Flying a council house from the upstairs loo

[Tramatoa]

Thanks for posting! I’m sure you can see this thread is mainly for my own satisfaction and I try to keep things entertaining 😉. If anyone else enjoys my ramblings then that’s a bonus.

I had to laugh when I read about your childhood, I was privileged to have my son sat next to me on a couple of Sunday mornings doing the idles on a certain type of Rolls Royce engined cranky old purple freighter conversion and he still goes on about the hot chocolate from the vending machine now, years later. It’s what Dads and lads should be doing, priceless memories.

 

[Wez]

34 minutes ago, Tramatoa said:

Thanks for posting! I’m sure you can see this thread is mainly for my own satisfaction and I try to keep things entertaining 😉. If anyone else enjoys my ramblings then that’s a bonus.

 

Please keep posting, I never worked on Walters although I did fly in a few (mostly SH), I'm finding this thread very interesting, keep up the good work!

[Tramatoa]

Last two photos from Doncaster today for you. 

The Gnome Oil Tank is notable for the Mod state which was commonly applied as shown here, nothing fancy just by hand with a brush. The tank was replenished via the point behind the tank using a Juniper Rig and I don’t recall any other methods but I’m sure the Fish Heads will have at least a dozen alternatives involving Jubilee Clips and bits of hosepipe.

Similarly the Throttle Actuator boxes were marked as shown. I guess if you couldn’t use Dymo then the default was the squirrel haired brush. The right hand Throttle Actuator required engine removal to replace as it was buried in the middle of the bay, which was why we were in a hangar with a German Phantom at Pferdsfeldt (did I post that photo? Might not have done as i’m on it 🤪).

They have a Gnome with the top of the compressor case removed at Donny and I’d forgotten how tiny the higher stage blades were, no wonder we spent so much time comp washing. The compressor case is notable for the IGV/NGV unison rings and actuation mechanism, which would be a challenge at 1/32 but would require Willard Wigan’s intervention at quarter scale and below.

One thing which is in my mind is replacing what was possibly a flow divider in the fuel system which in my memory was the most unpleasant job I have ever attempted on an engine. Wirelocking the damn thing was horrible with the large silver twister pliers and daft screwdriver shaped thing with the machined ball with two holes in it which were all that was available to us. Of course my two mentors took a big step back and left muggins to get on with it, again character building.........

Pip pip,

Tramatoa

 

 

[Wez]

5 hours ago, Tramatoa said:

and daft screwdriver shaped thing with the machined ball with two holes in it

Aah, you mean a Twizzle Stick!  There was a time and a place for everything.  Personally, I preferred wire locking by hand where possible, pliers were used where there was a lot of wire locking involved but there were certain places only a Twizzle Stick would do.

 

Admittedly, being a Fairy, most of the time I used locking wire pliers was to close down P-Clips.

 

Keep posting, I never worked on G-Nomes apart from when I did some work experience on them before joining the mob.  Variable stators...   ...ugh!!!  What's wrong with a bleed band like other engines use?

 

What was the Walter like one one engine?  I know the Queenie could only control its descent on one engine.

Edited February 15, 2019 by Wez

[Harley John]

Please keep posting, I've nothing to add to the post in way of a contribution but I really enjoy dipping in and seeing lots of interesting info about the Wessex.

[Pete in Lincs]

I drove past Lakeside in Doncaster today. (Where the museum is).

This information won't be of any help to you but I thought I'd mention it.

[AndyBunney]

32 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

I drove past Lakeside in Doncaster today. (Where the museum is).

This information won't be of any help to you but I thought I'd mention it.

So you were Pete in Doncaster then!

[AndyBunney]

I know it isn't an HC2 but good to see Navy Wessex XT761 has taken to the air again today

[Tramatoa]

Just spent twenty minutes with a great big cheesy grin on my face. The kids think I’ve lost the plot 🙄. First time I stood in front of one of these as it pulled up into the hover was thirty three years ago and it’s still like a great big ugly insect. Thanks to everyone at the Navy Wessex Project for making this happen. 👍👍👍

[Tramatoa]

Having returned from Kernow I suppose it’s time to dust off this thread and continue. It had crossed my mind that we could break our journey somewhere near Weston Super Mare and, purely by chance, come across a helicopter museum but decided that the chances of this passing close scrutiny from the Boss was so slim that the horse wouldn’t run and suggested a Bristol and SS Great Britain combo instead which worked a treat. The last time I visited I was sat in the back of my Dad’s K reg Mk1 Ford Escort  more bothered about trying to unstick the back of my legs from the vinyl seat than taking in the sights so I really didn’t know what to expect but it was spot on. I really enjoyed the visit and, more importantly it got a big thumbs up from the Boss, Thing 2 & 3. Well worth a visit but pick a quiet day.

On the Wessex front I came across XR528 some weeks ago online which is without a doubt the furthest North yellow HC2 but as with the one at Cosford there is something a bit fishy about it. Further investigation shows it to be the former 72 Sqn/T with a paint job and begs the question why and where did this occur? More to follow.........

