Victor K2 XL231

[Xplumberlives]

Brilliant, she's coming along nicely! Well done lads

[Blue_2]

Thanks chaps! Hopefully the next couple of weeks should see the starboard wing finished and the fin well on its way to being hempified. While we're now racing to finish before the weather gets (even) worse, things will still be done properly and corners won't be cut. Otherwise there's no point doing it at all...

[Blue_2]

3/9/2012 update.
Sorry, more scratching of paint to report this week (I guess you're all getting sick of the same thing on here every week now...?). But there is a little treat further along the post...
Rich and I were in on Saturday, and it was a bit of a murky damp 'orrible start to the day.



He continued battle with the wing while I decided to continue with the fin. I decided to start with the leading edge and the top panels on the port side. While rubbing the old paint down I found evidence of her previous 'owners', I reckon the blue paint in the first pic and the red in the second are the remains of the 57 Squdron 'Chicken in a basket' emblem



The panels now painted (and in a rare dose of sunlight!)

I then got on with working my way down the leading edge

Rich meanwhile prepped some more of the wing. Prior to priming his progress, he danced with the infamous Lindy team 'Trigger's broom'.

Wot 'e did

And hurling primer at it to protect the bare metal of the fastenings from the weather until it gets its hemp topcoat.



Head-on of the tail, looking far better

And as we walked away, the contrast in paint on the fin is easy to see

We then popped down the road to visit another live V bomber...







Before returning to Elvington.
This weekend there'll be no progress as we're being moved out onto the airfield to make space for a museum event, so please don't come to YAM expecting to see one of the star exhibits because the Victor won't be there!

[Jigsaw]

More great progress and no I am not at all sick of seeing it Nice shots too mate

[Dan4th]

Anyone who has done any kind of a
paint job and strove (striven?) to do
it properly can relate to what you
guys are up to!

As anyone knowledgeable will tell
you, it's ALL in the PREPARATION

Many years ago, it took me a full
month to prepare and paint the
inside portion of a large sunporch
for some friends of my Mom and Dad.....

The wife just couldn't understand
why it was taking me "S0000 LOOOOONG"

The husband got it, though, and the
results were beautiful, if I do say so
myself....

Fifteen years later, it still looked
GREAT, too

So keep on keeping us up-to-date on
your "Respray", okay???????

She just looks better and better

Danf.

[Blue_2]

Cheers guys, I'm sorry we've nothing more exciting to report and was just getting a bit worried the reports are all getting a bit samey if you see what I mean.
Dan it is all in the prep, otherwise the paint we're carefully rollering on will be peeling off again in 2 year's time. Also doing it like this means that we eradicate any and all corrosion we find. Fortunately we've found very little, the only places she has suffered at all are around some of the larger steel fixings, where a degree of dissimilar metal corrosion has occurred. These have all been very minor and easily rectified, but as a result we're now paying particularly close attention to anywhere where there are such fixings.
While it is painfully time consuming work, it hopefully secures Lindy's future for a bit longer. Or at least improves her chances of a long and happy life...

[Dougs]

Definately not samey getting to see your victor from places non of us will ever get to see keep up the good work loving the updates

[Blue_2]

Something a bit different for you this week. Lindy was out on the airfield this weekend to make space for the museum's memorial day celebrations. Part of the day's events was engine running of some of the aircraft, sadly we were not required to participate...
SE5 opened play, followed by a smoky start from the Devon

She was soon running sweet though

Then the Nimrod ran, no.4 wouldn't start due to a stuck bleed valve but other than that all is well. Said valve is now out and awaiting tlc...

Poor Lindy was behind bars

After assisting with the Nimrod's run we went over to check on our girl and get some shot of her out on the airfield





Andre has restored the front tail bullet so I'll be refitting that on Saturday

We had a couple of visitors during the day too. The BBMF sent the Spit V and the Lanc in her new colours



And then just before 5 XH558 gave us a couple of nice close passes









Did I mention she was close?!



An excellent day, Lindy will be returning to her rightful place today. We shall return to the repainting work all next weekend weather permitting, so come say hi!

[MOD]

Thanks for these updates and photos Graham. PLEASE keep 'em coming!!!

ibw

[Jigsaw]

Love the pics mate. Shame Lindy was not involved

[Sploosher]

thanks for the update Blue_2.........

love the pics of Lindys progress,as always, and it was good that you got a visit by the BBMF and 558 too

[Blue_2]

Thanks chaps! No excitement this weekend I'm afraid, but a couple of us will be putting in a full weekend on her. If the weather's kind I hope to make progress down the tailfin.

