A-W Meteor NF.14 WS788 Restoration Thread

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14 years 1 month

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Owch! That could put a damper on a weekend jolly I imagine...

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11 years 5 months

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Thanks for the Flea update, Blue.

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17/02/16 Update

Apologies for the slightly late update chaps, paid work got in the way!
We had a day on 788 on Monday. I can now say 'we', as I reckon 3 people involved with the aircraft officially constitutes a team! I would like to welcome Rich, better known on this forum as Richw_82, to both YAM and the Meteor project. I hope he will bring as many good things to YAM as he did to Shackleton WR963.
Already he has been set to work, as you can see here fettling the sticky latch on the DV window!
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_114418ed_zpscoeyuabk.jpg
On arrival, things were a tad wintry
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_093125ed_zpstds3bsha.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_093217_zpsi7lkhurw.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_093604ed_zpsvjsx2egt.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_093614ed_zpskvybx2rk.jpg
The good news was the Tractor God had been sighted! So we ambushed him in the NAAFI, and coaxed him out into the snow to move the Meteor out of the puddle she has lived in for the past few months.
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_103442ed_zpshxr4mqp7.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_103507ed_zpsnrkgvbce.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_103519ed_zpswj4rpjzt.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_103541ed_zpswwanmfpm.jpg
She's certainly better off not sat in this!
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_105256_zpsnwv44ctd.jpg
Brian then went back to cuddling Dak props.
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_112746ed_zpsgaq68cd2.jpg
788 is now reunited with her wings (ish), and her sister(ish), the Javelin
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_105538ed_zpsx6vvad6i.jpg
I started showing Rich around the jet. Among the things we found was that the fusebox lid still held spare fuses! It's amazing what is still in the jet after so long.
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_110919ed_zpseqdojsod.jpg
After an interesting day the starboard main gear door was off, as was the strut for the port inner door. The pile of parts in the HP awaiting treatment is growing!
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_155608ed_zps3ceaxmhj.jpg
And 788 looks much happier at the shallow end of the museum!
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160215_115654ed_zpsywqcrxri.jpg

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14 years 1 month

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One thing I forgot to mention. Remember the large nail being used to hold the port main u/c door on? I found its twin doing the same job on the starboard door!

Profile picture for user Zac Yates

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More great photos Blue, thanks for sharing!

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Well, as Blue has said I find myself journeying North instead of South for once, and the snow on the ground on the way up to Elvington was making me question my sanity again. The last time I was working in the snow on an aircraft it was changing Griffon spark plugs, this time it was Meteor undercarriage.

Getting the Meteor moved out of its puddle proved more interesting than it really should have been as the puddle was frozen over, and it was still snowing before the blue sky and sunshine broke through. The puddle was also deeper than you would realise, which made working there more difficult especially if you dropped something like a spanner. One handy tractor later and we were high and dry.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xla1/t31.0-8/12747234_10153985490207049_7626039278494992015_o.jpg

After spending a little time getting acquainted with which end was which, and where the propellers really ought to go, it was time to get to the tasks I had been allocated - which were removal of some of the landing gear door linkages and some seized fasteners on the leading edge panels. The landing gear linkages were rather crusty looking but it was actually just large amounts of flaking paint and some surface rust on the steel components. There are some areas in the bays that have been collecting water and at least one small stiffener panel will need replacing.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfl1/v/t1.0-9/12729338_10153985490902049_3090831118087758123_n.jpg?oh=103ce31201c03b16092ff261bf48bc24&oe=57698F4A
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlf1/v/t1.0-9/12715440_10153985491162049_2169756629626386256_n.jpg?oh=ec060be33d4bf98b6dae54788b37f28f&oe=57678337

Up on the leading edges, the flush fitting countersunk screws have been replaced at some point with large mushroom head screws of a really soft steel. They are being a pain to remove, as they have rusted into the captive nuts below, and have a nasty habit of either shearing or being damaged to the point a screwdriver just won't bite. As a result they may be getting sacrificed to a dremel, drilled out, and new captive nuts riveted in where they can't be saved.

