A-W Meteor NF.14 WS788 Restoration Project

[Blue_2]

We won't be making the canopy ourselves, that'll be done by our friends at East Mids Aeropark who need one for their 14. As to numbers required, I have made them aware of other interested parties, Carlisle for example. So, we'll see.

I don't envisage the process destroying the original canopy, which I intend to store in case its' services as a master are ever needed again.

[DOUGHNUT]

Hope that the external mould maker can be persuaded to record the process and share with this forum.
Think the French one, currently in store at Dugny (Le Bourget) has a foggy canopy.

[Blue_2]

Most do; the Meteor NF canopy appears to be particularly prone to UV damage...

[baz1962]

Yayyyy I've found you! Stupidly hadn't read back a few posts on the Forum who shall not be named and hadn't realised you had moved! Big sigh of relief and so glad my Meteor fix can continue.

[HAVAVSOC]

Hi Blue-2

Merry Christmas from Haverhill Aviation Society, we have been watching progress on WS788 for some time with a personal interest, our meeting place being The Old Offers' Mess RAF Stradishall, the spiritual home of your Meteor & 1 ANS.

We have photos of WS788 landing at Strad., part of a members collection they were taken by Les Dickson sometime during the 60's. I cannot post them here but if you want to see them PM me or use the contacts page on our website http://www.havavsoc.org.uk

At our Christmas meeting it was decided to adopt you and a small donation (should buy more Jaffa Cakes) will be coming your way in the new year.

HAVAC

[ZRX61]

We won't be making the canopy ourselves, that'll be done by our friends at East Mids Aeropark who need one for their 14. As to numbers required, I have made them aware of other interested parties, Carlisle for example. So, we'll see.

I don't envisage the process destroying the original canopy, which I intend to store in case its' services as a master are ever needed again.

Ya take a mold off the old one, attach it to a frame that also holds a flat sheet of perspex above it or below it (depending on it being a male or female mold). Then either put it in an oven or apply heat by other methods until the flat sheet collapses around the mold.

Job jobbed.

The description of the method makes it sound like a piece of piss.. until you try it yourself.

In the US we now have a much simpler process known as "boxing it up & sending it to AeroTrader at Chino"

[ZRX61]

found behind the bench another toolbox which I had retrieved from the ex's, so I decanted the contents into our main toolboxes and chucked the box away, then sorted our toolboxes a bit better.

What???

It was truly knackered. Had to be for a Yorkshireman to skip it!

You stash it someplace until some sheetmetal bloke shows up asking for a job. Then you hand him the mullared toolbox & say "here's your interview"

I like the fact that you can apparently now buy Jaffas by the yard

[Blue_2]

It's been busy round here I see! Baz, good to have you back with us.

HAVAC, I did get to see the email you sent YAM; much appreciated! Strad was very much 788's home; she operated from there and Wattisham with 152 Sqn her first unit, and there with 1ANS as her last unit. A nice way of bracketing her career! Any and all pics of 788 are very much welcomed, it'd be nice to have copies for our 788 archive if possible? I have some shots of 788 at Strad you may not have seen too... Once I have written this update there'll be a PM inbound...

ZRX, we too figure it's easier to chuck the canopy at someone else. Not that we are cowardly of course!

Anyway...16/12/2019 Update

Another not very exciting one, as the fun of trying to strip the canopy continues. I was in by myself, so after a quick bench tidy I got on with figuring out the canopy rear half removal method. Unusually the AP is very shy about the canopy structure and dismantling; this is all you get!

I wonder if they were bay serviced items and therefore have their own AP, now doubtless lost to the mists of time... Anyway, the biggest issue is these billion screws and bolts sandwiching the perspex in place at the rear of the canopy unit.

And to get to those screws you have to take the canopy shroud (the whole external metal skin bit of the canopy assembly) off. Fun... The first obvious step was to get the canopy at a better working height than on the floor. My knees don't enjoy concrete floors in summer, never mind winter! So, I borrowed 3 axle stands from the Halifax team, and....

Lifting it into place by myself was tricky. Even with the front perspex out it's still a bloody heavy unit! As the next 2 pictures show, the perspex is definitely beyond redemption...

There's a Halifax out there somewhere!

First job was to strip the jointing arch out. As this is held in place using dual purpose bolts which also mount some of the canopy rail horizontal rollers, it seemed sensible to remove the whole suite of rollers too as they all need some love. As you can see, modelled by airfield manager Barry who came on the rob for Jaffa Cakes, and ended up getting roped in for an hour or so, at least one is beyond any redemption...

So the rollers have been offered a sit in a bath in some oil, to think about their future career options for a few weeks...