Edited March 25, 2019 by Tramatoa
Three eees in weeks

[Tramatoa]

Happily XR528 has now found a safe haven at Morayvia in Scotland where it appears to be in the care of good people and is displayed alongside it’s uglier younger sister.

While looking into how it ended up in Scotland I came across the website 28 Days Later and the unusual pastime of Urban Exploration (UE) which was new to me and really struck a chord. UE covers a wide spectrum of old industrial, military, government and other sites (including drains)and practitioners take photos and post them online. It makes very interesting viewing. These chaps had located XR528 at Little Risington in 2011, parked up for unspecified  training purposes and paid it a visit. I tried to contact the poster but the thread is pretty dead and so I suspect he’s no longer active. Next I contacted one of the Mods who couldn’t see a problem with me using the images for the purpose of prompting discussion. So, before I get going these images were posted by hhh at https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/ in July, 2012, to whom I would offer my thanks and if there is any issue over their use please let me know and I’ll take them down immediately.

For starters here’s a side elevation to set the scene.......

 

 

Edited March 25, 2019 by Tramatoa

[Tramatoa]

It doesn’t take long to realise that my initial suspicions were correct and this bird should be in green plumage.

Looks like someone’s carried out the IR Jammer and MAWS wiring mods at some point.

And this looks a little suspicious as well.

So we have second example of an SH Wessex which has passed through a proper paint shop and has been painted SAR yellow at some point either very late in the type’s service life or after retirement. I’d be fascinated to know why this was done.

[hendie]

Now I'm confused...   Take a look at the winch here

 

On 12/13/2018 at 1:06 PM, Scimitar said:

 

 

Then look at the winch here

 

Both 28 Sqn but two different winch types. 

I am assuming that the time frame is similar based on the color scheme though the second pic is a bit later (due to the big floaty bags on the legs).  Most of the photo's I have of 28 Sqn show the second type (which is what Fly provides in their kit) but my memory is drawing a complete blank on what would have actually been fitted back in the '82 - '84 time frame

 

Were they interchangeable ? or was the original winch superseded by a newer type?  Any ideas what's going on ?

 

 

 

 

[AndyBunney]

11 hours ago, hendie said:

Now I'm confused...   Take a look at the winch here

 

 

Then look at the winch here

 

Both 28 Sqn but two different winch types. 

I am assuming that the time frame is similar based on the color scheme though the second pic is a bit later (due to the big floaty bags on the legs).  Most of the photo's I have of 28 Sqn show the second type (which is what Fly provides in their kit) but my memory is drawing a complete blank on what would have actually been fitted back in the '82 - '84 time frame

 

Were they interchangeable ? or was the original winch superseded by a newer type?  Any ideas what's going on ?

 

 

 

 

@hendie Is one the early 200ft Winch and the other the later 300ft?

[Tramatoa]

In my experience the second one is the 300' winch used on the 22 Sqn. During my brief stay at HQ SARW in 1987 I visited the Winch Bay a couple of times to collect overhauled winches (it was a good excuse for a trip out) and the only ones I ever recall seeing were like this. I hadn't seen the first type until someone posted a picture on here.

The aircraft also has the ring on the exhaust even though it doesn't have flotation gear fitted. Another case of the multitude of variations possible on an aircraft with a very long service life. 

Here's another for you;

This was one from the previously mentioned batch by hhh on 28 Days Later which was on my list for discussion.

From my memory the Fuel Cocks and Speed Levers were as shown here, anodised aluminium and grey enamel. Yet in your build I think you have them blue? I'm sure that both will have appeared at some point, it's just a case of picking out a moment in time.

Nice to hear from you again.

 

[hendie]

5 hours ago, AndyBunney said:

@hendie Is one the early 200ft Winch and the other the later 300ft?

 

Probably. I was more looking to determine which winch I should be modeling - the Fly version is the boring looking one.  I've already started butchering it as the valves were all wrong, but close up photo's are very hard to find.

I think I may now butcher it further to make the interesting looking version as I have a bunch of good photo's of that one - and who can tell me I'm wrong?

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

300' winch started to appear in 1977.

I cannot remember seeing the 'plain' looking one at all on the Leuchars cabs or the couple of SAR fit 72 cabs I've worked with.   I clearly remember the 120 feet of wire and we had a bag with a 200' webbing attachment which would be attached to the hook if we needed anything longer. I've never used that so can't comment further.

 

Go with the clunkier one..it suits a Wessex !

[hendie]

On 3/7/2019 at 4:50 PM, Scimitar said:

Go with the clunkier one..it suits a Wessex !

 

Sold!  

[Tramatoa]

I have been over on the Key Aviation Publishing forum seeking information on the two ex-SH aircraft which turned yellow. They seem a friendly enough bunch but I’m not intending to be a regular over there (sorry if you were thinking I’d finally chucked my hook). 

