CWH Bolingbroke restoration update

[Asterperious]

Just don't ask James about the Navy beech 18......

[Michel Lemieux]

Thanks, it would be nice to see the pic too.

Cheers,

Skeptic James ?

[jamesintucson]

BTW, are you sure the underwing roundel had the yellow ring? (Runs, hides...)

Surprisingly enough, yes. Just proves that they often got it "wrong" at the time too.

Thanks, it would be nice to see the pic too.

Cheers,

Here it is. Page 588, Warner, Graham, "The Bristol Blenheim: A Complete History," Crecy Publishing Ltd., 2005.



By the way, this is a really good book for any Blenheim fans that haven't seen it.

James

[k5083]

Interesting photo.

So Pima screwed up the camo pattern and roundel locations, but the general concept is more accurate than I expected.

August

[jamesintucson]

Interesting photo.

So Pima screwed up the camo pattern and roundel locations, but the general concept is more accurate than I expected.

August

Yes, there are a couple of other errors in the markings and camo. It'll cost about $5000 to repaint it. Send us a check and I'll put the plane into the schedule for repainting.

James

[CWH Museum]

Here is the paint scheme planned for the Canadian Warplane Heritage's Bolingbroke.

[Rhino-9-3]

Very cool, and great work so far. I got to see the project during the Aviation Expo, looks like you guys have a lot done. Best of luck with the restoration. I'll post some pictures when I get a chance.

Is there an estimated time of completion yet?

[k5083]

Interesting photo.

So Pima screwed up the camo pattern and roundel locations, but the general concept is more accurate than I expected.

August

Yes, there are a couple of other errors in the markings and camo. It'll cost about $5000 to repaint it. Send us a check and I'll put the plane into the schedule for repainting.

James

How do I know they'll get it right next time?

The museum should be asking for assistance in the form of information, not money. I'm no expert on RAF camo and markings -- just one of thousands of guys who could properly research the paint job for a ten-dollar Blenheim model kit. If the museum had posted to Wix or a modeling forum, "Hey, we're painting a Bolingbroke, anybody out there with knowledge of RAF Blenheim paint schemes want to help us get it right?" it would have received many offers of free assistance, a lot of them from people more knowledgeable than me. It's a good tip for any museum seeking to bring the appearance of their artifacts up to ten-dollar-model-kit standards at low cost.

August

[jamesintucson]

Interesting photo.

So Pima screwed up the camo pattern and roundel locations, but the general concept is more accurate than I expected.

August

Yes, there are a couple of other errors in the markings and camo. It'll cost about $5000 to repaint it. Send us a check and I'll put the plane into the schedule for repainting.

James

How do I know they'll get it right next time?

The museum should be asking for assistance in the form of information, not money. I'm no expert on RAF camo and markings -- just one of thousands of guys who could properly research the paint job for a ten-dollar Blenheim model kit. If the museum had posted to Wix or a modeling forum, "Hey, we're painting a Bolingbroke, anybody out there with knowledge of RAF Blenheim paint schemes want to help us get it right?" it would have received many offers of free assistance, a lot of them from people more knowledgeable than me. It's a good tip for any museum seeking to bring the appearance of their artifacts up to ten-dollar-model-kit standards at low cost.

August

I guess its a good thing we didn't enter it into an IPMS contest then.

It is a matter of the allocation of limited resources and setting priorities. Correcting a couple of relatively minor errors that do not manifestly detract from the display of the aircraft in an otherwise perfectly serviceable paint job comes far down the list below aircraft that need actual physical repairs and paint jobs to help protect them. So, unless there is a specific allocation of funds from some outside source we'll probably get back to the Bolingbroke in 15 or 20 years at which time it will probably have some other little mistake for people to get worked up about.

Anyway, I think we've done enough hijacking of the CWH's thread at this point. If you would like to discuss this further feel free to PM me.

James

[rcaf_100]

Sorry to bring back an old thread, but I had heard about a week ago that preparations were being made to mate the wing and fuselage assemblies in the very near future. Heck, it could have been done already.

The CT-133 previously mounted on poles in the corner next to the Boly restoration area has been taken down and has been parked with the jets on the opposite side of the museum. (This gives the added room needed for re-assembly.)

So how about an update?

[m charters]

The center section is still progressing, and yes the area is being arranged for more room.
The plan is sometime in 2010 to have the center section out and to start the mating ritual! If you want to call it that!
The final spar when last I was in still needed some rivets that were on back order. It's a tough go with those steel rivets! One of the guys on the end of the rivet gun is 84! Walt does a hell of a job!
The jig is designed to fit the wing sections as well, so once the center section is out, and the area is rearranged, a wing will go into the jig.
The entire crew works twice a week (mostly retired guys on Thursday) and Saturday the bulk of the crew is in. A lot of work and fund raising is still needed. The Bristol engines will be a big hurdle to get overhauled.
With patience and determination, it too will join the CWH fleet in the air in the not to distant future.

[old iron]

To what aircraft do the corrugated parts in the last picture belong? Fokker Universal?

[m charters]

I have a list of the aircraft that are in the storage area in Ottawa, and that seems a Junker J1.
Have a look at the links to see better angles of it.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ers_J1.JPG


http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviation-p ... 132805.jpg

Mike

[m charters]

OK, RCAF_100 here is your update!
The Bolingbroke is still on track for a mate up of the center section and forward and aft fuselage sections in 2010! The spar has all the metal now, just final assembly of the sections. The angle pieces are all but riveted in, now just the cornice pieces to go.
It will be a momentous day when it all comes together.
I have included some close ups of some of the detail that is going into the restoration.


Aux hyd hand pump.

Trailing Antenna

Wiring Detail

Wireless Station

Bomb Aimers Panel

Master Electrical Panel

Spar Detail

Spar

Fuel Tank Area in Center Section

Cornice Metal

Storage Bag

View to the back of fuselage showing camera mount and flare tubes

Nose glazing progress

Gun Turret Canopy

Gun Turret Seat

All for now, more as it happens!

[JDK]

I have a list of the aircraft that are in the storage area in Ottawa, and that seems a Junker J1.

I don't know to which photo we are referring - link? Explanation for those missing it?

There is indeed a Junkers J.1 sesquiplane (not the J 1 low-wing monoplane) in the CanAv collection, and btw, the company name is Junkers, after Hugo Junkers.

Thanks for the update!