Westland Wyvern Project Thread.

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Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Having consulted Bruce i thought it would be a good idea to start a dedicated thread for my two projects. Progress on both of these two rare types is always going to be slow, but please keep an eye on here for any new progress. Both projects are based more on collecting, conserving and displaying original material, rather than re-creating a replica / reproduction section.

Always fascinated by 'the beast', the project on the Wyvern was started by me over twenty years ago. But with the introduction of the internet which has made it easier to find like minded enthusiasts, some very nice parts & photos etc have been found and acquired since that time - and are still turning up to this day. It has also allowed me i'm pleased to say to make contact with ex Wyvern personnel, whether they are pilots, groundcrew or have had some other involvement with the type. That experience has left me feeling quite humble at times.
To start with i am part way through making up a control column of sorts (not a replica i might add) to allow me to mount either stick top, and to give the cockpit rig a new dimension. It also helps give a better idea of the layout and position of the cockpit equipment together with the aid of the pilots notes. Again the rig is not intended to be a replica of any kind. Its just a way of attaching parts to, to give a representation of the size and the equipment used.

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Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Sturgeon project

Another relatively forgotten type is the Short Sturgeon. This is a much more recent project for me and has only been going for twelve months or so.

Similar to the Wyvern in its goal of collecting, conserving and displaying as much original material as possible, it has already started to surprise me just what there is still about. And thats even more surprising when you consider that only twenty eight complete Sturgeons were ever built. A very small number for any production type.

First up are my most recent two finds, these genuine Sturgeon propeller blades. They are both Rotol RA10274RT - Sturgeon - front airscrew, and were found in Malta in the early 1970's by Ken T who at the time was a serving RAF technician. Having taken a liking to them he had them flown home by "Vulcan Air" (as in Avro :)). He then spent the next twenty to thirty years researching the Sturgeon, having become quite fond of the type. With the blades was a large file of documents, letters and photos.. and this was also acquired by me.

Rob

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Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 301

Hello Rob,

Two very worth while projects and I will look on with great interest as both develop.

Best of luck on the parts....:p

Regards,

Tim

Member for

16 years 5 months

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Cheers Tim, for the kind comments :)

Rob

Member for

20 years 9 months

Posts: 252

Rob,

Good to see you giving them a good airing.

I think its great to see these slightly less obvious machines being kept alive - a pleasant change to Spitfires.

Look forward to more progress.

Cheers

Jason

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14 years 2 months

Posts: 1,558

Well done Rob as you know we will give you any help we can,hope you like the odd bits we found (interesting door stop if nothing else.)

Mike E

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16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Jason - Cheers mate. Now if only Bottisham had a Fleet Air Arm connection ;)

Mike E - Thanks once again for your considerable help and co-operation Mike. My back has nearly recovered now :D

Rob

Member for

16 years 9 months

Posts: 1,011

Keep up the good work!

Member for

20 years 6 months

Posts: 7,025

:) Good luck Rob,now where did i put that airworthy Wyvern i buried a few years ago :)

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

For the benefit of new members and those looking in from the outside so to speak, i'll re-list some pics of what has already been found.
Starting with this pair of Sturgeon main wheels and tyres. These came from a Kent museum last year after being offered for disposal on this forum over seven years ago and not finding a buyer then (just goes to show its sometimes worth going back and checking on old posts). They have now been cleaned up, and after spending many years outside are now kept dry indoors.

Rob

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Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

DragonRapide - Many thanks, and yes i will. There's a long way to go still :)

Trumper - Let me know when you remember Gary, and i'll bring a shovel :p

Rob

Member for

13 years 2 months

Posts: 1,101

Fantastic projects, hope you keep us all posted on any new finds etc.

Bob T.

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Cheers Bob. Likewise i look forward to updates on your superb Sopwith Snipe project. As has already been said its great to see the more obscure types are not being forgotten.

Rob

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Following an 800 mile round trip last year i returned home with this Sturgeon windscreen section. Firstly credit has to go to its former owner Wallace Shackleton for saving it from Forres scrapyard back in the mid 80's.
Research is still continuing to try and find out a bit more about it, but i'm slowly narrowing it down as to what the serial was of the aircraft it was cut from. What i do know is that it is from a TT.3, as confirmed by the single de-icing fluid jet located at the front just ahead of the centre screen (earlier TT.2's had two fluid jets, one either side). There is also what could be a date stamp of 22-10-57, which if correct could point to the time the airframe was converted from TT.2 to TT.3 spec. In that case then it almost certainly belongs to TS480, quite possibly the last of the type to be converted. But as i said, this is still pure guess work at the moment.

Rob

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Member for

14 years 3 months

Posts: 1,205

Super to see someone saving what parts remain of these obscure and unsung types. Great work, and keep it up!

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

Thank you Tin Triangle.

Rob

Member for

20 years 3 months

Posts: 1,494

Having consulted Bruce i thought it would be a good idea to start a dedicated thread for my two projects. Progress on both of these two rare types is always going to be slow, but please keep an eye on here for any new progress. Both projects are based more on collecting, conserving and displaying original material, rather than re-creating a replica / reproduction section.

Always fascinated by 'the beast', the project on the Wyvern was started by me over twenty years ago. But with the introduction of the internet which has made it easier to find like minded enthusiasts, some very nice parts & photos etc have been found and acquired since that time - and are still turning up to this day. It has also allowed me i'm pleased to say to make contact with ex Wyvern personnel, whether they are pilots, groundcrew or have had some other involvement with the type. That experience has left me feeling quite humble at times.
To start with i am part way through making up a control column of sorts (not a replica i might add) to allow me to mount either stick top, and to give the cockpit rig a new dimension. It also helps give a better idea of the layout and position of the cockpit equipment together with the aid of the pilots notes. Again the rig is not intended to be a replica of any kind. Its just a way of attaching parts to, to give a representation of the size and the equipment used.

Hi Rob,

I welcome your projects to the forum. Just remember, anyway I can help to further the recreation of these two rare types, you only have to ask. ;)

Now all we need is an East Anglian "Fleet Air Arm" themed museum, and we could display the Wyvern, Sturgeon, and Sea Hornet PR22 together.

Member for

13 years 2 months

Posts: 1,101

Hi Rob,

I welcome your projects to the forum. Just remember, anyway I can help to further the recreation of these two rare types, you only have to ask. ;)

Now all we need is an East Anglian "Fleet Air Arm" themed museum, and we could display the Wyvern, Sturgeon, and Sea Hornet PR22 together.

If only the RNAS had used the Snipe as well :eek:.

Bob T.

Member for

18 years 2 months

Posts: 7,742

Other than Yeovilton I’m trying to think of the location around these parts that has one of the largest collections of former Fleet Air Arm airframes in its care ? ? ? ? ? :D

Great projects by the way!! :)

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,172

Now to find that Wyvern rear fuselage.

Good thread, keep it up.

Cees

Member for

16 years 5 months

Posts: 5,999

dcollins103 - Thanks for the offer of help David. Like the thought of a themed museum too. Probably the most unique museum in existence :cool:

TwinOtter23 and CeBro - thanks for the encouraging comments :)

Rob