Work Day 29th October 2022

T86

The transmitter waveguide run and fittings were reassembled and fitted to the rear of the aerial boom as seen below fitting.

The last of the rope eyes on the aerial boom were fitted, there are four in total, see photo below.

The rope eyes were a modification following the introduction of a ‘U’ beam that allowed the T86 aerial assembly to be removed using a crane rather than the ‘A’ Frame.

The first in a series of ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos. Two photos of the inside of the T86 pedestal to illustrate the restoration carried out. Additional photos showing various stages of the T86 restoration ( before and after) will accompany future reports.

LCP

A snagging job was carried out where a few of the rubber bumpers on the cable outlet covers were not stuck down and could be easily removed. A touch of adhesive sealant was applied to fix the bumpers in place – nothing is too small!

The Simulator was given a run and was greeted a familiar message on power-up ‘Mode Changed Not Allowed’ but intermittent. Ther No errors shown on the FT81 monitor, the Bank switches, Firing Lines switch etc were given a bit of an On/Off exercise. Stopped and restarted the Bloodhound software on the FT81 and the simulator ran up normally. The Simulator had a good run and the kit was left in Serviceable state. A dodgy contact possibly to blame as it’s getting into the season of high condensation in the hanger.

Cheers
Pete H

A Puzzle For You

Here is a Bloodhound Side Loader moving a T86 Radar Aerial Cage. Where and when was it taken?

Good luck, we do have the answer to hand

Mike Strange

Bloodhound System Remains

I thought you might like to see the way in which some of the ex Bloodhound kit was treated and greeted our eyes when we visited RAF North Luffenham a few years ago. Other than some comments I will let the pictures tell their own story.

Cable Drums minus their cables

More Cable Drums minus their cables

LCP 1019

This had been done to every meter

LCP 1006

Radar Aerial Cage – THANK YOU

T86 Ser No 111

T86 Ser No unidentifiable

Little Treasures!

Mike Strange

Work Day 22nd October 2022

T86

More progress was made on refitting the aerial system with covers for the Modulator box and RF Receiver. See the following photographs. Note that our restoration work is to a standard aimed high at public display.

RF Receiver Cover fitted

Modulator Cover fitted

Rear of the Aerial System

A reminder of what the aerial system looked like before we started restoration:

LCP

The simulator was given a good run and remains serviceable. As autumn is now with us the majority of spares will be removed from the LCP for winter storage as there is no heating in the accommodation we use. We ensure the LCP gets a weekly warm through with a fan heater to keep any damp at bay which is vital to ensure the integrity of components and contacts is preserved.

Not to leave the LCP out here is a reminder of how it looked when it was still in a field and it’s appearance last year.

Pete H

Work Day 8th October 2022

T86

Refitting of assemblies and parts to the T86 continues with the majority of the latch catches now refitted to the covers of the RF receiver and the Modulator box on the rear of the aerial assembly. Here you can see the rear of the aerial assembly with the cover of the modulation box refitted.

Assemblies are being refitted in the RF receiver below showing several IF amplifiers refitted.

The cases for the amplifiers have been resprayed as the original paint was badly faded as can be seen around of the crystal holders below the IF amps. The whole of the RF receiver suffered significant deterioration as the radar had been left in open storage with the cover of the RF receiver removed. Evidence of the damage caused can be seen on the transformer adjacent to the IF amps and the space heater above them; two more restoration tasks for the future.

LCP

The metal work that housed the original hard disk and tape in the computer rack is being put back so the rack has its original look. The original disk system  had to be replaced due to the none availability of the disks after the original disk failed.

The simulator was given a good run and remains ‘S’.

Pete H