k5054nz Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Hi all, Former gate guardian* Spitfire TB252 came to New Zealand some years ago for Avspecs to restore to airworthy for Tony Banta, as per these scans from Classic Wings issues 38 and 43 respectively: tb252-import-to-avspecs-clasic-wings-issue-38_49214164898_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr tb252-progress-classic-wings-issue-43_49214189843_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr My wife and I went to the Bay of Islands (north of Auckland) for a wedding on Saturday and, as it happened, I needed to go to Avspecs on Friday to drop off something for a UK-based project. After dropping off the part with Warren Denholm's son Jaiden one of the engineers, Dylan Stace, kindly took me on a guided tour of the facilities. He explained that TB252's new American owner wants the aircraft at Oshkosh this year so the Spitfire is front-and-centre at Avspecs. Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr My helpful (and patient) guide explained the new owner wants the gun and cannon bays fitted out, so it should make for a sharp, detailed machine when complete. He said to make Oshkosh this year she needs to be on the water in May - exciting times! * Goodall says she served in this role at Odiham, Acklington, Boulmer, Leuchars and finally Bentley Priory before being taken down as part of Tim Routsis' deal. 9 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Thanks! I love to see these sort of photos showing the construction details - even if my modelling standard won't ever need such refinement of info for building... Cheers Will 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Very interesting insight. Is that a Short Zealand behind it? Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 3 hours ago, Britman said: Very interesting insight. Is that a Short Zealand behind it? Grumman Goose, they had a one outside ex SeaBeeAir when I was there a couple of years ago 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 I can see it now. Thanks again. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted February 13, 2020 Author Share Posted February 13, 2020 16 hours ago, Dave Swindell said: Grumman Goose, they had a one outside ex SeaBeeAir when I was there a couple of years ago @Britman it's Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Swindell Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 7 hours ago, k5054nz said: it's Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM. My apologies, Zak is correct. ZK-AVM was inside when I visited, ex SeaBeeAir and is being restored to fly. Another Widgeon ZK-CHG is outside in bits. I flew on one of SeaBeeAir's Geese from Mechanics Bay back in 1987, quite a memorable experience so always associate the 2 together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 (edited) Great photos! When I popped in last, it was sitting off to the side of the hangar, due to the mossie being disassembled for shipping. The spit didn't seem to be an urgent job, just a spare-time sideline. Their quality of workmanship is astounding, but meeting that deadline is certainly challenging indeed! Edit: Looks like the left side of the cockpit wall is getting the "hidden avionics" treatment like they did on the previous spitfire. Edited February 13, 2020 by hairystick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted February 14, 2020 Author Share Posted February 14, 2020 23 hours ago, Dave Swindell said: My apologies, Zak is correct. ZK-AVM was inside when I visited, ex SeaBeeAir and is being restored to fly. Another Widgeon ZK-CHG is outside in bits. I flew on one of SeaBeeAir's Geese from Mechanics Bay back in 1987, quite a memorable experience so always associate the 2 together. N144SL is also in the hangar being worked on. Frustratingly I seem to have deleted my photo of her fuselage but it is visible behind its recently-completed control surfaces: Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melvyn hiscock Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 We dropped in on Avspecs back in April and it was looking good then. I was surprised the engine is the same as was fitted at the factory! Fantastic work but we managed to miss the Mossie by about two weeks. For some one reason I’ve always had a soft spot for that Spitfire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 The tailplanes and rudder are fitted now. I'm wondering if there will be test flying in NZ, instead of the rush to get her to the US now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Well, she is all painted, the engine has been fired up and ground running is underway. All going to plan, the first flight will be just around the corner. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Just watched the vid, oh, that beautiful noise. Steve. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noelh Posted December 2, 2020 Share Posted December 2, 2020 Musical Merlin. Well it should be ready for next years' Oshkhosh. Maybe I'll see it. I'm seriously looking at another trip to Oshkhosh. Once is never enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Hmm. Ardmore airshow tomorrow, so she will probably be viewable in some regard. I doubt airborne though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truro Model Builder Posted December 5, 2020 Share Posted December 5, 2020 Beautiful work, as always. Has anyone else noticed that existing Mk.IX/XVIs are nearly always painted in dark green/ocean grey? It is rare for them to appear in anything else, which is a shame as they certainly wore many other colours in service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedders Posted December 6, 2020 Share Posted December 6, 2020 TB252 must have been one of the rare Luxury models with that seat-back! Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 (edited) On 12/5/2020 at 8:13 PM, Truro Model Builder said: Has anyone else noticed that existing Mk.IX/XVIs are nearly always painted in dark green/ocean grey Well, that _is_ what the overwhelming majority of service examples were painted in. I think other schemes are probably fairly represented in proportion, in current and recent times. The BBMF tries to keep MK356 fairly varied in particular Edited December 8, 2020 by Work In Progress 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hairystick Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 YES!! First flight has happened. The pilot seemed eager to get the wheels up on take off. Great work everyone involved with this project! BZ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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