Thursday, November 1, 2012

Pictured is the top part of a cockpit frame that has been chopped up. The two round holes are for attaching the instrument panel rubber mounts.

One way to identify a Boomerang cockpit frame is this code which is stamped on the port upper engine mount lug. 12 means CA-12, G8 means number 8 in Batch G. Unfortunately this code doesn't always match up to the A46 aircraft number, which could be out of sequence. Other methods of identification are the tag on the overturn truss and pencilled A46 numbers on the inside of panels.
12 G8 lines up to A46-93 but is more likely to be from A46-94 More research is needed to confirm this.

 New rear window assembly finished a year or two ago






Sunday, September 2, 2012




Detail photo's of Windshield de icer pump, pilots oxygen controls, throttle quadrant and fuel tank selector. Set of static elevators out of the jig.







                                                                         

Wednesday, August 1, 2012


 Sub panel box covers obtained via fellow Boomerang restorer Mark Walker in place.
Left one has magneto switch installed and right one has temperature guage switch and 8 day clock
                                          








 Machine gun ammunition box after some de rusting
                                                                        










Morse keying switch ready for installation. I probably restored this about 15 or more years ago and it has been waiting to go on. Mounted on the cockpit tube under right hand sub panel box.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Static Elevator coming along. I can't assemble anymore until the castings are made.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The beginning of a static elevator made out of commercial aluminium. I made five of these ribs today, which is way quicker than I would take making airworthy ribs. This elevator will possibly go on my Boomerang or be swapped for other components. Working on this static elevator will also help me to develop tooling and techniques required on the airworthy elevators.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Fuselage to wing fairing from A46-147 Located behind exhaust on Stb side. The forward section of the panel is made out of stainless steel for heat resistance.

 Remains of the "No Step" stencils on the panel.



















Photo showing aluminium at rear and stainless steel front.
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Sunday, May 27, 2012

Complete set of elevator ribs in various stages of completion.

Friday, April 20, 2012














I pushed the plane outside today for a quick photoshoot.

Friday, April 6, 2012


Lightening holes being done on No 6 rib.

































Thursday, April 5, 2012

Number six rib during manufacture. Made from .020" 2024 T O condition (soft). The ribs will then be sent off for heat treatment.













































Three sets of dies used to press lightening holes on number six rib.



















Wednesday, March 14, 2012



Jig being welded up around Wirraway elevator.

Next steps are to pick up the trim tab hinge area and also a number of points at the trailing edge.






















Sunday, March 11, 2012

Wirraway elevator on loan from a fellow restorer will be used to build a jig to enable new elevators to be manufactured.















Second incomplete Wirraway elevator is being disassembled to allow form blocks and patterns to be made. There are a number of differences between Wirraway and Boomerang elevators most of which will be incorporated into the new build ones. One major difference is a chrome molybdenum steel torque tube. Another is the mass balance which is bolted on externally as opposed to faired over in the Wirraway.








































































Saturday, February 18, 2012

More footstep progress photos.




































In white is a new fibreglass hydraulic access door which was made using the red mould. The mould was taken off an example supplied by Matt Denning.




Thursday, January 26, 2012



Original 12 Volt Exide Battery.
















Modification record plate mounted on overturn truss.This also has the serial number of the aircraft in this case 13-K3 which along with serial numbers written in pencil on some cockpit panels confirms the identity as A46-147. This code is usually stamped on the cockpit frames engine mounting lug as well.



















Fuel Tank manufacturers plate.













Recent shot of cockpit.



















Tooling required to make one component of footstep.

Saturday, January 14, 2012














Original footstep loaned by Matt Denning being used as a pattern to produce a batch of new production ones. I will need to source the hinge and also the return springs.

































































Production of four sets of battery boxes to go to other Boomerang restorers.