloss paint finish. :ouch:

Such a shame to ruin what should otherwise be seen as a wonderful restoration.

I've read here that Merlins can pump oil only just a little less than Pratt & Whitneys. I have no experience here. But as the owner Bob Jens has gone on record as saying his B.35 will only fly rarely, if only once, it seems that the gloss finish will only pay off for the maintenance folks only just as rarely. Lets hope the gloss finish really indicates he means to fly it regularly...

It's a ruddy warbird, and it's painted to represent an aircraft that having done over 200 missions, was about as beat up and weathered as anything, as the original photos of LR503 show, even in it's last few days before it tragic demise when it had received a slight spuce up, which makes this gloss finish and what to my eyes, even wrong colours, look absurd. Maintenance issues....pah, the dirty it looks the better in my view.

I hope someone will make Jens an offer that he can't refuse, and it can go to an owner that will repaint it and fly it.

TBH, it would have been nice to see it back in it's Spartan AS colours

Take your coke bottle glasses off and it will look fine. :roll:

JDK · **Posted:** Sat Apr 19, 2014 8:42 pm

Firebird wrote:

TBH, it would have been nice to see it back in it's Spartan AS colours

When Dave McIntosh and I met Bob Jens when the Mozzie was still at Vancouver International, a few years back, he said to us he was considering returning it to Spartan colours. But I'm not surprised a more prestigious scheme was chosen in the end.

Regards,

kalamazookid · **Posted:** Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:49 pm

This rebuild uses an original fuselage and not a new build, correct?

DaveM2 · **Posted:** Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:05 pm

kalamazookid wrote:

This rebuild uses an original fuselage and not a new build, correct?

Correct, generally speaking.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 2:06 am

I saw where they got a airworthiness certificate, so the paperwork has equalled the weight of the plane, so it is ready to fly..

Firebird · **Posted:** Sun Apr 20, 2014 4:33 am

groundpounder wrote:

Take your coke bottle glasses off and it will look fine. :roll:

It will take a lot more than that to make that Mosquito look 'fine'........

I just find it perplexing that after all that effort, all that money, all that time expended on such a commendable restoration........and in the final moment it looks like they let a bunch of 10 year old first time Airfix modellers loose with the wrong selection of Humbrol tins.............

Fleet16b · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2014 12:49 pm

I am told that weather permitting , she will have her first post restoration flight tomorrow
Flown by the highly capable Steve Hinton

Good luck to all involved

peter · **Posted:** Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:47 pm

Great news..! Blue skies and calm winds for her first flight!

Xray · **Joined:** Fri Sep 24, 2010 1:25 am **Posts:** 486

Beautiful bird, I have to agree that is a pretty ratty looking paint job

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1456

fleet16b wrote:

I am told that weather permitting , she will have her first post restoration flight tomorrow
Flown by the highly capable Steve Hinton

Good luck to all involved

Did the weather not cooperate? Seems like we would have heard by now if the Mossie had flown.

C VEICH · **Joined:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:40 pm **Posts:** 1456

A post over on the Flypast forum indicated that the Mossie will be test flown in early May. Seems Mr. Jens is not wasting any time getting the airplane test flown nor does there seem to be a lot of fanfare which I would expect if only one flight was intended. Regarding his Spitfire it seems that Mr. Jens has had it out in the sunshine for a run-up in the recent past (Ocotober of 2013) which certainly makes one go "hmmm". Spit pics at the very bottom of this page: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/ind ... 23&st=1720

Baldeagle · **Posted:** Wed May 07, 2014 9:32 am

'Nother rumor on Facebook that today will be the first flight...

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