NASAM Update as of the 16th Jul 2022

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From the Chairman

AGM Update

On the very warm evening of Tuesday 12th of July, 40 members and company members gathered in the hangar for our Annual General Meeting. 

The usual topics were covered, minutes of the previous AGM accounts for 2021, the re-election of trustees and various reports. Two retiring trustees (Morris Jackman and David Wright) were inducted as Honorary Life Vice Presidents to much applause.

After the official business of the meeting, Gary, the museum manager, introduced himself and talked a bit about his plans.

The chairman then talked about a potential need to alter the management structure and asked for volunteers to investigate and recommend any changes necessary. 

A discussion was also held on the current museum requirement that in order to be a trustee/director, one had to be a regular volunteer. It was felt that no change was needed.

The meeting concluded as the light began to fail.

Steve

(Photos) AGM from the Chairman’s view

Discovery or Behind Closed Doors – Part II

Two Discoveries In Fact

Work to sort out the area behind the stage continued on Tuesday.  Firstly odd pieces of vacuum cleaners were sorted out.  Around half of them belonged to the two cleaners discovered last time. No cleaner could be found that the other half fitted, so those pieces were disposed of.

A mystery object was the next discovery; no prize, only honour and glory to anyone who can tell us what it is. The base is made of concrete, so it’s quite stable.

With that and other random items removed,  the table was moved, only to discover that one leg wasn’t attached. Under the table was a very large gazebo; this was sorted and repacked. The floor (that was the other discovery,  there is a floor back there) was thoroughly swept and the table repaired. The table was replaced and the gazebo re-stored.  The area is now usable as a storage area for items that we use regularly,  and we won’t have to climb over anything to get to it.

The next step will be to start on one of the sheds, which contains various gazebo bits. Some will be stored in the cleared area; some will doubtless be beyond repair. 

To be continued… 

Steve

(Photos) Behind Closed Doors

 

General Updates

We have a good cross-section of updates from the Museum Volunteers and Teams in this edition. 

There is an update from Engineering Workshops on the anti-corrosion work that is to be carried out on the Valetta.  This work of blasting the corrosion away was trialled on the aircraft, and the Painters, who are not slow on the uptake, managed to seize the opportunity to use the blasting crew to tackle a few areas on the Javelin that are a little difficult.  More on this from John S with an Engineering update and two updates from Barry in the Paint Team.  Interestingly, in Barry’s update, we see two contrasting photos of how to remove flakey paint from under the wing of the Javelin.

Steve, the Chairman has an update on the recent AGM, and he continues in his saga of tidying up areas of the main hangar. 

Graham in Archives, as well as another article this edition, managed to solicit a few replies to his “Rogues Gallery” picture from the last edition.  Ian Hancock, past Chairman of the Museum and now Honorary Vice President, sent me a note with a photo of a page from an old guidebook which adds to the story started by Graham.   Ian H then followed up with some names of the people in the rogues gallery photo.  The photos and his reply are immediately below; this includes a snapshot from the guidebook on the demise of the “Messerschmitt 109”.  Steve, the Chairman, also suggested that “I think that one of the merry crew might be Ivan Last. Very possibly another is Bob Collis.”

Malcolm sent a short update from the MMU on a model he is currently working on and also some details of a project that he has underway.  Curiously he mentioned the Stuka model in a cryptic way to me in his email, and it took me a while to remember that this was one of my Grandson’s unstarted models that they had donated to Malcolm for the Museum after a garage clearout last year.  I am glad to see that it will be used.

Below, you will find brief details of the next two events at the Museum.  More details of these events will be provided in future blog postings.

Pete S

Demise of the Messerschmitt 109.

(Click to expand each page – Ed)

With regard to the Rogues Gallery photo, I attach a copy of pages from an earlier Guide Book, which explains what happened to the “aircraft”.  I should be able to identify the members if required but for the moment I believe the pilot is Barry Lain, – still a member – and likely the creator. It’s interesting to note that the museum was initially severely criticised for destroying a “valuable German aircraft” by a national aviation body!

Barry also built the 5/8 scale Fokker DVIII now in storage – I believe it started life as the Fokker EIII seen on the carnival float.

Ian H

The Rogues Gallery Photo

I can’t name everyone but believe the picture includes the late David Blythe (then Chairman), Ivan Last (Asst. Treasurer), and The late John Constable Reeve (then Treasurer) – in addition to Barry Lain (one or more of the children are his).

