Wings airborne....

OK. Then the wings are airborne again, for one last time. Well, airborne is a little bit exaggerated, they are just beeing hoisted from the flatbed truck to the ground, and then they are rolled into the museum floor, to await final mounting on the fuselage. (click on images for large wiew).

The next job is finishing markings etc on the fuselage, something that requires somewhat milder weather than we are having these days. May 3rd and 5-6 degrees C is not normal, not even in north Norway! We ned 15 degrees to put on the paint, since the fuselage will be wheeled outdoors for the actual spraying. 

Finally, after that, it will be moving and relocating some of the stuff in the exhibition, then positioning the fuselage, elevating it and mounting the wing below the fuselage, then hoisting it some more and mounting the undercarriage. And then, maybe then, there will be time for speeches and canapees and sparkling wine in tall glasses. We will see...

Finishing touches - part I

Then the time has come to start the final phase of the restoration.
Paint, markings and these other final details.
Now, before every reader throws themselves at the keyboards with the intent of complaining and/or correcting the work Tor is doing, keep in mind that the original markings were present when Tor
salvaged the wreck back in the eigthies.
We are aware of the fact that the number 3 is bigger than most FW 190 markings, and that the placement is possibliy a bit off in comparison to the "normal" placement.
However, the original markings are replicated, and not the standard "by the book" markings.

There is an enormous interest in German WWII aircraft, and a lot of self-appointed experts, (author of this blog is NOT), but in this case we fortunately have the data that eliminates all guesswork. 

Furthermore, we are looking forward to receiving the wing, that currently is undergoing final paint 

at the workshop, and will keep you all posted when i arrives at the museum.

Photo by Birger Larsen

Short update

Getting closer and closer. However troubles are omnipresent...
The trolley used to transport the fuselage section has broken down, and we have to find other ways of transporting the airframe..

The broken part of the trailer is the unit supported by the red car-jack.

However, the color is getting there!

Stay tuned...

Paint&Chrome

OK, so not much chrome on a WWII fighter airplane... The airframe is now in the final stages of painting and finishing, finally. Securing support from the Norwegian Air Force has been an important step ahead. One of the airbase´s painting facilities have some vacant slots, and we have been able to fit into the paintshop to get the aircraft done.
Still only doing degreasing and base coats, but soon arriving at the ever-exciting top coat, the stage when everything comes to life.

Photo by Tor Olsen, on picture John Skogøy. Klick for large version.

Stay tuned.

Wings....

OK, so we´re back back. Now the fuselage has been put aside to await the finishing of the wing section.

Roman M working on wing. Click for larger version.

The wing was originally mounted on the fuselage, but had to be taken off when the ac was transported from USA to Norway. It is now mounted in a frame, vertically, leading edge down, and is being worked on in preparation to fitting it to the fuselage.

Here our team member Roman Marshalkin is removing the temporary paint job applied some 8 years ago, to reveal the skin ready to prime and paint. A tedious, boring job, that needs to be done perfectly.

The paint for the aircraft has been ordered from Germany, and has cleared customs, so we are awaiting the arrival of the paint.

And we're Back!

Finally!! The project is rolling again, months after we started the summer vacation season. As the reader might or might not remember, our main task this May and June was salvaging a FW 190 A8 off the coast of Bergen. We now have identified the aircraft, and have also finished picking parts off the fuselage and engine for our Black 3. Spares from the wings next!

We have found, restored and installed the joystick - rudder pushrods in the cockpit, as you can see on the picture. (Click for larger version). These will probably not be operational until a later stage of the restoration, but they are visually important for the cockpit environment. We are happy this has been possible!

Back to the salvaged aircraft. It is FW 190 A8 Serial number 737435. It had an emergency landing south west of Herdla airfield, the 8th of March 1945. Pilot escaped without injury.  

Updates to the blog will commence at a weekly rate again, happy to be back!

It's "home"...

At last the Blue X has arrived in Bodø. This mostly thanks to the guys at Bergen, and to FLO/Trans and Toten Transport. The weather was excellent, the logistics came together, and offloading took no more than a couple of hours.

The guys came along to watch and help, and this load was taken off and put in storage easily and without problems. Some parts are already in processing, and other parts will be taken care of shortly. A part that has not been shown before, is the propeller. It was not salvaged initially, but has been picked up from 110m/350ft of water at a later stage.

The tail section on the lawn outside our restoration facility. And in a few days, some guys will be raising a Messerschmitt 109 from the sea.... and taking the wreck to Bodø.  So in addition to the Ju 88, and the Black 3 FW190, we will also have the BlueX and a Me 109 on our premises. If you are interested in Luftwaffe history: the place to visit this summer is Norsk Luftfartsmuseum!