Super Guppy Restoration

[Hungry Haggis]

Looking good .
Is it a forth bridge project Ie get to the end and start again .

[Gaz]

At last, conditions and circumstances allowed us to get some paint on!

Before:




After:





One of a few finished panels:





She looks nice in her new make-up!:




We'd have gotten more done, but, in true Brunty style, the battery on the lift died so we gave it a good 3 hour charge.


Been learning more about Buccaneers too

The similarities are unavoidable, HH

[Gaz]

09.04.11

The Sun shone, we made hay!


During. Gregg doing the blue bits above the wing:




After. We're really starting to make some progress now!:




We're hoping to be trained in the safe and proper use of the site cherry picker, so, that means the lettering will be done, hopefully, before the open day!







Oh and if the club room collapsing was funny, then this:



Is comedy genius! That's Gregg, sliding down and, ultimately, falling off a wing! (He was fine!)


I laughed, A LOT!

[Xplumberlives]

When do you intend to start polishing the metal surface of the airframe?

[Gaz]

When do you intend to start polishing the metal surface of the airframe?

When we live in a tropical climate, where it never rains

[Gaz]

13.04.11

Weather took a turn for the worse today so any major paint work was out. I did take one of the emergency hatches into the cargo hold and do a little bit:






Other than that. The damaged leg from our beastie of a platform, came back from the workshop, all nice and straight so I re-attached it. I also did some of my best grovelling and got the guys in the paint shop to mix up some red paint for us FOC. That will help a lot, the red we were using was £15 per litre and the last of our money ran out a while ago. It just means that we can get more done BEFORE the open day, rather than having to wait for the proceeds OF the open day.

I also helped out on XX900, bleeding Nitrogen and doing some hydraulic system maintenance.


Very good day, all in all

[Olicat]

Going well! Looking forward to seeing her soon!

[Gaz]

On my own today, but, the weather was nice so I got a bit done.

Before:




After:




1/4 of the way there!

[Xplumberlives]

Don't overdo it mate!

[Gaz]

Don't overdo it mate!

P.O. you!

I only had a spare hour today, so, I reckon I got a fair bit done. Cleaning, sanding, masking, 3 layers of paint, de-masking, all on 3 panels, rollers and trays cleaned and aircraft secured, in an hour, is pretty good going!

[Xplumberlives]

Don't overdo it mate!

P.O. you!

They do cruises don't they?

[Gaz]

Hydraulics working well and, more importantly, the main cargo door has married up to the rest of the aircraft! MASSIVE leap forward!

[Xplumberlives]

Hydraulics working well and, more importantly, the main cargo door has married up to the rest of the aircraft! MASSIVE leap forward!

Ha ha, Chris Barries GHOST laid to rest!

[Gaz]

Hydraulics working well and, more importantly, the main cargo door has married up to the rest of the aircraft! MASSIVE leap forward!

Ha ha, Chris Barries GHOST laid to rest!

Indeed!

[Dan4th]

Does this mean you've got that one
hydraulic leg that was inop fixed?????????

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

Does this mean you've got that one
hydraulic leg that was inop fixed?????????

Danf.

D4th, I think it was more a case of removing sandbags from either side of the joint until the levels met up and the locks could be actioned! Gaz will correct me if I'm wrong!

[Gaz]

We removed the sand some time ago, which made no difference to the door. The sand was removed, mainly, to assist in the repair of the noseleg. We're still waiting for the powers that be to keep their end of that particular bargain.

BUT!!!!!!

With repairing all the leaky hydraulic seals, greasing EVERYTHING and persuading things with big hammers, all the jacks and the outrigger, function perfectly. This allowed us to fully extend the tail jack which pushed the locking mechanism into place.

A VERY good day!

[Dan4th]

HA! I KNEW IT!

Good for you, Gaz.......

And for the old crate!

Onward and Upward!

Danf.

[Gaz]

After getting the main cargo door closed, last week. We attempted to lock it today. The locking pins pushed against the rest of the aircraft and opened the gap up again. It's looking like the door/hinge may well have been skewed when it was opened incorrectly. We've tried a few different combinations of front and rear jack heights to try and line it up and we have made progress, but, it's going to need someone on a big ladder to see the top locking pins so we know which way to manipulate the aircraft/door.

Seeing as the rest of my crew are scared of heights..........


Other than that, got a bit more paint on and finished servicing the hydraulic system. FIVE gallons of hydraulic fluid to fill that reservoir!!


Also helped out on XX900, doing all the fun jobs now, degreasing and polishing ready for open day

[Dan4th]

I have faith it'll all come out right!

Danf.

[Gaz]

Door now within an inch of closing. Need to, either, get the tail jack on concrete so it has something to push against, or, reintroduce some ballast to pull the two together.

Our, freshly mixed, red paint is a spot on match though!

[Dan4th]

Un peut d'un autre "Guppy".....



...or am I being redundant, here????????

Danf.

[Gaz]

Cheers for that Danf.

The Toulouse lot sent me some stills from that day but it's the first time I've seen the video.

Funny fact for you, even though "No.2" is FAR more complete than our Guppy, they are sick as dogs that we have "No.1"

[Dan4th]

Hon! Hon! Hon!

H'you Cilly Hinglish PEEG!

H'wee weel come an' STEEL zat Gup-PEE
h'wile you are slee-PING!

This has got me thinking, though, as it's
been a while since any Guppy Vids.....

How about a nice walk-around showing her
as she is at this point and a little commentary?

I know you is bizzy, Gareth, and don't do it for
ME, but for all the fans out there and something
for SBA to post-up on ye website......

Danneversatisfied4th

[Gaz]

Hon! Hon! Hon!

H'you Cilly Hinglish PEEG!

H'wee weel come an' STEEL zat Gup-PEE
h'wile you are slee-PING!

This has got me thinking, though, as it's
been a while since any Guppy Vids.....

How about a nice walk-around showing her
as she is at this point and a little commentary?

I know you is bizzy, Gareth, and don't do it for
ME, but for all the fans out there and something
for SBA to post-up on ye website......

Danneversatisfied4th

There is a lot to go on the website, SBA is constantly busy these days though. He assures me he IS getting to it.

Shall I film one on Saturday evening, when I'm a few sheets to the wind?

I will do one though, probably this weekend. It's a good idea!