Work Day 25th September 2022

T86

Work is being carried out to ensure the aerial system with its fittings and assemblies are water tight. Below shows new sealant along the edge of the elevation gearbox, the original sealant had deteriorated and literally fallen out.

A second refurbished guide rope anchor has been refitted as shown here. The anchor is located in an awkward position tucked under the main transmitting dish.

LCP

The simulator was powered up and given a run; it remains serviceable.

SPARES

We thought our readers might be interested to know about our accumulation of spares that we have been fortunate enough to acquire by both donations and purchasing; here is a brief survey.

Spares, from components, PCB’s to subassemblies reside at three locations: The LCP, 2^nd line workshop (a ‘converted’ spare bedroom) and the spares store (mezzanine floor above my garage).  Over recent years spares have been  sourced from derelict Bloodhound MKII LCP’s on the North Luffenham Airfield and from other MoD systems on their disposal that used the same Argus computer as Bloodhound. We do now have an extensive range of spares and the attached are photos of the ‘store’ above my garage, a small part of our total holdings, a snapshot of what we have.

Spare Chassis

We have a complete set of spare chassis for the I/O rack (ex 1006 at North Luffenham). Two spare Argus chassis and ME183 and an ME182. The ME182 is not from Bloodhound but this chassis will become the 2^nd line test rig and the ME183 currently used in the test rig will go into the store.

Spares LCP cards

Apart from Aural Doppler (L Rack) the missile monitoring and test circuits in the LCP are not used. These cards, amongst many others, were salvaged from 1006 for component parts and/or display.

Spare Lenses and Lamps

The majority obtained from 1006. In various conditions but can usually be resurrected with PolyTrol. Due to age the metal band at the base of most lamp lenses has come away from the lens but can be secured again with a suitable glue. There is an additional stock of ‘good’ lamp lenses held in the LCP.

Spare Radar Simulator

Once more 1006 is the source. Restoration of the simulator is a project if and when time allows. The plan (one day) would be to run the LCP using the radar simulator. Also in this photo is one of our CHARGE test sets (not a Bloodhound item) and reels of Ferranti pink wire.

Spare Switch Panels and Power Supplies

A rear view of three console switch panels, two upper and one lower. One upper switch panel is not complete so will be a source of spares. The panels were donated from a private individual. The rack behind holds spare Farnell G Series power supplies. Again, a complete set of spare power supplies is held in the LCP.

Pete H

Work Day 10th September 2022

T86

Further painting, mostly touching up, on the aerial system. The accompanying photo shows the re fitted In-flight Reference aerial from a side angle.

To Illustrate some of the detail of our restoration work the two following photos show the inspection windows for the elevation Mil dials followed by the mounting plate used for aerial alignment.

To enable work to be carried out on the aerial system two -24V power supplies had been installed in the radar (D and F Racks) to supply the aerial brakes and brake control microswitches. The aerial brakes can be released by operating the Brake Switches on D Rack (as normal) and the aerials moved manually. The indicator unit in the pedestal shows the sector the aerials are in as well as an end stop lamp. The next photo shows a fault in that the Limit switch is ON to bypass the brake at the end stops, the red lamp indicating the aerials are in the end stop which they aren’t and the Limit switch is OFF, which it isn’t. Operating the Limit switch on D Rack has no effect so there is a fault to be found here.

LCP

One of the LCD tubes in the cabin roof had failed and has been replaced. All the original mains driven fluorescent tubes for roof and low level lighting were replaced some time ago with LED equivalents.

The Simulator was run for a period of time and remains serviceable.

Away from Cosford

The T86 fuse box, always found in the top radar drawer, is having a respray and the contents refilled where possible. There should be enough fuses etc. to add to the original contents as shown.

Pete H

Work Day 4th September 2022

T86

The In-flight Reference (IFR) aerial has been refitted.

Another milestone in the refurbishment as all aerials have been re fitted to the radar and there are no further large items to be fitted. Several waveguide sections have also been refitted.

The IFR will need some additional treatment though as the fibreglass is appears to be delaminating in some way and coming through the paint.

LCP

The simulator was run up and a few exercises run successfully.

Do we have anyone viewing us who is conversant with running the LCP?

Pete H