Super Guppy Restoration

[Xplumberlives]

Also, I've had permission from DW to get all the blue paint for the rest of the bands and the lettering, we've reckoned around 50L of one coat stuff, should do it. He's also said that, if I can get it running, the lorry mounted cherry picker is ours. Looking forward to having a go at it, it's been a while since I restored a non-runner.

So you reckon the Guppy is a runner???

[Gaz]

PS: Only kidding, Sooty!

[Gaz]

December in one post:

07.12.11

No work done on the ac today, mainly due to the severe winds. I did make a start on the cherry picker though. There's no life in her at all at the minute, so, I wrestled (and I DO mean wrestled) with the battery compartment. It was held in place with a large steel bracket. I reckon the bolts hadn't been loosened in 20 years and due to the world class west midlands engineering (LOL) you couldn't get a socket on both ends of the bolt. Plenty of WD40, a set of stilsons and an extra pair of hands (Thanks Bob!) and they (2x 12v batteries) were free. If I'm honest, I think they're toast but they seem to be drawing a charge. I'll give em a go next week.

I think this will turn in to a rewarding winter project!

Still waiting on the blue paint, hopefully by the end of the week.



21st December

Didn't go up last week, I was pretty ill,

Carried on with the cherry picker today. Reconnected the batteries, half filled the fuel tank and, more in hope than expectation, gave it a go. Started first time! No easy start or anything! She's a bit temperamental, cut out a couple of times. Seems a bit fuel starved so a new filter and maybe a fuel pump may be needed. But for now, she runs! I gave the cab a once over too. About an inch thick layer of moss over 75% of the cab, all gone now.

Next time, we'll be testing the arm!!!




She ain't much to look at, at the moment, but she's perfect!!



29.12.11

Andy went up yesterday and gave the cherry picker a good health report.

I ventured up today with the plan of testing the boom. Far too windy for that type of caper!!

The plan of cleaning the cab head liner will have to be changed. I started to take it out today and it started to disintegrate, so I left it alone. Will have a look around online and see how much a new one will cost.

I also did the rounds with the grease gun on the aircraft, gave all the cans of paint a good stir to prevent them skinning up, tidied up our work space (Hasn't been done for a while!! ) and drank a lot of coffee

Good day all round, considering the weather was against me!

Oooh, the blue paint arrived last week!

[Xplumberlives]

Good work Gaz, if you get that Cherypicker working, it'll get knicked by the same theiving gits that take/move everything else at Brunty!

Good luck with it and consider buying a large wheel clamp!

[Gaz]

The good thing is, nobody that is employed by the Walton's can use it (Supposedly) as nobody on site is trained to use it. Volunteers can have a go, if they like

I don't think any of the other groups would need it, save perhaps the Victor.

It's also pretty difficult to hide

[Gaz]

Nice end of year summary, by SBA, here:

http://www.superguppy.co.uk/updates/dec11update.htm

[Sickbag_andy]

Nice end of year summary, by SBA, here:

http://www.superguppy.co.uk/updates/dec11update.htm

you beat me to it, thanks Gaz. - took me that long to switch back to my new computer

[Dan4th]

SBA: Always great to see your updates!

Danf.

[Gaz]

www.superguppy.co.uk has just gone past 9000 hits!

Thanks to everyone who has ventured over and, of course, to SBA!

[MOD]

Have you seen these pics Gaz? I've just come across them on a NASA website.







Mod



.

[Gaz]

Very Nice!

[Gaz]

CWJ 2014:





Wouldn't THAT be nice!!

[Richw_82]

Marvellous stuff. I'm impressed with the ongoing painting efforts, I know just how hard it is and how easily the weather can wreck things.

Keep up the good work... a bit of life in these old birds is better than none at all.

[Gaz]

January Update

4th January 2012


Good day today. I was hoping to get some paint on the outside today, but, far too cold for that kind of thing! So, I set to in the cargo hold and got another panel done

Before:




And after:




It's starting to come together in there now. I'd say, I've gotten 4/5's of one side done. When you compare it to the side I haven't touched yet, it's quite a contrast.

It would also appear that Andy (One of the crew) has given the cherry picker the old mop and bucket trick:



Nice, positive, start to the new year!


11 January

Problems galore today!