The arch gave with surprisingly little fight; the H-profile jointing rubber was a different story though! In places the adhesive holding it down, and old age holding it to the perspex, proved incredibly stubborn...


With this and some more of the rail screws away a whole lot more sadness showed itself after Danni removed some of the rubber seals formerly sandwiching the forward perspex section...



None of this looked too bad until we started poking around; another example of why being thoroughly inquisitive pays off! It's nothing we can't sort though... This for example, where the starboard side of the jointing arch mounts to the canopy, may look bad but it just needs a rub back , treat, and repaint.

While I was in the canopy, here's an unusual view of the rear shelf, behind the Nav's head.

That data plate says the canopy assembly was built in November 1964; only 13 months before 788 was retired...
Next visit I hope to have this lump looking a whole lot less defiant, and the shroud off and ready to go through the rub back/repaint process!

[TEXANTOMCAT]

As ever - super stuff - what a different a shiny new canopy will make to her appearance! Well done!

TT

[Blue_2]

We are certainly hoping so! getting the metalwork of the canopy back nice will be a big boost too.

One thing we find strange with the whole canopy, is why it has a manufacture date on the plate of 12/11/64 on it. By 1964 most of the 100 strong Meteor NF.14 fleet, except those few (less than a dozen) operating with the ANS, had retired, mainly stored at Kemble and being spares reclaimed then scrapped, or sent to meet their fates on various fire dumps. So why, 13 months before 788's last flight, were canopy assemblies still being produced for an obsolete type in very limited service? I guess we'll never know...

[ZRX61]

ZRX, we too figure it's easier to chuck the canopy at someone else. Not that we are cowardly of course!

I agree completely. Just because I know how to do something doesn't mean I could competently carry out the task right off the bat. It's like brain surgery, we all know how to do it (peel skin back, drill hole, poke about a bit with a stick (sharp or blunt?), fill hole (bondo? grub screw?), stitch skin flap back in place).. but there's that competency deal where the idea is to leave the victim able to tie their own shoelaces afterwards instead of just producing incoherent mumbles while drooling into a bucket & making snot bubbles.
Eventually I could produce a canopy fit for the purpose, but why bother making 2 dozen half-assed prototypes until I have the Eureka! moment?
My attitude to both brain surgery & canopy making is "You go right ahead, I'm gonna sit here & eat my lunch while I watch"

[Malcolm McKay]

Excellent stuff Blu_2 - that canopy is basically what's know in technical terms as a "challenge". However you will be pleased to know that from the safety of being on the other side of the planet I have every confidence you will cope.

[LaurenceG]

Blue_2: You say "So why, 13 months before 788's last flight, were canopy assemblies still being produced for an obsolete type in very limited service?" I don't know, but no-one thought in 1964 that someone would be reading that plate 55 years later.

Laurence

[Blue_2]

ZRX, exactly. If someone can do something better than I think I can, I am more than happy to pass that buck!

Malcolm, thanks as ever. From all that way over there!

Laurence, indeed. I think any future past about 1968 would have looked decidedly iffy back then...Yet here we are, being tormented by the thing in 2019!

...which is nearly over, where did the year go?! We had the YAM Christmas "do" on Tuesday, more on that later. After which I took the opportunity to get some shots of some of the museum's other aircraft, in distinctly unusual lighting conditions as the sun went down and the freezing fog rolled in...

















But I know you all came here for Meteor engineering news rather than pretty pictures, didn't you? So, here we go...

19/12/2019 Update
On arrival on site, things were a bit bleak. Firstly,the NAAFI had run out of bacon, and secondly, the weather was a balmy -1 and very grey...

First job was to sit in the warm, drink coffee, and bring the photo albums we have out for our lovely visitors to browse bang up to date

This done, I headed to the hangar where a surprise awaited under our tree!

It's nice to be appreciated by the office.
So, to the canopy...

First I decided to remove the old rubber, glue, corrosion and misery from the canopy jointing arch we removed at the weekend.

I then retreated to the comparative warmth of the workshop to prime it up. While I was in there I found Matt working on the canopy off the Vampire; it seems 1950's canopies are the fashionable thing to restore this Winter season! Anyway, arch primed...

And left to think about things and dry while we went for lunch. After lunch, it received a coat of matt black

And while that dried I went back to, yes, that...

Yet more removing of screws, by fair means or foul. There's a lot in an NF lid...

Anyway by close of play the port side of the shroud was playing along nicely

It's getting the 55 year old rubbers to relinquish their grip that's proving to be problematic!

Last thing of the day, I retrieved the jointing arch from the workshop. Looks pretty damn good...


