Super Guppy Restoration

[Gaz]

Gaz

If the landing lights had bulbs in them, they would have worked too, I could hear them crackling. That's ALL external lights working now!

Thats not good mate ...

Not in an electrical sort of way, they retract into the wings, I'm pretty sure it was the motors that move them. More of a whirring that a crackle, I suppose

[Mackrick]

phew

[Gaz]

phew

Yeah, I know enough about electricity to know that crackling isn't good.

[Spitfire]

Can anyone think of a better way to restore this:




I've approached the owners of the other aircraft, about a replacement radome, and have been met with silence, so, it looks like restoration is the only hope.

I've already sanded the fibreglass down and it's pretty smooth. What we were planning was, smother the area in polyfilla, sand it down to as smooth a finish as we can get, prime it and paint it. We know it won't look perfect, but, it's gotta look better than the toffee motif she's currently wearing.

Unless anyone's got a better way of doing it...............

Personally I wouldn't use polyfilla - it hasn't got any guts - I'd use Isopon P38 Fibreglass resin like on a car repair - it sets real quick and you can give it lots more welly than polyfilla AND get a better and more durable finish IMHO.

As you say lather it on and sand down with wet and dry - but keep doing it in very thin layers to build up the imperfections till you get an all over smooth finish. I'd probably use an angle grinder with a sanding disk at first to really get all the high spots off - doesn't matter if you get small holes or dings as you will fill those with the isopon later.

Just a thought

[Gaz]

Noted!

Thanks for the input. I think fibreglass is probably the way to go. We all just thought polyfilla is easier to work with.

[Gaz]

31.01.10

Well, we tried!

I made new gust locks (Look at the state of the old ones):




We spent about half an hour positioning the new steps before Dave offered the use of the cherry picker. So up we went:






We assessed the damage:



The hinge cover had been completely blown out and bent. This was preventing the rudder from moving. So I set to removing it for restoration:



Got it off, but, it would appear we either need hydraulic pressure to move the rudder OR one of the actuators has been damaged, either way, I couldn't move it. Plus side is though, we know it won't be flapping about in the wind.

At least we have our new steps by the aircraft now.

Dickon also prepped a couple of aluminium patches for the puncture wounds on the fuselage.


Have you ever seen the Guppy from this angle?

[Xplumberlives]

Good work fella!

[Mayfly]

Well done - bet it was cold!

[Gaz]

Yep, more than a little brisk up there!

Quite funny really, Dickon went up with me first time and spent the whole time sitting down and crossing himself!

[Xplumberlives]

Yep, more than a little brisk up there!

Quite funny really, Dickon went up with me first time and spent the whole time sitting down and crossing himself!

Is he not used to travelling up so high then?

[Gaz]

He looked really nervous. We had to get down to get some tools, he just said "You don't need me this time, do you?" So I let him stay on the ground.

[Mackrick]

Nice update Gaz thanks ...

[Gaz]

Exciting times!

http://superguppy.yuku.com/topic/38/master/1/

[Xplumberlives]

Good news Gaz!

[Mayfly]

Well done Ga,z D4th & RP

[Dan4th]

Just so you know, Ralph Pettersen is
Round_engine here on the Forum and
stops by from time to time when he can.

I'm hoping this will be bringing some
fresh attention to Good Old Guppy and
that we'll be seeing a great 2010 for
Gaz and the boys!

Dan4th

[Gaz]

Can't thank you enough for introducing us, Danf!

[Mackrick]

Good news Gaz and thanks to Mr D for helping out.

[MadNaddy]

Excellent!

Nice one Mr Dan4th Sir. And keep up the good work lil bro xxxx

[Sickbag_andy]

I've just uploaded the restoration report for January onto the website ( most of it is covered here as well) http://www.superguppy.co.uk/updates/jan ... update.htm

Gaz will also be happy to answers questions about the project in the Q & A section of the forum http://superguppy.yuku.com/forums/66 ( or link via the website)

[Jigsaw]

superb

[Sickbag_andy]

I added an extra page yesterday with links to other aviation sites (including this of course). If you have other sites you would like me to include please e-mail me at the address on the links page of the site

We are now only 49 hits short of 2000 which for a new site is quite good in less than 2 months (i'm pleased with the interest anyway), who will be visitor number 2000?

[Wedgy]

Great stuff

If someone could get me a 800x80 banner for the restoration site, I will put it up on the main ad banners of IA

[MadNaddy]

Nice one Wedgemeister

[Gaz]

Great stuff

If someone could get me a 800x80 banner for the restoration site, I will put it up on the main ad banners of IA

Good on ya Wedgy! I'll get on to Andy now!