We've had some fairly serious gales round here, a bit like everywhere else in the UK and she's been moved around a bit. The tail jack has moved from its nice, solid, foundation about 8 inches to the left and onto the soft, wet earth. Consequently, it's sunk about 6 inches into the ground. Can't raise the jack because can't get the push pin out. We need to put the ballast back in, lower the nose and, hopefully, raise the tail.

ALSO

I was expecting an easy job, removing a blown floodlight from the SB main gear nacelle. WRONG!! I don't think these screws had been moved in 30 years. Most of the heads disintegrated. Out of 8 screws, 3 came out with no trouble, 2 came out with a dose of WD-40 and a whack with the hammer and 3 had to be drilled out. A job that should have taken 5 minutes, took 90. Got it out though. Just need to find a good price for a GE 4502.

These things are sent to try us!!!


18th January

Too damp to do anything outside today, so, did a bit more in the cargo hold:




After



Found a good price for a new bulb, I'm having a couple delivered to where we're staying in Florida


25th January

This may seem a bit repetitive, but, it was too damp to work outside so did, yet, another panel in the hold. This one was a pain as well! Loads to mask off, the tape wouldn't stick and, for some reason, it needed three coats rather than two.

Anyway:






It looks better now


I was going to start an engine nacelle today, but, way too damp. I did have a look at the paint though. I got this can of grey ages ago and always thought it was too dark, but, other than having separated a bit, it's almost perfect. Maybe a shade dark, but, that'll allow for weathering

[Xplumberlives]

Glad you got something done!

[MOD]

Well done Gaz I bet Brunty was fffffreezing...

BTW is DW giving you just moral or financial support?

ibw

[Gaz]

Well done Gaz I bet Brunty was fffffreezing...

BTW is DW giving you just moral or financial support?

ibw

Very cold!


Dave is really good. Usually, whatever we need, he supplies. Don't like to extract the urine though, so, we try to raise as much money as we can

[Gaz]

I might as well do the February update today, I won't be there again til the 1st March!

01.02.12

The sun shone, I made grey!

Before:




And after!!!!!





Can't tell you how happy I am with how this came out. It took a long time to do just one side, mainly due to having to scrub that moss off. Definitely worth the effort though!

[MOD]

Wow Gaz - what a difference. It looks like a whole new nacelle. Well done that man.


Ian

BTW have a good trip to Florida and bring back LOTS of photos and a report!!!

[Gaz]

Wow Gaz - what a difference. It looks like a whole new nacelle. Well done that man.


Ian

BTW have a good trip to Florida and bring back LOTS of photos and a report!!!

Cheers Ian, I'll certainly try to!

We've put back our trip to KSC until the 16th. There's an Atlas V going up

[MOD]

If only we could turn back the clock so that it was a Saturn 5 that you were going to see being launched

An Atlas ain't bad though.

Have a good 'un


Ian

[Dan4th]

Great Work on that Nacelle, Gaz!

Truly

When are you headed over?

Hope you'll take a laptop and keep
us informed every few days!

(...please??????)

Dan4th

[Gaz]

Cheers Danf.

We fly out, a week today. On the 8th at 12:55 - LGW-TPA BA2167 (If you want to "Follow" me on your chosen flight information/tracking service )

The villa where we are stopping has WiFi, so, I'll use my phone and check in from time to time. Can't upload photos from it, but, I can let you know if anything interesting happens

[Dan4th]

Cheers Danf.

We fly out, a week today. On the 8th at 12:55 - LGW-TPA BA2167 (If you want to "Follow" me on your chosen flight information/tracking service )

The villa where we are stopping has WiFi, so, I'll use my phone and check in from time to time. Can't upload photos from it, but, I can let you know if anything interesting happens

Well, what's the point of going if
nothing interesting happens??????

Do a diary format and send us that, okay?

Then you'll have it for your records
as well.....

NEXT trip over, you're coming to MAINE!

Danf.

[Gaz]

29th Feb.

First day back since my holiday (I got the new bulbs BTW), I spent a lot of time chiselling at this:



on the other side of the nacelle I started. I've bashed all the corroded aluminium off, it was badly de-laminated, and now it's back to good, strong metal. I've sprayed it with acid etching primer, soon I'll fill and sand it ready for paint.

That took quite a while, but I did manage to get a bit of paint on.

Before:



And after:



Considering I didn't have that much time, I feel like I got a bit done!