Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Due to the Covid lockdown, and then life getting in the way, I hadn't been to the RAF Museum, Cosford, since 2018 or '19, and needed some detail shots of particular subjects, and I also wanted to see the recently completed Wellington restoration, which I'd followed with various visits over the years (more of this to come in this and following posts).
Having been in touch with our forum member Rodd, who is on the volunteer staff of technicians at the Museum, it was suggested that a good time to visit would be late spring or early summer, when all the hangars would be open, and most, if not all, of the planned major changes implemented.
There are some on-going, fairly radical changes happening at both RAFM's Hendon, and Cosford, with some airframes being disposed of, more or less free of charge, to other museums or lucky owners, with the Hendon B-25 now at East Kirkby, and the Cosford P-51 going to Australia, for example. This is in-line with the current thinking where, as the two sites are RAF Museums, then the exhibits should be RAF aircraft (Yes, it could be argued that B-25's and P-51's served with the RAF, and could of perhaps been re-painted in appropriate colours, but the decision has been made.).
In addition to the disposal of non RAF airframes, the collection of extremely rare test and evaluation aircraft is also changing, with these aircraft going into storage, for now, at least. Regrettably, some of these, along with the ex Danish Catalina a Jet Provost and others, are currently stored outside, open to the elements, and again, more of this later in this thread.
Some types, such as the Dinah, have moved to Hendon, and others, such as the Blenheim (Bollingbroke), have moved to Cosford, where displays have been thoroughly rearranged, following such themes as "World War 1 to World War 2" and "Bomber Command", with some interactive features to encourage younger visitors and, from the viewpoint of the enthusiast or historian, much more unobstructed space and access for closer, better viewing.
For those who asked if it was possible to photograph the progress on the H.P. Hampden and the Dornier Do-17, I'm afraid that lack of time, on this visit, prevented me getting to the Hampden in the conservation centre (we were the last to leave the museum, and had to divert around the visitor centre, as it had already closed !).
Rodd informed me that no further work had been done on the Do-17 since its "stabilisation" on arrival at Cosford, as it's too far corroded to have any worthwhile work done.
Anyway, I went to the Museum yesterday with my mate Mick (Karl couldn't make it due to numerous other commitments), and met up with Rodd, who was ready to take us around for close access to what I needed, which included shots of the Wellington, detail shots of the Andover for another model for Gp.Cpt. Dougie Barr, and some detail shots of other subjects for other forum members if possible.
Due to Rodd's very generous help and preparation, I was able to get everything I needed, and more, with the unexpected huge bonus of access to the Andover interior, the underside of the FW190, Meteor engine intakes and much more.
My sincere thanks to Rodd for his help and assistance, and for giving up nearly four hours of his time !
So, to start off, the first selection of pics show the beautifully restored Vickers Wellington, which arrived at Cosford from Hendon twelve years ago, when it went Into the conservation centre for a complete "refurb" and re-cladding. Regular members here may remember that I covered at least two of the restoration stages in previous threads.
It is displayed with the cowlings off one engine, the bomb doors open, and with the rear turret removed (displayed separately nearby), in order that visitors can see the interior and the geodetic framework along the length of the fuselage. It's planned to have the interior illuminated for better viewing. Note that the gun turret has had the four Browning guns removed temporarily.
I'll be back tomorrow with more of the Wellington, and other subjects of interest.
Having been in touch with our forum member Rodd, who is on the volunteer staff of technicians at the Museum, it was suggested that a good time to visit would be late spring or early summer, when all the hangars would be open, and most, if not all, of the planned major changes implemented.
There are some on-going, fairly radical changes happening at both RAFM's Hendon, and Cosford, with some airframes being disposed of, more or less free of charge, to other museums or lucky owners, with the Hendon B-25 now at East Kirkby, and the Cosford P-51 going to Australia, for example. This is in-line with the current thinking where, as the two sites are RAF Museums, then the exhibits should be RAF aircraft (Yes, it could be argued that B-25's and P-51's served with the RAF, and could of perhaps been re-painted in appropriate colours, but the decision has been made.).
In addition to the disposal of non RAF airframes, the collection of extremely rare test and evaluation aircraft is also changing, with these aircraft going into storage, for now, at least. Regrettably, some of these, along with the ex Danish Catalina a Jet Provost and others, are currently stored outside, open to the elements, and again, more of this later in this thread.
Some types, such as the Dinah, have moved to Hendon, and others, such as the Blenheim (Bollingbroke), have moved to Cosford, where displays have been thoroughly rearranged, following such themes as "World War 1 to World War 2" and "Bomber Command", with some interactive features to encourage younger visitors and, from the viewpoint of the enthusiast or historian, much more unobstructed space and access for closer, better viewing.
For those who asked if it was possible to photograph the progress on the H.P. Hampden and the Dornier Do-17, I'm afraid that lack of time, on this visit, prevented me getting to the Hampden in the conservation centre (we were the last to leave the museum, and had to divert around the visitor centre, as it had already closed !).
Rodd informed me that no further work had been done on the Do-17 since its "stabilisation" on arrival at Cosford, as it's too far corroded to have any worthwhile work done.
Anyway, I went to the Museum yesterday with my mate Mick (Karl couldn't make it due to numerous other commitments), and met up with Rodd, who was ready to take us around for close access to what I needed, which included shots of the Wellington, detail shots of the Andover for another model for Gp.Cpt. Dougie Barr, and some detail shots of other subjects for other forum members if possible.
Due to Rodd's very generous help and preparation, I was able to get everything I needed, and more, with the unexpected huge bonus of access to the Andover interior, the underside of the FW190, Meteor engine intakes and much more.
My sincere thanks to Rodd for his help and assistance, and for giving up nearly four hours of his time !
So, to start off, the first selection of pics show the beautifully restored Vickers Wellington, which arrived at Cosford from Hendon twelve years ago, when it went Into the conservation centre for a complete "refurb" and re-cladding. Regular members here may remember that I covered at least two of the restoration stages in previous threads.
It is displayed with the cowlings off one engine, the bomb doors open, and with the rear turret removed (displayed separately nearby), in order that visitors can see the interior and the geodetic framework along the length of the fuselage. It's planned to have the interior illuminated for better viewing. Note that the gun turret has had the four Browning guns removed temporarily.
I'll be back tomorrow with more of the Wellington, and other subjects of interest.
