Bubbleboy

Well I believe we are doing it through the TAFE there so I assume they are providing them. In saying that the more the merrier! I guess we want to aim it more towards Aviation so if you have those skills we would love to have you on board. The more we can cram in 3 days the better. Primarily I would like to see TIG welding of Chrome Moly. I am not the primary organiser but offered to put the EOI out here to see what response we get back. Scotty

Sounds fantastic!

Putting the feelers out there to see if there would be any interest from members to attend a Welding course that would be held in Canberra. Primarily we are looking at TIG welding with an intro to MIG and OXY. What we are looking at is a 3 day course Fri - Sun, Late September or early October. Max class of 12. We are chatting at the moment with the provider regarding specific details. If we have enough interest we may be able to negotiate a rate with a local Motel or the like. Quite clearly your not going to be a proficient welder after 3 days but hope to gain enough knowledge and a little practice to send us on the right track so we can carry on at home. If you think you may be keen, let me know. Scotty

Hi Neil...sorry for the delay! Yes the DVD will be available later in the year. They were taking pre orders for it at the show. I organised it all myself. A break down of the costs are approx $800 for Airfares from Tamworth to Christchurch and return. Rental car was about $300 and Motel was $540. I flew in Thursday and flew out Monday. In saying that I chatted to a guy in Sydney on the way back who was returning home from a tour organised with Torii Tours. I have never dealt with them but he said he had been on several of their tours and raved about them. He lives on the Gold Coast and apparently cost him $2000 for the 5 day tour. So looking at my costs, if your were going on your own the tour might be the way to go as you get to travel with like minded folk and would be more of a social thing. If you have a travel partner then the tour would be more expensive. If my wife had of come the only extra would have been an $800 airfare as I already had the car and Motel. He was saying that Torii do an Oshkosk tour for around $2500 for 7 days I think he said which is a quick tour but well priced. If your going in 2015, I would tentavily book a Motel in Blenheim now. I used Hertz rental cars. Was all pretty painless to organise. Scotty

Is no one prepared to say what happened at the NATFLY meeting? Scotty

Final day of the show and we woke to rain. It sorted itself out early and left a lovely day but a bit of wind about. The FW190 and Sopwith Camel would have to win the engine sound comp! Truly menacing! One of the Fokker Triplanes had an engine failure by the looks and made a safe downwind landing. Im making my way back to OZ tomorrow so will upload some more pics then. Have re-booked the Motel for 2 years time! Scotty

Day 1 of the Airshow. Fantastic! Just before lunch they had a 30 minute WW1 aerial and ground warfare scenario. Must have been 15 to 20 Great War aircraft in the air at once shooting things up! Triplanes, Camel, Pup to name a few. My camera does not do air shots justice so I watched it and will buy the DVD when it comes out. I heard today that this Museum and facility has had $50 million thrown at it by Sir Peter Jackson. Looking at the memorabilia, quite possible. How much would he have paid for the cross off the Red Barons Triplane? Few more pics till I get home. Scotty

For those who maybe interested, I am at Classic Fighters in Blenheim, NZ. Its Friday which is the trade / practice day. Warm day but a little windy. I spent the morning going through the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre. I would be confident in saying that I would be very surprised if there is another place in the world that would come close to this exhibition. There is a mixture of genuine and replica WW1 aircraft which are displayed in themed settings. Sir Peter Jackson the NZ movie director has basically thrown a blank cheque book at this facility. To be honest, I was moved walking through. Even if WW1 aircraft is not your thing, you need to make the effort at some stage to go through this place. The amount of history and information is astounding. As well as aircraft there is a mountain of WW1 memorabilia. Apparently Sir Peter Jackson has people all around the world who are constantly looking out for items. When something comes up, they call him and he says buy it! I went for a walk around the Airshow site and am very impressed with the amount of planning from several groups have gone in to this. I went to Warbirds over Wanaka in 2000 and 2002 and this is proving to be a far superior event. Tonight there is a twilight show and concert followed with a fireworks display at 9pm. So far today I have taken 250 photos. They were all in the Museum. The Motel I am staying at has a limit on internet useage so I will start uploading photos when I get home next week. Shaping up to be a fantastic weekend. Just a quick teaser below of Aussie troops removing memorabilia and flying boots from a dead "Red Baron". Scotty