Ian H

Next two events at the Museum

The next two event days at the museum are shown in brief below.  These are two family-friendly events and more details will be provided nearer the time.  The events are:

Pete S

From The Engineering Workshops 

The long-awaited anti-corrosion work started on Tuesday, the 5th of July.  Buckenham Blast Company positioned the blasting kit near the Valetta for the first job, this was to be the port undercarriage bay.  Unfortunately, when checking the bay we discovered a birds nest.  I assumed that it was a pigeon but it turned out to be a blackbird.  The chaps therefore only treated the starboard wheel bay and some small areas that were spot sprayed.  The blasting provided a good result.  The Blast company will return to deal with the port bay when the birds have flown (see Valetta Refurb 2022 pics).

Next, the company were directed to the Mystere, but since the paint team were stripping the Javelin we asked them to treat the main and nose gears.  Cliff then convinced them to blast the tailplane since that was difficult to reach. The pics show how far they got (see Javelin Repaint 18 thru 20).

The original plan was for them to come along next year and strip all the paint off the Valetta and apply an etch primer in order for the Paint Team to then complete the repaint of the aircraft.  After discussion with the chaps, we may well see if we can strip the Valetta this year.  We’ll see.

John S

(Photos) Valetta Corrosion Work

Painters Update

5/7/22 – This week, we had a real blast!

Yes folks, in a week when it was looking very much like ‘same old same old’ for our blog reporting, with yet more painting of the ‘Whirlybird’ and yet more sanding of the ‘Flat Iron.’ The day was thrown on its head by the boys from the Buckenham Blast Company (BBC). Our new best friends!

The BBC were actually in town at the request of John S, principally to media blast the corrosion off the undercarriage legs of the Valetta, so John could then assess what repairs (if any) would be needed. Wow, what a transformation (see Valetta Undercarriage 01)! The Valetta’s starboard wheel struts and cross braces looked almost like new after a blast clean and a subsequent coat of ACF50 preservative. The BBC then went on to blast clean some of the minor surface corrosion on the fuselage as a bit of a trial, with a view to possibly using media blasting as a time-efficient way of prepping the big old Valetta next year. The media material used was surprisingly fine, almost like caster sugar, with very little residue left on the ground afterwards. It is, however, quite a noisy process.

Curious members of the Paint Team ventured over to Valetta late morning to see what was occurring and immediately thought “mmm… we’ll have some of that action.” After lunch and some quick negotiations, the BBC relocated to the front paddock and set up shop next to the Javelin (see Javelin Repaint 12). With Gwen, Cliff and Ian having retreated to a safe distance, the BBC then set about blast cleaning the undercarriage legs on the Javelin. Half an hour later, wow what a transformation (you’re repeating yourself – Ed.)! The Javelin’s legs looked almost factory fresh (see the pic of starboard leg Javelin Repaint 13). Previously this would have taken yours truly about a day to clean up just one leg with a wire wheel and a Mouse (presumably a Sander, not a small furry thing? – Ed.) and not to the same standard either.

With the clock still only showing 3pm, the Paint Team thought ‘in for a penny..…’ and quickly wheeled round a scaffold tower. They then persuaded the BBC to blast clean; the hitherto very tricky to get to; lower sides of the upper tailfin stabilisers (see Javelin Repaint 14). These were in a pretty flaky condition (see the pic of port side Javelin Repaint 15). About hour later, (let me guess – Ed.) wow what a transformation! The lower surfaces had been blasted back to pretty much to bare metal (see the pic of starboard side Javelin Repaint 16), revealing only a small amount of corrosion at the tip. All in all, the BBC did a great job and saved us masses of prep time on the Javelin. Hurrah!

Meanwhile, in other less spectacular news, Mark and Barry continued to paint the Whirlwind. By the end of the day about 75% of the upper white areas had received two coats of the Dacrylate white primer from Barry. While down at the rear, Mark finished painting the tail rotor in the correct 2FTS colours (see Whirlwind Repaint 30), before moving on to prime the white fuselage spine.    

Barry

(Photos) Painters Update 1

12/7/22 – Let’s do Paint Team yoga!

After last week’s media blasting excitement, the team had to be inventive this week in order to put a bit of a spark into an otherwise ordinary Tuesday.  So, Cliff and Ian decided to play Paint Team yoga underneath the Javelin! Here (see Javelin Repaint 21) you can see Cliff in the Utkotosana ‘chair’ position by the port wheel. Over on the starboard side, here (see Javelin Repaint 22) is Ian in the Virasana ‘hero’ position. To be honest, they were both heroes for sticking out another day of sanding and grinding in full clobber, in 28 degree heat. A good job that the sun stayed behind the clouds for most of the day!