Well it seems XR528 was positioned to St Mawgan at the end of its operational life as a General Instruction airframe and painted yellow shortly afterwards (July 1997) by their painters. It went all round the houses until it was positioned at Little Rissington for SERE training purposes (escape and evasion in old speak) which explains some of the comments from that time about occasional visits and spent cartridges. I still think it’s a shame it wasn’t left in its original plumage but in view of its miraculous escape from the burning pan and various other scrapes if it has to be yellow then good luck to the old girl (as long as it doesn’t appear as a model subject like that poor old HAS3 🙄).

XR498 was destined to be the gate guard at St Mawgan and was painted yellow in 2016 prior to being shipped to Cosford the following year. I suppose as they have one in green it will remain as a slightly fishy SAR aircraft for years to come, hidden round the back and brought out to entertain the children on Open Days. Again, there are much worse things that could have happened to the old girl so good luck to her.

As to the winch I have to admit I like the chunky SH winch it seems more charismatic and if you have photographic providence then why not? Good luck finding a picture of its internal workings though!

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

I came across this one which may assist.

I had a horrible thought that they had modified the window on the door but thankfully it is just the angle of the photograph.

Also found this:

https://www.largescaleplanes.com/walkaround/wk.php?wid=165

[Tramatoa]

That’s as I remember it. A bright chrome plated bar with a coarse cut thread which drove the bellmouth housing back and forth to give an even wind onto the drum and further in a black rubber coated pinch roller to maintain the tension. The drum was deeply grooved to keep the cable from jumping and was an anodised steel colour. Spent many happy hours squirting PX24 into here in a knowledgable sort of way with the winchy looking on feigning interest while all he was really thinking about was a brew and a couple of digestives. 

Edited March 10, 2019 by Tramatoa

[Tramatoa]

To return to Little Rissington this cracking photo by hhh shows the blade fold saddle to great effect. The Static Port blank is also visible just forward of it on the aircraft centreline. 

In my experience neither were used often on a Flight unless the aircraft was being parked up for a long period. The static blank was a pain to fit due to its location and the blade fold wasn’t usually required as space wasn’t an issue.

The hangar at Valley had a ‘hangar start’ area at one end which was a large yellow circle on the floor. When very high winds were expected SARTU would cram all their aircraft into the Seahawk Line end, sometimes putting the blades fore and aft and folding the outer two only to save time. Our first standby would be positioned onto the centre of the circle facing tthe doors. The only time I saw this used was during the Towyn flooding when the wind was impressive even by the standards of a place where the inhabitants were known for the ‘Valley stoop’ due to constant bending forwards walking into wind. 

The aircraft was started up and the rotor engaged with the doors closed. We then wound the doors open and kept an eye on the tip clearance while the Shift Boss marshalled him out. At this point everything not lashed down (including a good number of tool tags) departed for the other end of the shed. The aircraft slowly climbed out over the BFI then suddenly dropped like a stone before the pilot got a grip and recovered. I vividly remember the winchy’s look of alarm then as they came round into the prevailing wind they were gone. The wind speed combined with the aircraft forward speed tore the aircraft away like a rocket, I have never seen a Wessex move so fast. In fact I seem to recall they didn’t come back until the following day. 

Legend has it that MT took a bowser down so the aircraft could keep operational and it got bogged down in a field so the aircraft had to hover taxi up to it to refuel, but I didn’t go down there so I can’t say if it’s true or not. 

Pip pip

Tramatoa

Edited March 10, 2019 by Tramatoa
Forgot the photo!

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

On 3/10/2019 at 12:47 PM, Tramatoa said:

The only time I saw this used

I also only saw this happen once at Leuchars. Quite impressive.

Alas time precludes me remembering what the job was and its outcome.

[Tramatoa]

Found this on t’internet which shows the conditions they were operating in at Towyn. Not too difficult to imagine a bowser sinking up to it’s axles is it?

If I was a betting man I would guess XT670.

Edited March 14, 2019 by Tramatoa

[Tramatoa]

I have been spending some time of late trying to find a photo of the specific type of MS10 life raft used on the SAR Wessex. WAFU sent me some photos a while back but although very similar this is not how I remember the container. I’m pretty sure ours were not tapered like this and I don’t recall the orange patches

 

 

A bit of digging online leads to several images of inflated MS10s but little else. There is an article in Flight International from 1978 which notes that Beaufort of Birkenhead are supplying the units to the MoD for use on the Nimrod, but it seems these were used in air droppable canisters which would self inflate on contact with sea water. I have no recollection of ever being told the Wessex units were capable of this and always understood they were initiated by a rip chord. In view of the repeated warnings we were given about the Floation Gear I would have expected someone would have mentioned this at some point. Having said that the Squippers inhabited a different part of the building and other than nipping in to ‘acquire’ a pair of leather gloves or borrow some kit if you had been rash enough to volunteer to go aviating our orbits very rarely crossed. 

The unit was stowed under the right hand seat aft of the door secured by a short strap which went round the seat base tube and through the handle of the container. This was green nylon with a Martin Baker clip (I think i’ve mentioned this previously). 

Can anyone help out with a photo of the real thing? 

Pip pip,

Tramatoa

Edited March 25, 2019 by Tramatoa
Repetition (Just a Minute buzzer went...)