Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

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Ruislip Rustler
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Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Ruislip Rustler »

As you may - or may not be aware - the cash raised by the Northolt Nightshoots is the main income for a restoration project at the station.

Known officially as 'The Sir Keith Park Building' (or Building 27 if you're lazy) is now approaching the home straight in terms of recreating what was the prototype Fighter Command sector operations room. It was here that much of the technology and procedures used so successfully during the Battle of Britain.

Although the building wasn't actually in use at the time of the aforementioned campaign, it did serve as a very useful testing ground..

As the time approaches when the Zep can rest on his laurels and show the great and good his handiwork, we'll update you with the final stages of the rebuild. I'll try and grab some before and after shots from his as well so you can see the amount of work that's gone into this.

Perhaps the biggest item Phil has built (visually, anyway) is the plotting table.

Image

The past couple of weeks have also seen the completion of the four squadron tote boards. While they may look pretty simple at first glance, behind the glass there's a lot of chamfering and groove-cutting gone on to fit the numerous indicator bulbs. Unlike other like-minded museums, all of these will be fully functioning.

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More will follow in due course.
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wezgulf3
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by wezgulf3 »

Thank you for posting this Lee, im sure some will still find something to gripe about it though!

Wes...

frank
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by frank »

Fascinating - I always wondered what the restoration was all about. A picture speaks louder than a thousand words. Looks a high standard of finish - not that we were expecting anything less
:clap: :clap:

Amp
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Amp »

What an amazing project! Great work indeed.

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alanp
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by alanp »

Great to see the progress, it's moved on a lot since I was last down there. Thanks for posting Lee.

jules48
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by jules48 »

What a fantastic achievement. :lol:

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Webby74
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Webby74 »

Excellent project. Don't mind helping donate to things like this

chipmunk22
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by chipmunk22 »

Top Job !! :clap: :clap:

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TigerMeet4Ever
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by TigerMeet4Ever »

Congratulations on the work done. Top ! :clap:

alisdairanderson
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by alisdairanderson »

That look superb.... excellent!!!


Alisdair

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Danny
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Danny »

That's looking brilliant - very authentic! I've always wanted one of those clocks for my room.
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Rick
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Rick »

Danny wrote:That's looking brilliant - very authentic! I've always wanted one of those clocks for my room.


Pretty sure IWM Duxford sell replicas
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Nwalch
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Nwalch »

Fantastic job and thanks for sharing the images. Look forward to seeing more.

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Pen Pusher
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Pen Pusher »

Danny wrote: I've always wanted one of those clocks for my room.


Only £75.00 http://www.iwmshop.org.uk/p/23628/Repli ... ctor-clock

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Ruislip Rustler
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Ruislip Rustler »

More pics to bring the thread up to date.

These first ones were taken when the building was visited by Air Officer Commanding No 2 Group during his visit to the station in November.

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And these show the building shortly before the restoration commenced when it was still in use by accounting staff. All were taken from the same spot, which is just to the left of the image above.

Image

Image

The room visible through the door is where Phil now has his workshop and to the right, adjacent to the wall is the where the teleprinter room was re-built (image 4 above). The doorway has seen been removed in line with the original building plan.

Image
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Pen Pusher
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Pen Pusher »

:clap: :clap: :clap:

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keithjs
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by keithjs »

Pen Pusher wrote::clap: :clap: :clap:

Brian


I'll second that!! A stunning piece of work and a credit to everyone involved.... :worship: Would love to have a look for real sometime... :heyhey: :whistle:
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Amp
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Amp »

Congratulations on a great job - it looks wonderful. That the room remains itself was quite remarkable, but restoring it to such a standard is fantastic.
Hopefully it will be treated with respect over coming years and non-serving people will get the opportunity to witness the results of the hard work.

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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by D90Man »

An outstanding piece of work and dedication by Phil (Graf Zeppelin) - the quality of the result is testament to hours he has put into this project. I can only hope that our support of the NightShoots has in some small way contributed to the result.

Phil - you rock - :rock:

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TJJ
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by TJJ »

Congratulations on completing an outstanding project. I was fortunate to have a tour around the control room when it was still a building site, after an LUAWG meeting at Northolt, and it was impressive even then.
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Graf Zeppelin
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Graf Zeppelin »

Thanks for the kind words gents. Although the room looks finished there is still a lot to do. I have just started the cabling work to connect the Tote Boards to the control panels on the dais. Then all of the phones need wiring up and there is DF tables to build for the ops room in the wooden hut where the workshop is at the moment. We also intend to get the period teleprinter running in our teleprinter room. I find it amazing how many people don't know what a teleprinter is/was! I must be getting old...... :sad:
Cheers Phil

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TigerMeet4Ever
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by TigerMeet4Ever »

Congratulations on the work done. Top ! :clap:

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Mike Dodd
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Post by Mike Dodd »

Superb job ! Well done to all concerned.

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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by King Cobra »

Graf Zeppelin wrote:Thanks for the kind words gents. Although the room looks finished there is still a lot to do. I have just started the cabling work to connect the Tote Boards to the control panels on the dais. Then all of the phones need wiring up and there is DF tables to build for the ops room in the wooden hut where the workshop is at the moment. We also intend to get the period teleprinter running in our teleprinter room. I find it amazing how many people don't know what a teleprinter is/was! I must be getting old...... :sad:


Phil,
Are you still thinking about getting an SKP nameplate?

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Graf Zeppelin
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Re: Graf Zeppelin's Day Job... (Or 'Tote-ing for Business!')

Post by Graf Zeppelin »

We have one....! Courtesy of the owners of the Sir Keith Park Bullied locomotive up at the Severn Valley Railway :smile:
Cheers Phil

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