NASAM Update as of the 8th Nov 2025
In This Edition
Summary of Contents
In this edition of the Blogs “Museum News“, we have Steve’s report on the Whoop Club Norfolk drone racing at the Museum
From the “Teams At The Museum“, we have both Barry and Malcolm’s updates on their respective work at the museum, with information from the Paint Team and Model Maintenance.
Under the “Events Information“, we provide details of the open days in November and December, as well as the date we will reopen in 2026.
Pete S
Museum News
General News from or about the Museum
Drone Racing Meet
On Saturday, 1st November, the museum hosted a drone racing meeting. The drones were flown in heats by their pilots around a course set up in the main hangar, which involved flying through various “gates”, some of which moved. The pilots also had to fly around the museum aircraft displayed in the hangar.
The speed of the drones was quite staggering, and the scale speed even more so. Your reporter found it very difficult to press the shutter at the right time, video proving much easier! The weight of the drones was minimal, making the speeds involved even more impressive.
Steve B
(Photos/ Videos) Drone Meeting
Teams At The Museum
News from the Various Team
Paint Team Updates
28/10/25 – Don’t mention the T-word!
Yes folks, there was much guffawing over lunch at El Museo this week, mainly at the expense of the Museo Manager and the not so recent selection of dining furniture for the NAAFI. ‘Nuff said, and we certainly won’t go on about it anymore in this blog.
So, on to today’s events for the Paint Team. Mark legged it over to the Restoration Workshop to apply the red stripes to the Skeeter’s tail rotor blades (see pic). Meanwhile, Barry coasted round the back of the Restoration Workshop to set up a couple of trestles on which to lay the Skeeter’s main rotor blades, while further repairs were carried out using a combo of duct tape and body filler (see pic).
After that, a session of polishing trials was on the menu over on the Lightning. During the week, Barry had purchased a number of different aluminium pre-cleaning products and polishes, with a view to seeing how best we could bring back the shine to Ian H’s Lightning. With Barry in the chair, the testing commenced on a small, discrete area under the port stabilator.
A couple of different Aluminium pre-cleaners were tried. These certainly removed the ingrained dirt but had little or no effect on the surface corrosion i.e. grey specks in the slightly pitted surface (see pic of test area – the centre panel in the picture was treated), even after a bit of abrasive agitation.
At the end of the test, it was concluded with Ian H. that ‘cutting’ compounds were not going to eradicate the existing corrosion and therefore our efforts should be focused on just bringing back the shine to the existing (corroded) surfaces.
Top of the table in terms of polishes tested was the Alusol, and you can see the results here on the inner edge of the starboard stabilator (see pic – the area just above the tube of polish)
Next week, providing we don’t have too much else on our plate, we will carry out a further proof of concept on the starboard stabilator, partly to try and even up the finish where previous attempts at re-polishing are still evident.
To round the day off, Mark broke out the rattle cans and gave the Skeeter’s starboard door a base coat of Dark Buff (see pic). Once dry, a camo pattern will be over sprayed in Dark Green. We will then try and ‘age’ the finish to try and match it in with the paint on the rest of the fuselage, as best we can.
(Photos) Painters Update 28/10/25
04/11/25 – Proper Chopper!
Yes folks, it was a ‘copter centric week this week up in the Resto Workshop.
Roger kicked the day off by re-mounting the freshly repainted tail rotor blades (see pic), while the Paint Team sang “You spin me right round, baby, right round, like a helicopter (…with no tail rotor)” Such a great song by Dead or Alive from 1985, pop pickers.
Meanwhile, Barry finished off repairs to the last of main rotor blades out the back of the ‘shop (see pic). These are now ready for John S. to re-cover them in fabric and dope.
Mark rattle canned the starboard door. The repainted door was then offered up to the ‘copter, with Roger carrying out a quick QA assessment from the other side (see pic). “Shut’s like a Golf” he said!
The door was then returned to Ian W. so he could paint (rather nonchalantly, it has to be said) the inner door skin (see pic).
Having finished the rotor blades, Barry then set about refreshing the roundels on the tail boom (see pic).
In the arvo, Mark contemplated how best to restore the ‘DANGER’ warning sign on the starboard side of the tail boom (the port side being reasonably intact – see pic). In the end he decided that painting the background white/red rectangles was the best approach, as opposed to cutting vinyl, given the number of large number of screwheads in the vicinity (see pic).
Just before tiffin, there was just enough time to clean and polish the starboard stabilator on the Lightning (XG329) using Alusol, as a further proof of concept for Ian H. (see pic). Last week’s small test area had dulled a little over the intervening week. If we are going to commit to polishing the whole aircraft, we need to be sure that the shine will last for a reasonable amount of time. Therefore, we are going to get in touch with RAF Cosford to find out how they keep their Lightning (XG337) looking so good. Watch this space.
The day was rounded off by the consumption of some sumptuous ‘Cakes from the Lakes’ (thanks Mark). Just one of the many perks of being a volunteer!
Barry
(Photos) Painters Update 04/11/25
MMU Update
I am pleased to report that the Dornier Do-217E has finally been completed and has today (Tuesday 4th) been handed over to Gary for his Luftwaffe display, replacing a 1/72 example. The model has been completed in the markings of 4./KG100 which flew from Cognac in France during October 1943.
Also on the production line is a 1/72 scale Gloster Meteor F8, which is being built for Peter W to be added to the Development Model Diorama. My intention is to model it as our own WF643 in 56 Squadron markings. As can be seen in the photo painting is well in advance and the model should be completed before Christmas.
I have also been asked to produce two further models which unfortunately we do not have examples of in store. The first is a Canberra T4 to replace the ancient example Peter has with the development model and Steve B has requested a Whirlwind HAR.10 helicopter in RAF Rescue markings. This one will be a challenge as no injection kit manufacturer produces this aircraft in model form. In a moment of insanity several years ago I purchased a Resin kit of the HAR.10 and to date have not been brave enough to tackle it. The time has come to ‘have a go’, I think there is a 50/50 chance of success/ failure with this one. Time will tell.
Malcolm
(Photos) MMU Update
Event / Open Days Information
What’s next at the Museum
Rest of 2025 Opening Days
Plus reopening in 2026
The Repeat Information
Funding
We are a charitable organisation, relying now on admission charges, grants and donations from the people that visit. Any and all help is greatly appreciated 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”.
Would you like to help??
One of the ways we save money is by having a dedicated group of volunteers who keep the Museum and its exhibits both manned and maintained. We hope, that a few people would consider helping in any the three ways below:
Help by becoming a Museum Member, volunteering to help at the Museum, or by making a Donation to help with our running costs. To learn more about these three methods of assistance, please click the corresponding button below to access the relevant information.
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Pete S