[Blue_2]

17/9/2012 update

Mindful of winter and inclement weather sneaking up on us, we put in a full weekend on the jet this weekend to try and advance the repaint some more. Rich, Andre and I were in both days, with Ian joining us on the Sunday despite a long trek down from Leuchars the previous evening. John was in on the Sunday too, and did sterling work cleaning the brakes, wheels and tyres. Anyway I'm getting ahead of myself.
Saturday's weather looked promising, so we got on with it. Rich and Andre continued battle with the starboard wing which has taken a massive amount of extra work compared to the port wing. I decided to start working my way down the port side of the fin; I opted for the port side as it's the side most people see first (anyone familiar with the museum's layout will understand what i mean).
The very first job though was refitting the RWR bullet, refurbed by Andre. I had to be a bit careful as this component is very light, very fragile and it was very windy up there on the tail! Looks excellent back in place though.

We had a couple of visitors on Saturday, on their way to Leuchars. For some reason the Vulcan chose to go round rather than over us twice (?) however this big feller made a welcome sight over our runway, significant as RAF Elvington was rebuilt to accommodate these.

(Photo courtesy of Rich's Dad- thanks!)
By close of play on Saturday there was more paint on the wing and on the tail. These pics are from Sunday before we started as I'd forgotten my camera on Saturday!
My progress down the tail

Andre and Rich's progress on the wing



Rich was stuck in straight away, working hard!

He did work really; here he, Andre and a 'jetlagged' Ian can be seen grafting away



I carried on down the fin, rubbing it down and prepping it before priming any bare areas and then rollering the paint on. We decided to mask aroud the markings for now, and repaint them later. Our priority's the hemp!

While rubbing down I found further evidence of a 57sqn 'Chicken in a basket' under the paint, and going back even further in time I found remnants of the old full colour tail markings and 232 OCU badge!
I carried on working my way down the fin, getting quite a way down by the time lunch was declared



After fortifying ourselves with roast beef and with the weather closing in and with the sky looking more and more threatening we got back on with it. I managed my goal of completing the main body of the fin

Which was a massive morale boost!

While Andre carried on with the wing.
As the weather was looking ropey I decided not to start the other side of the fin. Instead I repainted inside one of the port wing root bays. You may remember that a few weeks ago we removed, greased and refitted most of the port wing root lower panels? well one panel stayed off for de-corrosion work and a repaint. The bay it covered needed some work too, as at some point during her RAF life we think a hot air pipe in the neighbouring engine bay had failed and burnt the paint off the bay wall. I removed the remains of the old paint, primed the bay and gave it a good coat of new paint. Rich and I then refitted the panel, about halfway through this I remembered I'd not taken any photos of the bay! Oh well... Anyway here's one of the repainted panel, refitted but awaiting the fixings tweaking shut properly

After I emerged from under the wing I got some more shots of the wing team's work



The locals are unhappy about all the dust we're making!

Then to prove she's still very much alive we put ground power on and exercised Lindy's electrical systems



Final shot for you for this week, Lindy with running lights on and the new paint very much evident. And Rich trying to look busy...!

[Dan4th]

It's been said before, but the thing
I like best is all the unusual angles
and perspectives we're getting to
see in your photos.....

I've always thought it is the details
that make the Victor a beautiful
aircraft

Thanks!

Danf.

[Jigsaw]

The Victor is indeed a beautiful aircraft.
I thoroughly enjoy following your progress.
Thanks yet again for another great update

[Sploosher]

She really is a beauty, I must make a point and get there to see her again very soon, and explore all the angles with my new lens...

[Blue_2]

8/10/12 Update

Well it's been a while hasn't it!
Firstly I have an updatelet from Rich; he'd been in during the week and made progress prepping the port side of the fuselage as you can see.

Even finding evidence of the previous full colour roundel!


And now to this weekend's business.It was nice to be back at the jet on Sunday. The weather played ball, it was difficult to believe this is the UK in October!

The starboard side of the fin and both sides of the rudder had as you can see been prepped by Ian the previous week.
Aims for the day were for me to get the fin and rudder completed, Ian and John to prep the starboard side of the fuselage up to the wing trailing edge, Rich to do the back hatch and the fiddly bits he's got the patience to do, and Andre to get the starboard intake painted. Unfortunately this last was not done as there was far more prep still needing to be done than had been envisaged, however after much hard graft on Andre's part the intake is now ready, It won't take long for him to slap some paint on it next time. It's seen here mid-prep. He had to do a lot of filling of various dints and dings, very time consuming.