Yes I found this out recently. Having only flown GA and not for 8 years due family, my first take off was nothing short of terrifying! Not only was I not current but was very surprised by the Sportstars handling. Very different to the GA aircraft! Instructor earned his pay that day.... Scotty

Garry seems like an amazing chap! I like what he does! Scotty

Bugger the wine!...bring on the WW1 plane porn! Scotty

I think I need a cold shower..... Scotty

Bandit...the rotec radial has a big following in the WW1 replica movement. Although not a Rotary a Radial is close enough. Unless you have a spare $65000 for one of these new Rotarys. Have you had a look at http://www.airdromeaeroplanes.com/index.html Scotty

Bandit...I went to Wanaka in 2000 and 2002. Always wanted to go to Classic Wings so I am very excited since WW1 aviation is my passion. I want to have a look at the Sopwith Camel and Nieuport to see if either of them would make my next project. Nev...check this out! Andrew Carter who imported the Fokker Triplane into Brisbane last year is one of the orders I believe. http://www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/8459272/Old-technology-wins-new-interest I am preparing to be officially Fokkerised! Scotty

Anyone else heading across the waters to Classic Fighters over Easter? I arrive Thursday and staying in Blenheim. Scotty

Fantastic! This is what RAA should be about. Scotty

Phil...yes know what your saying. Thats why I left the fuse till last. Had to bite the bullet or progress will stop! Its already been 3 years! Scotty

Looking great Phil!....you will be doing the fuselage next? You will need a flat bench approx 4.8m long. The fuse didnt take long at all. Lay the two sides out remembering you have a left and right. Once these are done stand them up and join them. All of a sudden you have a plane! What undercarriage are you using? Scotty

Yes Mark...the wife bought them for me for Xmas. When she says "get ya skates on!".... She also shoved a broom up my bot so I can sweep while doing other jobs... Scotty

Maybe its a Pietenpol Scout

Very much alive Wayne! Thanks mate. Thanks guys for the comments. OME...look closer, there is only a half a back seat..lol

This weekend I dismantled the work benches to give me more room and Miss 9 tried out the front seat! Scotty

This is cool!. This design stage really interests me! Thanks for posting! Sounds like a talented bloke! Scotty

I did a part of my Watchmaking apprenticeship with the NZ agent/importer for Omega. Like anything mechanical, its not a case of if it fails but when. Yes we got a few Omegas back for warranty work but overall they were a nice piece. Scotty

Maj...Mr Wiki says this! Must be true... History Mainsprings appeared in the first spring powered clocks, in 15th century Europe. Around 1400 coiled springs began to be used in locks,[1] and many early clockmakers were also locksmiths.[2] Springs were applied to clocks to make them smaller and more portable than previous weight driven clocks, evolving into the first pocketwatches by 1600. Many sources erroneously credit the invention of the mainspring to the Nürnberg clockmaker Peter Henlein (also spelled Henle, or Hele) around 1511.[3][4][5] However, many references in 15th century sources to portable clocks 'without weights', and at least two surviving examples, show that spring driven clocks existed by the early years of that century.[1][6][7] The oldest surviving clock powered by a mainspring is the Burgunderuhr (Burgundy Clock), an ornate, gilt chamber clock, currently at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nurnberg, whose iconography suggests that it was made around 1430 for Philippe the Good, Duke of Burgundy.[1] The first mainsprings were made of steel without tempering or hardening processes. They didn't run very long, and had to be wound twice a day. Henlein was noted for making watches that would run 40 hours between windings.