Stirling Project Update

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Member for

20 years 7 months

Posts: 7,025

Good news , keep well :)  

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 716

Now this is BIG NEWS

Well done John to you and your team, looking forward to the next instalment 

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Thanks Guys

we have the material for the fuselage, now it's a case of designing the multi-purpose build jig and finding a way to 

a.  get it built

b. afford it...anyone know any good general engineering companies who'd be keen to take on some work pro bono or at cost?

We have decided to build the bomb bay in exactly the same way that Shorts did i.e. upside down. This is due to the way the floor is constructed and building it with the floor at the bottom ensures that it will be perfectly flat and can be used as the datum. First stage in the build will be the 2 keel members, but we have to find a way to make sure these are perfectly straight. As we progress I'll keep you updated with photos.

John

ps we've decided to go to Frame 14 now instead of 13

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Hi all

it's good to get back to some metal bashing at last.

Following on from the Glycal tank, I've made a start on its mounting cradle. The pics below are of the sides to the structure (inboard and outboard). Graham has been poring over photos of the cockpit and a sketch in the Mods AP and given us as accurate a drawing as possible, and following the old adage of 'if it looks right' then I'm more than happy to go with it :)

Next time it will be to make a folding template for the 4 off end pieces.

The design of the fuselage jig is getting firmed up and hopefully we have found some candidates who can make it for us

 

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Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Morning all

Firstly the Stirling is on the BBC News Website today with an article on the proposed recovery of BK716 in Holland. Allegedly, there is a possibility that a mechanical grabber could be used as opposed to the original Coffer Dam plan; hopefully this won't be the case as it will hinder recovery of the remains of the crew and any personal items that would help identify them. Also, it's likely to seriously damage what remains of the aircraft structure as it won't be a precise operation

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-53199977

There was a small amount of progress yesterday, Cliff has started on refurbishing one of the Coupe pulley brackets recovered from LK488; this is in reasonable condition with only some corrosion to remove and make good. There is a small crack in one of the mounting lugs but this will be left as it's not load bearing and we'd likely cause more damage by trying to weld it up.

Graham has been recreating the Pilots' Autopilot Control panel so that we can collect all of the controls together in one place. Hopefully Alan (Air Ministry) will consider us kindly as a home for his Steering Lever that he recently posted on his 'Garage' thread.

Finally, following on from last week, the 2 side panels for the Glycol tank cradle have been finished and await priming. I've made 2 MDF formers for the 4 off end pieces, so we'll see how that goes in a few weeks' time. No update next week as I'm finally able to get away for a few days change of scenery.

take Care

John

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Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Hi Mark

I managed to get a look at the survey report at the time and i think it fair to say that it was a Stirling in name only as the vast majority of the wreckage had disintegrated. BK716 at least is in fresh water and parts that have been recovered thus far have been in reasonable condition.

John

Member for

5 years 7 months

Posts: 23

Will be fun follow. Keep it up guyshttps://alreskha.xyz/assets/17/o.png

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Morning all

Just Graham and myself at the workshop yesterday; while he busied himself working up a sweat filing down a tapered packer for the Autocontrols Gauge, I carried on with the first of the end supports for the Glycol Tanks cradle. The Autocontrols panel is coming along well and hopefully we'll have some good photos to show of that soon.

In the meantime you'll have to put up with some more sheet metal work from yours truly. The last update showed the MDF bend template which has now been put to use for the first time with the first end support fabricated. Being a Shorts design, it was full of complex curves and angles plus the bead and flare lightening holes beloved by the Designers.

Anyhow, the first plate has been made and primed along with the 2 side pieces. Only 3 more end supports to make

take care

John 

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Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 716

Nice work, and still going forward, what is not to like.

Well done you two

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Thanks TA

plenty of us working behind the scenes as well😊

slight spanner in the works regarding one of the frame positions; recent access to a surviving piece of wreckage has shown that 1.5" error has crept in over 2 frame stations. We think we know why, just having to revisit the data to confirm

John

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,172

John,

The recovery of BK716 is to start on August 31st, you never know what might come up.😇

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Hi Cees

That's good to know. Are they still planning on using a Coffer Dam as they did with the Wellington a few years ago? Saw the Leemans video on that, an awesome undertaking!

John

Member for

14 years 6 months

Posts: 2,172

No, that was a bit of a cock up as a result of the BBC-article. The wreckage is spread over a very large area and it would cost too much and put other recoveries in jeopardy.

Someone wanted to make big bucks out of this, which is a pity and causes useless stress to the families of the missing aircrew.

A lot of people just don't know what it takes to plan such a recovery, but they have an opinion about it nevertheless.
Cees

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Hmmm...so long as it's done with dignity that's as much as we can ask for

 

John

Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Hi all

A warm and humid day at the workshop yesterday, but still with some progress being made.

Graham, continues with the Autopilot control panel components and had a trying time filing down a wedge packer for the Autopilot Gauge, still a work in progress but photos will follow shortly.

Meanwhile, I continued with the 2nd of the Glycol Tank cradle frames, these are a slow job with multiple bends and a lot of trimming and fettling to get them to drawing. This 2nd frame still needs some trimming in a couple of areas, but for fun I slaved it all together and rested the tank on it to give an indication of how it willfinally look.

Had a much shorter day as it got too warm for comfort, so unfortunately didn't get time to start on the 3rd frame.

stay safe

John 

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Member for

16 years 7 months

Posts: 301

Excellent work well done to all.

Tim

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 716

Excellent update there John even with your Wedge Packer issues on a warm day, nobody want that!

 

Shes a movin forward

Member for

4 years 5 months

Posts: 14

Found on the site where Stirling W7580 crashed at Geffen,Netherlands.  Any clues of the ID of this part???  Many Thanks, Adrian

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Member for

16 years 11 months

Posts: 1,951

Hi Adrian

I have a sneaking suspicion it might be part of a gun turret. Are there any Part Numbers on the item?

regards

john