Work Day 24th August 2019

T86

Ian continued with painting and prepping the insides of the radar doors and the numerous screw heads in the radar’s internal roof and walls.

Pete M and Pete J had a frustrating day partly due to unbolting the recently bolted down bearing Ward Leonard so that the cowlings that hold the filters and the end covers could be refitted. Sounds straight forward but it isn’t. By the end of the day fitting the end covers were all that was left to do and that may involve yet more unforeseen challenges.

Pete H worked on prepping the aerial system for an eventual repaint. Eliminating corrosion and preventing further corrosion and water ingress is a main objective in preparing the T86 for eventual public display. For example. The corroded latch clamps that hold the Reference Aerial Modulator lid on the rear of the aerial assembly needed to be removed for refurbishing or replacement and as most items on the T86 are obsolete it looks like the only choice is refurbishment.

LCP

The Instructor’s keyboard has been repaired (a non-operating key) and was, after a few false starts with it working and then not working, refitted on Saturday. Two accompanying photos show the keyboard with the defective key removed and a new key in place.

We are fortunate that many components in the LCP are ‘bog standard commercial grade’ and are still available at a reasonable cost, the Cherry keys used on this keyboard are an example.

The simulator was run up and remains serviceable.

Pete H

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Ancillary Equipment

Here are some photographs of derelict Bloodhound kit that was held at North  Luffenham. This was part of the section donated to the RAF Museum which has now been dumped outside the museum’s storage hangar at Cosford. Unfortunately, even if the RAF Museum would release it to us, we can’t save it all!

Thanks to Neil all items are now identified.

Diesel Generator

Power Distribution Board, There were 2 for each section, they are different, the one with the open door is a PDB A which was the mains circuit breaker and had the T87 distribution. Launcher Cable Drum

Power Distribution Board

400 Hz Generator for Servos

T54 ACU for LCP

Mike S

Work Day 17th August 2019

After a summer break it was back to business as usual.

T86

The final sections of the new wooden floor in the T86 cabin have now been glued down, these are small sections which are not able to be screwed down. Later in the restoration a new vinyl floor will be laid.

Further work on reconnecting wiring and the refitting of a cable bracket carried out. The challenge came in refitting one of the Ward Leonard covers which looks to be slightly distorted so cannot be seated correctly. A heavy duty solution is in place to reset the profile of the cover ready for another try next Saturday – see accompanying photo.

Another accompanying photo shows the newly painted cabin door and the next task in restoring the T86 – the internal roof of the cabin which is discoloured and has plenty of rusty screw heads!

LCP

A first top coat of paint was applied to the door frames of the LCP and the inside of the EC’s door. Applying paint is one of the easiest jobs in our restoration programme!

Pete H