Another two carriers roll off the production line

[martyn]

Hi jordan, what cast parts did you meen, i am able to get my hands on sum more cast suspention units but mk2 ones are fabracated and i have old ones to work from other bits like the linkages ive had machined there not much on them that carnt be made might even look at making tracks one day. but like you say NOS bits are hard to find i was suprised noboby has done this before maybe iam just mad? ive attached a photo of the linkages and a few bits ive had made ive not got as far as the engine covers and bits i am aiming to get one rivetted up soon then get one ready for arnhem in september after that the other can plod along maybe a christmas pressy for the misses chat later off to counter sink more holes martyn

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - looks like the UK has an equivalent of our Oz Colin. Just imagine these two guys in the same workshop.

Bob

[carrierbarry]

Martyn

OK This is a fantastic story but lets start at the beginning. Where did you find the wrecked hulls? Is there any history to these hulls?
Where did you start?
What parts are you short of??
Please tell us more.

Barry

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by martyn

maybe iam just mad?

Yes, you probably are, like the rest of us. But mad in a good, wholesome way. Keep it up!!

[George McKenzie]

I have a CD full of carrier pictures of alot of detail Can someone tell me if I can post it on this site ? and how? If not I'll make some copies to mail out . PS This fellow sells rivets and special bolts . his address is Dick Naven 6802 SW 33 Place ,Portland ,OR 97219 USA EM.Blacksmithbolt1@qwestoffice.net www.BlacksmithBolt.com

[Pedr]

G'day Martyn,

Welcome to the group, and congratulations on a fantastic job.

However, don't dismiss this as scratch built. These are remanufactured carriers, and deserve just as much respect as such. It's alright for some bloke who has a hull in a condition that can be "restored" by a quick trip to the blaster and a couple of coats of paint, then bolt her back together.

Sometimes this isn't the case and more major works must be undertaken to restore the carrier ( Like what you're doing ).

In the Warbird collective, they throw out 95% of the original aeroplane to rebuild it, but in their case the numbers and history are the most important part. They call this provenance.

Working on that premise, you probably have the original numbers for your two hulls, Thats what your new pair are. The rebuild parts come off a carrier somewhere, there's your ID numbers.

Like that ol' adage about " I have George Washington's axe, It's had 15 new handles and six new heads "

Pedr

[martyn]

Hi all as to where my two carriers came from,
They were sourced from a scrap yard in norfolk and i acuired them from a dealer in the same area the mk2 still had it T number in faint paint on the front and the Mk1 was painted white think it was poss used as a ambluance?
iam just about ready for rivetting the hull shouldnt be too long before there out and about thanks for all your coments its a big boost to keep me plodding on.
martyn

[cantankrs]

Originally Posted by martyn

iam just about ready for rivetting the hull

Hi Martyn,

Great work! I'm not familiar with the rivets on these Carriers but will you be bashing each one, or knocking up a hydraulic rivet squeezer to slide over the angles, and across the plates, to close the rivets?



Alex

[martyn]

Hi Alex
i have found a firm near me that builds steam engines and boilers they are going to have a look at what i want to do, the chap there said they use two air hammers and make a snap to fit the rivet profile iam keen to see it being done will try and get sum photos might be worth a few days off work to help out. living in a town that made the first ww1 tanks and ruston cranes you would think finding sumone who knows about rivetting would be easy took me 10wks and a lot of phone calls to find this chap mind you its a dying trade.
martyn