The Barracuda Project

[Renegadenemo]

Got a look at the subject today and it's not at all bad. OK - it's got a tweak here and there but the museum has pretty-much all of it and we have far more leeway here to rebuild to a high standard but not so the components need to be fit for purpose. Everything has to work because we'd not settle for anything less it doesn't have to suffer any punishment so it's a far less demanding task.
I'd say this'll fix... It's the centre section of the aircraft. The cockpit sticks onto the left, the tail onto the right and the left wing onto the bit that's facing you. It's in reasonable shape.

Centre Section.jpg

[quicksilver-wsr]

Amazing project!

The FAAM undertook a similar restoration project some years ago - another Fairey type - an Albacore torpedo-bomber (the type that was supposed to supersede the Swordfish, but the Swordfish was so good that it ended up outliving its successor!).

This Albacore had come off various mountainside crash-sites in Scotland and all sorts of places ... a real "bit-sa" (bits of this, bits of that) ... but it got restored and is now the only example of type anywhere on the planet.

[Renegadenemo]

This Albacore had come off various mountainside crash-sites in Scotland and all sorts of places ... a real "bit-sa" (bits of this, bits of that) ... but it got restored and is now the only example of type anywhere on the planet.

Had a good look around it yesterday and it's a beautiful job and a tough act to follow but only about half original Albacore. They want to up the percentage on the Barracuda so our merry band of tin-bashers (or leading metal-conservators, as we were referred to yesterday) is going to take a look.

[Mike Bull]

You can tell we're serious about this, as last night when Bill returned to the workshop to report to his eager team I immediately came up with a daft name for something. Anything we don't use will be deemed 'Bits Of Old Barracuda'.

Yes, this project will have a BOOB box.

[quicksilver-wsr]

Had a good look around it yesterday and it's a beautiful job and a tough act to follow but only about half original Albacore. They want to up the percentage on the Barracuda so our merry band of tin-bashers (or leading metal-conservators, as we were referred to yesterday) is going to take a look.

The wings and all of the control-surfaces on the "Applecore" were fabric-covered. At least you won't have fabric-'n'-dope to mess around with on the (all-metal) "Barra". It should be somewhat akin to K7 - but lots more of it to work on, though not so badly mangled.

I hope you show as much of this project's progress, when it comes on-stream, as you have with K7. "Pic of the Day" will be a whole new, different ball-game!

[Renegadenemo]

be somewhat akin to K7 - but lots more of it to work on, though not so badly mangled.

I was surprised at there not being as much of it as I thought. And it's a load of tin wrapped around a steel frame so we should be OK.

[Ice Blue Spriget]

Bill have you seen this one http://www.scottishhills.com/html/modul ... pic&t=1633 it's not been in the sea! Don't know what remains now though three years later? Might be useful for reference, if there's anything left of it...Keep up the great work.

[Renegadenemo]

Have passed that link to the researchers so thanks for that. We're possibly short of about a third of a stbd wing but there's crates upon crates of bits in the yard so the chances are we've everything we need but it doesn't hurt to have a handle on as many spares as possible. Keep it coming folks...

[Mike Bull]

I'm sure I've already linked to this on here somewhere before, but anyhow, here's a few bits located in Norway-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p04g3AdH2ok

[Jordangbr]

What mk or variation of Barracuda is it?