I promised you more from the Christmas do? Well the team received a special award from the museum, a giant Jaffa Cake! Seen here with Eloise trying to nick it, and my pint for scale

It'll be getting broken into on Sunday when more of the gang are in. One, maybe two, more working days before Christmas I reckon...

[LaurenceG]

Fantastic set of pictures, Blue, as always (especially the last one). I wanted to add a photo of mine but discover that since moving over from the old forum (remember those days?) I don't know how to. I've searched the instructions and do I read right that you can't add a photo direct from computer? As you are photo-man par excellence can you give me a tip? Thanks.

Laurence

[Blue_2]

Laurence, you'll need an external photo hosting site to post your pics on. Then, simply link it across...

[LaurenceG]

Thanks. That what I thought it said but hoped there might be a way to avoid that.
Cheers, Laurence

[Blue_2]

If it's meteor related feel free to email it to me and I'll post it up for you...

[Malcolm McKay]

Thanks Blu_2. A question of the technical sort.

What will you replace the rubber sealer in the canopy with. Is it a specialised shaped thing or will you be able to take some existing material and cut it to the required shape?

[Blue_2]

The rubbers which sandwich the canopy are a simple profile, and commercially available. The H-profile jointing strip rubber is a different proposition. We have been discussing options for this, including having the profile made, making it up using bonded rubber strips layered... We'll see I guess!

[TEXANTOMCAT]

Have you thought about using silicon T section strip?

https://www.vikingextrusions.co.uk/

TT

[Blue_2]

If rubber H-section is what's required, that's what will be our first choice to use. I have borrowed the rubber profile catalogue (thrilling reading it is too!) and will scout out if such a thing can still be procured...

20/12/2019 Update
And it's a picture heavy one, so get comfortable because it's been a productive day!
I was in by myself today, and it was just one of those days where stuff seems to go right and get done. First job after obligatory bacon and brew was to make use of my recently acquired tyre valve extension, and give the nosewheel tyres on the JP and Vampire some attention as their state of deflation has been annoying me for a while. both were jacked, the wheel rotated, reinflated, and are now sitting happier



One of those little jobs that makes a big difference to how our aircraft present, in my opinion. After this, I gave the valve extension a coat of yellow paint, then sent it to live safely with our pressure gauge, away from borrowing mitts in the tool chest

Then, one of our sharp eyed guides spotted that a little bird had been making itself at home in one of our tailplanes. I know it's not nesting time, but I don't want a bird deciding that's a cool little batchelor flat and getting cosy, and leaving lovely corrosive poo in the tail. So I scurried up there and speed taped the holes.

Cue one rather narked feathered friend... Then, back to the canopy. Time to continue the effort against the shroud sections. Several bolts to undo in the rear of the section...

Including this one who, being thoroughly rounded, I think we'll be disposing of the services of!

4 little 4BA bolts hold 2 brackets on, and also hold the shroud to the canopy brackets. Amazingly they started undoing cheerfully!

One off...

Two off!

This was all going too well... And yet it continued to, with the port side shroud graciously giving way



Then, after roping in the assistance of airfield manager Barry, the starboard shroud also gave

Leaving a very naked looking canopy



With a lot of screws in its rear end to undo.

I had little or no hope of these undoing...but...

It started well, then continued well...

By the time I was ready for a mid afternoon hot chocolate and a warm, half the screws were out!

After a brew and a warm I was back at it. The 100% success rate on removing the screws continued, until all were out and all that was holding the clamp rail on was the old seals. Some jiggery-pokery later...

And it's away! Leaving only the seals holding the perspex in. Sunday will see that lifted clear, when I have reinforcements. So here is one fully denuded canopy...



One kit of rails...

And one pair of shrouds, awaiting the removal of the screws we had to drill out of them

Also, a tub full of crews and nuts which, with a clean up, will be fully reuseable

Happy days! Shame it was so dismal outside really...

More on Sunday, our last pre-Christmas work day.

[Malcolm McKay]

Excellent work Blu_2. Thanks for the explanation of the rubber sealing.

It's a good thing that a lot of the screws came out and will be reusable - sure cuts down unnecessary work trying to source new ones.

Your weather is in absolute contrast to ours - yesterday it reached 44c here, however an overnight change has dropped us back to the low 20s.

[K5054NZ]

Great updates both, Blue! Thanks for sharing (and documenting) so much of your efforts.

[LaurenceG]

I don't want to spoil your weekend, but I'm learning how to upload pix, and thought this one might interest you. I took it at Northolt in 1959. NF12 WS686.


Cheers, Laurence