A Sleeping Beauty Awakens from Her 61 Year Slumber

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Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 305

Reading the current thread about Percival Gulls prompted me to post the following clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4ToQfGFKnA&feature=em-upload_owner

The fitted tailplane, fin and rudder look superb, finish is flawless. All flying surfaces are now covered, stitched, taped and doped ready for top coat be it original wartime ATA colours or her 1949 civil scheme to be decided. No harm in asking the question what do formites think would look best for the Proctor??
In civil guise reg markings would be a deeper burgundy full span lower and top sides on silver wings outlined in white. Fuselage, fin and rudder in a rich cream, burgundy spats and spinner, black prop, silver tail plane. Cabin trimmed in deep burgundy leather with matching carpets.

Wartime scheme brown earth and green camouflage top sides, trainer yellow underside with standard period RAF roundels and black serial number and stencils. Cabin would be trimmed in green leather leaving bare painted wooden floor so a little spartan.

Engine is in the process of being fully rebuilt, propellor is done, fuel tanks checked deemed flight worthy and ready to install. Undercarriage spats, wing root fairings and sundry other aluminum fairings and closing panels all re worked ready to fit.
Can't be drawn on a date yet for her first flight in 62 years but at last after ten years of solid graft the hangar doors are now ajar and a glimpse of the outside world and the wind beneath her wings again beckons.

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 8,464

Looks lovely - I think on balance I would go for the civil scheme, but it will look great whichever one is chosen.

Bruce

Member for

11 years 11 months

Posts: 641

If it was up to me there would be absolutely no question. That civil scheme sounds about as close as you can get to a sexual fantasy without there being a woman involved.

Member for

16 years 3 months

Posts: 1,813

Wow...........You must getting very excited. So pleased for the whole team involved.

Re. colour scheme, I thought you had made the decision? Being an ardent fan of British civil aircraft I would tend to favour the civil scheme but I can see some really good arguments for using the military marks. It would be a great tribute to the ATA. You just have to marvel at the flying that they undertook.
As Bruce says, it will look great which ever scheme is used.

Member for

15 years 2 months

Posts: 674

Would love to see the Proctor in the civil scheme. But either way would just love to see it out and about, too many vintage aircraft are never seen at events like Popham, Sywell, North Weald etc

Member for

16 years 4 months

Posts: 2,094

Well, I've seen longer restoration videos! Beautiful job, though!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 264

Definitely the civil scheme for me, really looking forward to seeing it in the flesh. keep up the good work..............

Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 305

Would love to see the Proctor in the civil scheme. But either way would just love to see it out and about, too many vintage aircraft are never seen at events like Popham, Sywell, North Weald etc

Thanks for all responses, civil scheme is certainly what I wish, but convincing the other group members is the hard part. Rest assured this Proctor will be seen (weather allowing) at many vintage events. Furthermore its a 3/4 seater and apart from early days whilst I get to grips with her and her flying characteristics at least two other seats need to be occupied!! Those who have helped us in our quest to return this lovely old aeroplane to the skies will all be flown, thereafter we will do our best to accommodate other requests.

Its by sharing the flying experience of a classic design that I believe will bring more young blood into the vintage aircraft fold and hopefully instill interest in similar rebuilds in the future.

Member for

19 years 7 months

Posts: 1,566

Well while the civil scheme sounds enticing I would actually like to see her in RAF colours - don't see Proctors all that much, and as a Proctor she was a military machine.

And a quick edit - that is lovely work so far.

Member for

19 years 9 months

Posts: 1,777

Another vote for the military scheme

Member for

19 years

Posts: 923

Civil please

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,208

From a personal point of view I like the civil scheme, but if you are planning to punt it around for show bookings you will probably find that it is more attractive to organisers as a military-schemed 'ATA taxi' and so would probably generate more bookings.

Member for

18 years 3 months

Posts: 1,216

TC, Just paint it whatever colour you fancy, because for me just seeing and hearing a Proctor will be enough.

Richard

Member for

14 years 7 months

Posts: 66

Looking good - would opt for civil scheme.

Goldilocks

Member for

19 years 7 months

Posts: 1,772

Mike - would be lovely if you could top off the brilliant restoration by applying the civil scheme.

Tim

Member for

9 years 2 months

Posts: 52

Go for whichever you like, then in a few years time, when she needs a respray, change to the other. And so on for many years. I look forward to making her acquaintance in whichever you choose.

Member for

16 years 6 months

Posts: 1,327

Seems hard to believe that is the same broken backed Proctor that we moved from Lavenham to Great Oakley and it doesn't seem possible that it was so long ago. I remember the reaction from the local constabulary and their friends when they walked in while we were trying to fight the fuselage through the doorway at a very strange angle. They left very quickly having decided we had quite enough to keep us occupied without them needing to bother us. I am sure they thought they had found a small group of madmen playing with a very broken aeroplane and it is a wonder they didn't send for the men in white coats.
John has done a great job and really looking forward to seeing her in the air.
As for colour scheme - The civil scheme would be nice but I am sure the military scheme would be more attractive in terms of securing airshow bookings.

Member for

18 years 4 months

Posts: 2,810

Civil scheme sounds attractive,is RM221 based at Biggin still flying in Mil markings?

Profile picture for user 1batfastard

Member for

11 years 2 months

Posts: 3,650

Hi All,
TC,
Why not ask the group to do a blind vote on the spur of the moment next time you all meet up or simply revert back to the first colours she was wearing when she was first wearing for her first ever flight all those years ago, by the way looks really good so far can't wait for the first video of the return to where she belongs good luck to you all with that an excellent job. :applause:

Geoff.

Member for

19 years

Posts: 1,177

An interesting question. Much as I am a fan and specialist of military schemes and all their individual idiosyncrasies, I also like a good period civil scheme. When researching the Chipmunk G-AOTR for its owner, I suggested getting away from the "standard" military schemes and going for a sombre but smart civil scheme, that represented the 1950/60 period. Not based on anything but an idea in my head, I came up with a few drawings for a scheme and presented them to the owner. He loved the idea and really got on board with it. Between us,we refined the details and added embellishments such as the wheel covers with the DH logo, matching interior trim for seat cushions and stowage pouches and some personal details he wished for such as the Sea Eagle motif on the fin and rudder. The resultant aeroplane was the winner as the Best Chipmunk when it attended the Chipmunk Fly in at Panshanger a few weeks after completion and speaks for itself. Simply gorgeous. I just wish I could do another with a Brunswick green top decking to match/contrast G-AOTR. If it was a FRXIVc low back Spitfire there really would be no question in my mind. G-FIRE in RED with white and blue cheat-line and registration.

Member for

9 years 5 months

Posts: 87

Easy; military a/c = military scheme. Proctors always look naked in a civvy scheme...:p