Over on the Whirlwind, Mark and Barry continued with the re-paint, despite the unhelpful high temperatures. Down the back, Mark top coated the spine in Dacrylate white (see Whirlwind Repaint 31). It soon became evident that a second coat was going to be required (next week). Up front, Barry completed a second coat of Dacrylate white primer around the cockpit area. Next week should see the top coat applied, although the forecast currently suggests temps in the low 30s! Barry then spent the rest of the day cleaning up the cockpit windows (see Whirlwind Repaint 32), removing several restorations worth of paint spatterings and the odd ‘in service’ scuff, with a mixture of white spirit and car headlamp cleaning kit.

Barry

(Photos) Painters Update 2

MMU Update

Revell Ju-87B-2

A couple of pics below to show progress so far on the Battle of Britain Stuka. This is after 5 sessions, for the models’ age it has gone together reasonably well so far. I have added two crew members from my spares box as none were given in the kit. I was surprised to see an engine included at such a small scale, whether the top cowling will stay in place without glue is another matter.

Malcolm G

Electronic Intelligence

Another project I have been asked to do is to provide models for effectively an ELINT display (ELectronic INTelligence), complementing the Nimrod R1 I recently built and to give more value to the display of internal aircraft monitors( for want of a better word) which is being put together. The request is for one each of an Anson, Wellington, Halifax, B-29 and Comet. I have researched online and have found details of 192 Squadron RAF, which operated the first three of these from January 1943 to August 1945, mainly from RAF Foulsham. The squadron was reformed at RAF Watton in 1951 and went on the fly converted B-29s s, only to be renumbered in 1958 to 51 Sqn, which then flew the Comet R2 and Nimrod R1 from RAF Wyton.

The Anson (Mk.1), Wellington (Mk.X ) and Halifax ( Mk.III ) will be easily sourced, the B-29 I am already working on as an out-of-time project for the Cold War display. It only leaves the Comet, found a Mk4 but whether a Mk2 can be sourced is a different story. I will keep you posted

Malcolm G

(Photos) MMU Update

From the Archives

Rabbits

Recently rescued from the creeping damp of the Magazine Store comes a contribution from The Mighty 8^th based at Martlesham Heath. A Station magazine from April of 1944 called “The Windsock” is very definitely American even though no Unit identification is recorded and there is no mention of the name of the base, there is a connection to an RAF Station Magazine, of which we have several editions, that does mention the location by name. Both are a real insight into life on a station in Suffolk in 1943-44 and “The Lineshooter and Martlesham Mercury”, the RAF Magazine, mentions places in the local area – pubs mostly, that are a stones throw from home for me. “The Windsock” is a little more security conscious, but still finds plenty to complain about when it comes to Suffolk weather, beer and customs.

This gem is taken from “The Windsock” and shows that Fighter Pilots are always Fighter Pilots:

It’s getting so we scarcely bat an eyelid anymore at the wonderful deeds chalked up by Thunderbolt pilots, but here’s really one for the books.

 Lt. Harry B. McLaughlin, of Toms River, N.J., a pilot on this station, performed the startling feat of catching a rabbit with his bare hands. It all happened one afternoon when the Lieutenant, prevented by the weather from gunning for Jerries, went gunning for rabbits in hopes of improving his diet.

As he was keeping an eye cocked for a likely victim, he was buzzed by a bunny travelling at top speed. In hot pursuit was a fast-moving, single-engined weasel. Being a hunter from way back, our hero knew that rabbits run in circles when they are being chased, so he stood still and let the weasel run that rabbit around and around through the brush until the bunny’s tongue was hanging out. At that strategic moment, Lt. McLaughlin buzzed the weasel (with a rock), dashed forward and grabbed his prey alive.

The bunny was kept as a squadron mascot for a couple of days, but then developed circles under its eyes and was noticed with alarm to be pining away (could it be the chow?) Capt. Faulkner, the squadron medical officer, diagnosed general unfitness for military duty and so the bunny was released with an honorable discharge.

 Some rabbits have all the luck.

Graham

The Repeat Info

The repeat information is still here I’m afraid, and I make no apologies for keeping his section in our blog.  We are a charitable organisation relying on monies from the public to keep us going.  Any help we receive is gratefully accepted and enables the museum to continue in our mission “To conserve, preserve and promote the history of aviation in East Anglia, whilst providing a fun, family-friendly and interactive museum, promoting education and remembrance of the events of the past“.

Are you thinking of helping ??

We obtain most of our finances by donations and by membership fees.  We save money by having a dedicated group of volunteers that keep the museum and the exhibits both manned and maintained. We hope therefore a few people may consider helping in the ways below.   

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