Work Day February 27

It was cold in the hangar on Saturday but anyone called Pete is allowed to stay in the nice warm LCP!!! On this principle Neil has now changed his middle name to Pete (according to Dave). OK, Neil did do some good work (while sat in a warm LCP) as he had worked out the MEZ for the Bloodhound force in the UK from data originally supplied by Richard V. which Neil transposed to give MEZ coordinates on to the E.C’s P display. Neil also set up the correct ‘No Light’ bearings to reflect Yellow section at Bawdsey.

Dave spent the day continuing to dismantle the T86 door lock and mechanism, not an easy task as the whole assembly is solid with corrosion etc. All securing screws having to be drilled out, except one, which Dave was pleased about!

I spent the day making a start on the rear of the Aerial Assembly, scraping and dismantling ready for a clean and re paint (sometime this coming summer). It’s a sort of priority task as once the aerials are removed we won’t be able to get at the rear of the assembly.

And finally …. the LCP is U/S! Not a serious problem, PSU7 (a 6V 60 Amp PS) in the computer rack failed towards the end of the day. Not a problem as there was a spare in the LCP. Unfortunately the spare PS lasted a few seconds before also failing. I am sure this is a PS age problem rather than something causing them to fail. The spare would have had a quick check before going to the LCP, obviously it needed a proper soak test! I’ll have a go a repairing the power supplies, we also have a few more spare 6V, 60 Amp units so we should all be back to normal next time we are on site.

New Year Summary February 2015

From Pete Harry:
Firstly I want to thank everyone who has made a donation to the BMPG. Without such support we would struggle to fund many of the tasks in returning the LCP and T86 to their ‘in service’ condition. I give you an example; all the chrome drawer handles and latches etc in the LCP needed rechroming, a task that has been completed at a cost of £1,100. Donations made it happen. Every penny we receive is spent on the restoration and no where else! If you are able to donate our bank details are:
Acct Name: BMPG Limited
Sort Code 30-18-83
Acct No. 13392468
Cheques can be made payable to, ‘BMPG Limited’ and sent to: Pete Harry 7 Pinkham Cleobury Mortimer Kidderminster DY14 8QE.  BMPG Ltd is our legal entity and a ‘not for profit company’.

Now back to the restoration news:

The winter tends to be a quiet time as regards restoration of the LCP and T86, the main reason being ‘who wants to work in freezing cold conditions at  this time of year’. That said, the restoration team are now getting back in to the swing of regular Saturday working at the site.

The LCP
The computer system, I/O racks and the displays are now fully restored and continue to run reliably. Work on the LCP will now be directed towards its appearance and the plan is to repaint the cabin by the end of the coming summer. Pete M is currently putting together a few videos on the LCPand the simulator which will help with a public awareness of what we are achieving.

The T86
Rotten plywood and lino floor of the T86 has now been removed. The condition of the floor was poor due to water ingress during the T86’s many years in store in the open, or should I say, abandoned in the open. Neil, Dave S and Ian  are the main workforce tackling the T86 floor and now have a temporary one fitted. All the chrome drawer handles have been removed in the T86 for re chroming and work is starting on the rear of the aerial assembly for restoration, cleaning and re painting.