And ready for final paint

Once the starboard side of the aircraft had dried we got on with business. Ian and John commence battle (with the jet, not each other)

Rich and I removed the back hatch, then Rich took it into the sun to give it some careful prep

And I got on with painting. Here the starboard side of the rudder is done, I've masked off the 55Sqn markings and the red/blue tail markings, and I've started down the fin with the paint. I was struggling as, given the warm weather and the resulting warmth of the fin panels I had to be bloody quick with the paint before it started going off!

A little later, Ian's moved up the fuselage a bit

I've moved down the fin a bit (this shows the rudder better too)

However I can offer no evidence of John moving!
We cracked on and soon the starboard side of the fin was done. Rich had got the hatch prepped too and joined Ian and John on the fuselage skin.



Even under the rudder was done. No corner cutting here...

I threw some paint at the hatch before ascending again to paint the rudder's port side. It's come out nicely I reckon!

We put ground power on for a while, and woke the rudder's PFCU's up to swing the rudder over to starboard so I could access and paint down its leading edge. This side seemed to take no time at all

I managed to get the new paint, 2 balloons and a visiting aircraft all in one shot!

The fin in the late afternoon sun

Rich looking proud of his hatch

And an overview of the whole jet. The difference the new paint is making is easy to see in this shot, as is just how big an area Ian John and Rich managed to prep yesterday!

Finally, proof that ours is the best V-bomber by far

The sun actually does shine out of her @rse!
More next week if the weather behaves...

[Dan4th]

Mister Blue::::::::::

Your hard work and determination
fill me with admiration

She is really getting there!!!!!!!!!

Danf.

[Jigsaw]

Looking great Really enjoyed that update

[Blue_2]

Cheers guys!

I keep meaning to mention we too have a facebook presence. Our page of Lindy and general Victor goodies can be found here:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/9150227579/

[Jigsaw]

Joined thank you

[MOD]

Well done to you guys. 231 is coming along very nicely.


ibw

[Blue_2]

Evening chaps, no update from me this week as I had to take my better half to hospital on Sunday morning (nothing too serious, she'll be fine). The guys got on quite well I'm told, even though the powers that be apparently decided to disrupt things by moving the jet out for a few hours to put the puddle jumpers away for winter. Anyhow, normal service should be resumed next week...

[Blue_2]

21/10/2012 Update.
Well, it was a tad murky on Sunday!

The guys had got plenty done since I was last able to attend.



The Autumnal conditions gave Ian and I a chance to try getting a bit arty:







While waiting for the aircraft's skin to dry off I got on with repairing the Houchin. We changed the battery, Andre put a new alternator tensioner on it and I changed the ignition switch with a little help from Rich. I'll be treating it to an oil change too soon; we can't forget that the ground equipment needs looking after too as not a lot happens without it.
The aircraft started to dry off so we were able to make a start. The plan was to carry on with the fuselage prep. Ian concentrated on the topside with help from Brian and Rich, while I got on with the radome. John and Steve did some work on the port side of the nose.

I decided to dig all the old paint out of the latches, and then the small surface cracks round them were addressed. Ian on the giraffe working away

During the prep of the nose Ollie found an old stencilling of the serial

While I have a camera wielding break the work continues, Ollie leans against the jet pretending to work, while Ian continues the good work up high.

I had a look up top to see the topside team's work, and found Rich practicing his best shirt modelling pose...

Next camera break, Andre Ollie and I have finished the prep on the lower part of the nose, flatted the filler back in the radome surface cracks, and primed everything requiring it.

You can see from this shot the strip along the fuselage still awaiting prep; above and below it are done and ready for hemp if and when the weather allows.

It came a point where we had to call it a day. Soon we hope the front part will look as glorious as the back half does in the late afternoon sun!

John did a last bit of fettling, removing some vinyls from the port side. That's what he said he was doing, I rather suspect he was actually drinking the white spirit!

We decided to power wash all the dust of the day off her, once I'd repaired the power washer that is. Here Andre gives the old girl a shower

Eerily, we could see we'd soon be returning to the morning's conditions, as the mist started to rise on the airfield

My parting shot of Lindy, as I left. In the time it took me to stop the car, grab my camera and get across to where I wanted to take a shot from the mist rose from the level of her undercarriage to what you can see below. Weird!

We'll see what happens this weekend; we are now entirely at the mercy of the weather gods...

[Dan4th]

Can the Weather Gods be Bribed

And do you have a low temperature under
which your paint won't work properly?

Steady as she goes, Mister Blue!

Looks like you got quite a bit done

Danf.