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/11215079_10153985492037049_8142068452995612823_n.jpg?oh=37927955c7df1b157c3901ed119ba069&oe=57307DFF

The afternoon was spent completing my induction paperwork, and then back onto the Meteor where Blue and I tried to figure out some of the issues caused when it was dismantled and moved some years ago. Inside the centre section is a mess of cables, pipes and linkages that should operate various systems and now don't... there may be some parts that can be repaired and reinstated over time. The airbrakes in particular provided much of a headache, trying to get them open enough to lubricate the linkages to make them operate better, that we can't get to without them open...

Next time I'll have read the AP's a few times and have a better understanding of the intricate nature of the Meteor. After being spoilt a bit by the amount of room on the Shackleton, the Meteor really is a miracle of packaging as much as possible into a small amount of space.

All in all I enjoyed myself and will be back for more!

Rich

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Excellent update chap's! Good to hear there was nothing too shocking in the gear bays. I wonder if dry ice might be a media best for this cleanup?

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I think a good old fashioned power wash to shift the 50 years of muck and flaky paint will be the first port of call! Then we will be able to see what we are up against.

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Nothing new to report engineering-wise this week I'm afraid, but the first new shiny bit for 788 arrived in the post, a shiny brand new unused port undercarriage jack!
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Meteor/20160219_163302_zps4ya3ocmm.jpg
This will be getting fitted when the u/c bay overhaul begins.

If anyone has any Meteor NF14 bits they no longer want and wish to donate to a worthy cause, we turn nothing away!

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One of the local ATC Squadrons at Royton near Oldham has a Meteor NF14 as a gate guardian, I used to see it on the occasions that we had to venture up there from Heywood Sqn for training and stuff.

Shame YAM isn't a bit closer to my town of Rochdale would be an interesting experience to lend a pair of hands in your quest to restore WS788....

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Indeed, I am hoping to benefit from the knowledge of one of those involved in the Royton Meteor's refurbishment!

And now if I may I would like to pick the collective brains of the Forum. The rear cockpit of 788 is currently very empty, with only a compass and the frame in front of the rear seat holding an ASI and altimeter fitted. I intend to re-populate it with the navigation trainer equipment which the jet would have carried for most of her service life, as she served for far longer as an NF(T) than she did as a pure NF. Has anyone out there got any idea what gear she would have carried, and what the rear cockpit of an NF(T) should look like? I have sent a request for info to the Jet Age Museum at Staverton seeing as they are the hub for all things Gloster, but have had no reply yet.

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Possibly worth a look, cheers. Any other ideas chaps?

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When you know - you really need to come and have a rummage in my shed..

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Definitely Bruce! Data regarding the rear cockpit configuration seems somewhat scarce at this time though. It seems Rebecca and Gee were fitted, other than that we know little.

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I didn't get down to the jet to do any work on her this weekend, due to being on domestic duties following my better half having an op on her ankle last week and being more or less immobile. I did get a bit more work done on the kick step at home though; the step itself is assembled and just needs a new bottom bit making and fitting for the box.
I also finished this 1/48 scale version of 788...
http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Mods/20160228_113649_zps4okpeou0.jpg

http://i819.photobucket.com/albums/zz117/Blue2MGB/Mods/20160228_113709_zpshapbuonx.jpg
Rich and myself shall be at Newark this Saturday, hoping to pick up some donated parts for 788 and scouring the stalls for all the stuff, widgets and thingymabobs we'll be needing. If you see us shambling around do say hello... and if you see us lurking suspiciously near Newark's NF's, don't tell Howard (TwinOtter23). You ain't seen nuffin, right? :D

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If you need Howard to be distracted for a little while, one of you will have to take the bullet and ask him to tell you the `trading jam with Eastern European countries during the Cold war` story. That should give you a couple of hours :D

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I hear the sound of Rich drawing the shortest of short straws...!

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If you need Howard to be distracted for a little while, one of you will have to take the bullet and ask him to tell you the `trading jam with Eastern European countries during the Cold war` story. That should give you a couple of hours :D

That's one less hot drink to buy!! :highly_amused:

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Of course whilst all these diversions are taking place,I shall be completing Blues mission whilst Howard is watching others! :D You don't think I'm missing my toasties weekend Howard!