Jessie The Jeep Posted January 14, 2007 Share Posted January 14, 2007 I was down in the Cambridge and Norfolk area over the weekend, so popped into these two museums and took a few photos. Duxford first, the Blenheim ( Bolingbrook ) restoration and conversion is coming along well. The aircraft was damaged in a deadstick landing in 2003 after running out of fuel on final approach, and ended up on its belly. Having flown several years as a Mk4, it is now being converted to the short nosed Mk1 Recently sold and moved from Breighton in Yorkshire, the Buchon ( lisence built Bf109 ) is now at Duxford. I don't know if it is to be based there, or whether it is moving on. Another exciting visitor to Duxford is the Fw190 replica. The aircraft is one of several 'New-Build' Fw's, I think under construction in Germany. It is at Duxford for some work to be done before being shipped to the USA I believe. To conclude the trio of German aircraft, is another license build, the 'Cricket' I think it was called, a French copy of the German Fi 156 Storch. The French version had a radial engine fitted, but this has been converted back to the inline engine. Outside, the recent strong winds have mangled a fibreglass Spitfire replica. All is not lost, I'm sure a few tins of Isopon P38 filler can put it right!!! The final pics from Duxford are a couple of the trucks on display within the aircraft hangers. I didn't have time to get as far as the land warfare hall. The last two pictures were taken today, at the 100th BG Museum, Thorpe Abbotts, and feature this unusual airfield jeep. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Very nice pictures Jessie, I assume that last jeep is a "Follow Me" Jeep for the aircraft :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 Thanks, it was either a 'Follow Me' jeep, or one that was frequently used on the live side of the airfield, and so made more visible for safety. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodge Deep Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Great pics thanks for posting. Love the 190 replica very smart, what engine has it got? Poor old Spit... such graceful lines even the plastic ones want to fly ;-) Last 2 times i've been to visit the outlaws Thorpe Abbots has been closed...no fair :pfrt: :pfrt: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 That looks like a huge museum! Must visit it sometime... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 Last 2 times i've been to visit the outlaws Thorpe Abbots has been closed...no fair :pfrt: :pfrt: Opening Times: The Museum is open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. From 10am to 5pm throughout the year. The Museum is closed Nov,Dec & Jan. From May to September the Museum is also open on Wednesdays. Museum Website http://www.100bgmus.org.uk/html/intro.html 100th BG Foundation Website http://www.100thbg.com/ I'm not sure on the engine in the Fw190. Someone said it is a Russian engine, but that is not confirmed. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 15, 2007 Author Share Posted January 15, 2007 That looks like a huge museum! Must visit it sometime... The Imperial War Museum at Duxford is a massive museum. If you went for a full weekend, you wouldn't be able to see everything in detail. There are about 10 hangars ( several built in pairs ), plus a hangar sized Land Warfare Hall, and then there are the workshops and admin/fighter control buildings over the road. Several of the hangars feature airworthy aircraft ( ie The Fighter Collection ) as well as those under restoration. http://duxford.iwm.org.uk/ Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 I guess this is another place I should visit! Thanks for giving me advice on this summer vacation. Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian2b Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 I guess this is another place I should visit! Thanks for giving me advice on this summer vacation. Marty Hi Marty, Do you come to the War & Peace Show in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Hmm - maybe that should have read "Marty, you should come to the War & Peace show" !!!! :-) :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian2b Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 Hmm - maybe that should have read "Marty, you should come to the War & Peace show" !!!! :-) :-) He may well already be a yearly visitor to the show as many are from abroad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 True :-) :-) :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted January 16, 2007 Share Posted January 16, 2007 He may well already be a yearly visitor to the show as many are from abroad. Like us, 7 years allready.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I spent a short time as a volunteer with the MV wing at Duxford - about 2 years max which does not translate to regular visits. It was brilliant and although I have no mechanical skills I had a great time getting involved with stuff. The people there are fantastic and do wonders with limited resources. Unfortunately I was unable to fit visits into my work and domestic schedule and had to stop. I suppose my membership is in abeyance. I cannot recommend the museum highly enough - it is stunning from end to end - but I am entirely biassed towards the MV collection and people who are a lot less "glam" and self important than some of the fly boys. The Land Warfare Hall is actually a lot bigger draw to the museum than people realise and is not credited as such. It is always good to meet up with DX people at events - especially Beltring where they drive some of the armour. I have one interesting story: I was passing a Spitfire with an open cockpit and thought I'd have a peak, I absent mindedly touched, and by that I mean brushed, the bodywork as I did so. A flyboy got very stroppy - telling me the plane was worth a million pounds and how much damage I could have done. A while later I was clambering over a fairly unique Marksman anti-aircraft SP (on a Chieftain chassis) - it was way too high for my vertigo - and the difference in attitudes cannot be better illustrated. Planes are lovely - but the MVs are so much more accessible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 17, 2007 Author Share Posted January 17, 2007 Peaking into a plane can be very dangerous. If a tank stops working, it just sits there. Brian Lecomber was almost killed during an aerobatic display when someones biro pen jammed the controls in a dive. Fortunately he was able to free the column and land safely. Ever since then, he has been paranoid about people leaning in to have a look. I don't blame pilots for being a little over protective. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambo1969 Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I love Duxford. It's nice to see lottery money being used for something sensiable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T corbin Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 I have been a member of DAS MT SECTION at DUXFORD from the start .In1971.And kept the ALBION their from 1972. And restored BEDFORD QL FUEL BOWSER. FEDERAL CRASH WRECKER. FORDSON WOT1 CRASH TENDER . And a lot of DX Vehicles In the early days. T he ALBION was the only truck heavy enough to move most of the tanks that where arriving from time to time . It did move some quite large planes as well. ( DUXFORD MILITARY VIHICLE SHOW 17 JUNE ) Hope to meet all HMVF members their TONY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FV601 (R.I.P.) Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 A group of us will be making a visit this Sunday Tony so if you are about might see you there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmite!! Posted January 17, 2007 Share Posted January 17, 2007 A group of us will be making a visit this Sunday Tony so if you are about might see you there. Me too :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martylee Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Hmm - maybe that should have read "Marty, you should come to the War & Peace show" !!!! :-) :-) Hi there! ian2be, artiststrifle & enigma! Unfortunately I haven't been to the war & peace yet, Sooner or later I gotta go there. I feel like it's a long trip and being mechanicel disabled it's a bit risky! I would need good company. The furtherst away I've been was with the Dodge at a meeting in Aalborg, Denmark. More than half of the trip was by ferry, so that wasn't any problem. :-D Someday, someway, somehow... Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtistsRifles Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 Marty - most of the trip to W&P would be by ferry too!!! If you could get one of the DFDS boats to Harwich it's only a short hop down to Beltring from there - and there's enough Dodge fanatics around in the UK to ensure you'd get there and back in one peice. I went for the first time ever last year - and can't wait to go back this year!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snapper Posted January 18, 2007 Share Posted January 18, 2007 I may even consider taking my Iltis to DX if we are getting a team up. I am sorry, Tony, but I don't think I met you there at any time. I do recall chatting to you on the phone once when I was still a wet behind the ears writer for CMV. Nuff said. As for Beltring...you either love it or hate it...and I love it. see you all soon. Mark B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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