NASAM BLOG as of the 27th Mar 2026
In This Edition
Summary of Contents
In this edition of the Blogs “Museum News“, we have a photo from Joe of a British classic that came to the Museum on Sunday, the 15th March. Also, we have notification of an “aviation interest” calendar that will soon be live, giving details of aviation-related events in the Norfolk/Suffolk area.
From the “Teams At The Museum“, we start with Malcolm’s update from the Model Maintenance shop. In addition, we have updates from Mark K in the Paint Team
Under the “Events Information“, we have the dates of the first two Friday openings in April, along with our Annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday, the 5th April.
We have a poster in the “Nearby” section for the RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre opening dates 2026. This can be found at the tail end of the blog below.
Pete S
Museum News
General News from or about the Museum
Two British Classics Together
Sunday, the 15th March, was a good day at the museum as we had one of the great British classic cars parked up alongside one of the Museum’s classic aircraft. Two British classics together on a fine day. Thanks to Joe for the photo.
Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Guide
Coming Soon ….
So, what is the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Guide ?? It is a free guide, hosted by the West Norfolk Aviation Society, that will gather information about all the talks, events, museums, and other goings-on across the two counties and plot them onto a single calendar. This will be a one-stop shop for aviation enthusiasts and visitors to the Norfolk and Suffolk area, making it easy to find what’s available to see and do.
Once the calendar is finished testing, we will publish the link here on the NASAM Blog.
Teams At The Museum
News from the Various Team
MMU Update
The process of sorting through the models in the model store has been continuing slowly over the past few months, which in turn has created a lack of space in the store. It may not make sense, but 49 boxes of surplus models have accumulated, so I called my contact Mark, who came over to Flixton last Tuesday (10th) who duly took them away, together with approximately 40 unbuilt models, which have languished in one of the store cupboards for the last 20 years or so. Most of the models were Vac-form kits. Although the majority of these were examples of the more obscure aircraft, it takes a very skilled and patient expert builder to make anything half decent from them. Decades ago, they were popular, but because many of the subjects are now available in injection moulded kits, their popularity has declined. Anyhow, Mark took them in return for a monetary contribution to the museum. A handful of the unbuilt injection models were good enough for shop sale so they were handed over to Marion.
Over the Winter Maintenance period a few stored models have found their way into displays. Steve B has been refurbishing the Recci Display in Room 3. ‘New’ exhibits include an Avro Shackleton MR.2, Breguet Atlantic, Fairey Gannet AS.1 and a Consolidated PBY Catalina. These replaced 3 1/24 scale Spitfires, all have seen better days, and a Henschel HS.126. All 4 are now back in the store waiting for me to decide their fate.
Back in Bury St.Edmunds, I recall that in my last report I said I was starting the build of a 1/72 scale Westland Whirlwind HAR.10. This model was (in the past tense?) a Resin based kit which I had languishing in my model stash for many years When Steve asked for a Whirlwind for a display I new that it was going to be a challenge to build, especially as you need to use superglue to build it. It went surprisingly well until I tried to join the 2 fuselage halves together. There was no way the two sides were going to fit together, however much I tried. In the end, frustration compelled me to bin it. It’s a shame really as no manufacturer these days offer the Whirlwind 10 in injection kit format.
So onto the next ‘order’. Gary has asked for a 1/48 scale Fiat CR.42 to replace a similar 1/72nd scale model in the Luftwaffe display. So I obtained an Italeri kit featuring a Battle of Britain example from my go-to shop ‘Model Junction’ in Bury and hoping to be able to create the example of the crashed aircraft in the photo. The decals within the kit do not provide for this example but I should be able to adjust them. The only real challenge on this one is the Italian camouflage scheme.
Happy Days
Malcolm
(Photos) MMU update
Paint Team Update
17/03/26 Painters Update – No Pressure Then !
With the weather remaining dry and the temperature rising, Gwen was back to washing the Sea Prince. Port side this week, and whilst Mark didn’t get a photo of Gwen, he’s flipped last week’s photo of Gwen working on the starboard side. ?pih eht morf gnitoohS
The plan was for Ian and Mark to wash wreckology, the Trojan, Pucara and MiG. However, water pressure was particularly low this week, making it impossible to run two washers from the one available tap.
Are the Paint Team the only people who complain about too little pressure at work?
In the end, they worked in shifts: Ian went to check his new responsibilities as custodian of Bomber Command, whilst Mark finished the Trojan; and then Mark went off to the Manager’s Meeting whilst Ian tackled the Pucara. “It’s larger than it looks”.
At lunch, Barry (who was off supervising yet more home improvements) missed Mark celebrating Easter with a desert to die for: mini eggs in chocolate 🙂
Then it was back to work, Ian and Mark combining to use the long arm on the pressure washer to clean the high-up parts of the Pucara. “It’s higher than it looks”. That just left Ian to give the underbelly a little tickle to finish the remaining few spots.
And with Gwen having finished the Sea Prince and started on the F27, the number of aircraft to be washed this season is now down to four, although those four do include the Phantom, the mighty Valetta and the “much-loved” Bloodhound.
Let’s hope that next week the pressure is back on…
Mark K
(Photos) 17/03/26 Paint Team Update
Event Information
What’s next at the Museum
We Are Open Selected Fridays
The museum will be open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and all Bank Holiday Mondays. Additionally, it will be open on select Fridays as part of a trial to assess whether this increases visitor numbers. The specific Fridays in April are the 3rd and the 10th of April.
Easter Egg Hunt
The Museum is pleased to announce that our Annual Easter Egg Hunt is on SUNDAY the 5th of April. Hopefully, we will experience fine weather on the day, so that the youngsters can find their way around the Museum and receive plenty of prizes.
For more details, follow the link to the Easter Egg Hunt
Nearby Information
What else is happening near the Museum
RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre
Nearby the Flixton Museum in North Norfolk, there is the RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre, and they have asked if we can publish their opening dates for 2026, which we are more than happy to do so below:
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, by 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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Click to make aDONATION
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Pete S
Has public transport links to the museum improved? Even if it means a walk,like visiting Yeovil NAS museum.
I’m afraid that public transport to the museum hasn’t improved; the nearest town is Bungay, which is approximately 3 miles from the museum. The walk is not advised as it is a fast road with no footpath.