NASAM Update as of the 22nd Nov 2025
In This Edition
Summary of Contents
This is a shorter issue than usual, with just a double update from the Paint Team (Barry and Mark K) and a short list of events booked so far for 2026.
Pete S
Teams At The Museum
News from the Paint Team
Paint Team Update
11/11/25 – The Paint Team are unhinged this week!
Some might argue they are every week – tee hee! So, Messrs Kellerher and Walker (aka Hinge and Bracket, readers can decide which is which) set about painting the door hinges on the Skeeter. Following a light ‘blow’ with the rattle cans, the hinges were blending in nicely (see pic), with an intentionally less than perfect paint job (we’re very good at those!).
Next up, Ian W. repainted the Skeeter’s silver rotor blade connecting stubs (see pic), while Mark reinstated the background colours for the ‘DANGER’ decal just forward of the starboard tail boom (see pic).
Elsewhere, Barry gave the Valetta’s new cockpit floor a fresh coat of acrylic white primer (see pic). This was after Mark had given the cockpit a bit of a hoover up, mainly of dead flies, using the new Cordless Henry (see pic). While the primer was drying, Barry and Mark then gave the cabin floor a hoover and a wash. After a bit of debate, it was decided that the best way of sprucing up the cabin floor would be just to apply a non-slip surface down the central isle (the floor paint under the seats being otherwise in reasonably good order). We will now look for a suitable product and then discuss with Gary.
With about an hour left in the day, Barry then moved into the Main Hangar to give the Lightning’s (XG329) port stabilator and clean and polish (see pic). As we continue to refine our polishing process, you can clearly see in the picture the three stages of the job. The layer by the gloves is pre-polish (dull). The layer by the polisher is after the polish has been worked in (black). The layer by the tube of Alusol is after buffing off (shiny). It’s a lot of work but the end result really will be transformational, providing it lasts!
Barry
(Photos) Paint Team 11/11/25
18-11-25 Heat Seeking…
With Barry (probably) dancing along to Five’s When the Lights Go Out (he had an electrician working on his house), Ian and Mark decided the best way to start a cold day was with a hot cup of coffee.
Over that coffee they decided to work in the heated Restoration Workshop, and then set about finding every excuse to stay there all day. Fortunately, before he lost his (super)power(s), Barry had been able to prepare the final decals for the Skeeter helicopter.
After cutting the decal (see photo’ painters 1) it took quite some time to work out how to fit it into the available space (see painters 2). A heat gun helped by warming cold fingers, and served a secondary purpose of separating the decal from its backing paper and sticking it to the cold metal (painters 3). The end result (painters 4) was worth the effort.
Attention then turned to the tricky DANGER decal near the tail rotor. With non-standard character spacing it was decided to cut the decal into its individual letters.
“Sadly”, Ian spotted Mark’s attempt to lead him astray (painters 5 and see * below) and did a great job (see painters 6, 7 and 8). Another decal that was worth the effort, even if we do say so ourselves.
And that was it, another hot cuppa ended the day before everyone headed home to (hopefully) thaw out in time for next Tuesday.
* Question: apart from danger itself, and “garden” as given in the photo’, there are three other anagrams that use all six letters. No prizes, but can you guess what they are? …. Answers below the photos.
Mark K
(Photos) Paint Team 18/11/25
Event information
What’s next at the Museum
Coming in 2026
Below is a short version of the planning spreadsheet for 2026 and the events so far booked with the Museum Manager. Stay tuned to the Blog for additional events as Gary books them into the diary.
Pete S
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
