Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Discuss all things 'aviation' that do not fit into a more appropriate forum
JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

A cosmetic restoration project has been started on the cockpit section of AVRO Vulcan B.2 XL388 at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. It is being run by SYAM, with the volunteers from the Vulcan Experience lending a helping hand whilst there are no tours with XH558. The first step of this project is to give the exterior a thorough clean ready for scaffolding to be erected around it to allow access for rubbing down and repainting. Once the exterior is completed, work will begin on the interior of the cockpit.

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/846009771853533185[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/846013898360868864[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

[tweet]https://twitter.com/vulcanxl388/status/846015234569621505[/tweet]

Xm657
Posts: 478
Joined: Sat 27 Aug 2016, 6:41 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by Xm657 »

What's she like inside? Much water ingress?

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Xm657 wrote:What's she like inside? Much water ingress?

To say that it's been outside since 1994, the interior is in a fairly decent condition. There is some places where water has been leaking through, most were discovered today as the outside was being washed and it dropped through into the cabin, although they should be relatively easy to seal up.

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/846032960168083457[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

To keep up to date with what is happening, the best place to look will be the twitter feed. That can be found here:

https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388

Xm657
Posts: 478
Joined: Sat 27 Aug 2016, 6:41 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by Xm657 »

Good to see her getting some TLC. Last time I saw her she was looking a little worse for wear. Keep up the good work.

Georgeconna
Posts: 830
Joined: Wed 30 May 2012, 2:38 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by Georgeconna »

Nice work there lads. She Scrubbed up nicely.

Dan will be along shortly though to tell you how it should have been done. :grin:
Cheers

George

Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

[tweet]https://twitter.com/vulcanxl388/status/847138378437005312[/tweet]

User avatar
Brevet Cable
Posts: 13725
Joined: Tue 05 Mar 2013, 12:13 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by Brevet Cable »

When are they going to re-attach the rest of the airframe, then ? :whistle:
:wink: :lol:
Tôi chỉ đặt cái này ở đây để giữ cho người điều hành bận rộn
아직도 숨어있다

borismorris
Posts: 790
Joined: Thu 14 Apr 2016, 6:48 am
Location: North West Shropshire

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by borismorris »

Brevet Cable wrote:When are they going to re-attach the rest of the airframe, then ? :whistle:
:wink: :lol:


UKHAT will have her airborne in no time :lol:

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

[tweet]https://twitter.com/vulcanxl388/status/847501340406427648[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Members of the team will be there on both days, so come on down and find out the latest on the project.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/vulcanxl388/status/848208743905054720[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Official announcement regarding the XL388 restoration project. This is being undertaken by the VTST volunteers from Doncaster while there are no tours due to the hibernation period. **No VTST Funds are being used for this project - Only the Volunteers**

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/849318843797446656[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Work was done on Saturday to start to make the cockpit sealed again. This was the fist of three panels that need to be made and fitted to the cockpit - this one being the easiest!

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/858405126662488064[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Work was also done to start treating corrosion on the rear bulkhead, there will be a corrosion preventative applied before it is filled and repainted.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/858622387042082816[/tweet]

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

A lot of progress has been made with the restoration of XL388's cockpit in just two months. This short video shows just how far the project has come, but there is still a long way to go! Please keep watching this thread and the twitter feed for all the latest on the restoration project.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/866280221208694785[/tweet]

User avatar
Screechy
Posts: 1098
Joined: Tue 25 May 2010, 3:02 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by Screechy »

Visited the museum on Saturday with my wife and we and thoroughly enjoyed the visit, was an interesting collection to wander around.

Is this the Vulcan nose that was stored at Walpole a while back?

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Screechy wrote:Visited the museum on Saturday with my wife and we and thoroughly enjoyed the visit, was an interesting collection to wander around.

Is this the Vulcan nose that was stored at Walpole a while back?


It is, 388 Moved from there to Aeroventure in April 2003.

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

While things have been quiet on this forum, we have been busy working at the museum to get XL388 back into top condition. Work has included:
* The final skin repair - this is almost complete, all that is left to do is rivet it to the structure. Once this is done, the skin repairs will be completed.
* We have started to address the radome, the split in the fibreglass being one of our areas of concern. We have started to strip the paint from the radome and have found that its condition is not as bad as once feared. We now think that this will be fairly easy to fix and once painted, you won't be able to tell that it was damaged!
* We have almost completed the preparation work required before we start painting with just a few more areas to run down, and a small bit of corrosion treatment to do before we start painting. We hope to start painting within the next 3-4 weeks and are aiming to have it completed by the end of the summer.
* The new stand will be started soon, and once 388 has been lifted onto it, we will be able to start work on replacing the bomb aimers blister. We have a new blister and are now thinking of the best way to swap the two over.
* Whilst our focus for now is the exterior, we have been able to source a few instruments and dials to go inside the cockpit when we start to rebuild it. We are still on the lookout for the vast majority of equipment, instruments and controls to go inside the cockpit and sources, information, leads and donations will be hugely appreciated!

We are aiming to get the external part of the project completed by the end of the year, all updates will be posted on the twitter feed at: http://www.twitter.com/VulcanXL388

User avatar
MicrolightDriver
Posts: 1427
Joined: Sun 31 Aug 2008, 10:23 am

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by MicrolightDriver »

Looks like good progress to me! :clap:

It'll be quite an addition to the exhibits when the work's completed.

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

MicrolightDriver wrote:Looks like good progress to me! :clap:

It'll be quite an addition to the exhibits when the work's completed.


It sure will!

JetMan
Posts: 105
Joined: Sat 11 Mar 2017, 12:07 pm

Re: Vulcan XL388 restoration thread

Post by JetMan »

Another busy day at the museum today, work was done on the large skin repair and we would have had it finished had we not run out of rivets!! We also did some more prep work on the radome ready for it to be repaired and painted.

We are also on Facebook now for those that don't do twitter! Please go and like the page to get all of the latest information! Just click on the photo below to be taken to the page and give it a like!
[fb-post]https://www.facebook.com/VulcanXL388/photos/a.1922210481326550.1073741829.1922161827998082/1922210427993222/?type=3&theater[/fb-post]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/873500987503382528[/tweet]
[tweet]https://twitter.com/VulcanXl388/status/873582020684808192[/tweet]

Post Reply