Spitfire LF.XVIe TB252 restoration at Avspecs

[KiwiZac]

Hi all,
Former gate guardian* Spitfire TB252 came to New Zealand some years ago for Avspecs to restore to airworthy for Tony Banta, as per these scans from Classic Wings issues 38 and 43 respectively:
tb252-import-to-avspecs-clasic-wings-issue-38_49214164898_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr
tb252-progress-classic-wings-issue-43_49214189843_o by Zac Yates, on Flickr

My wife and I went to the Bay of Islands (north of Auckland) for a wedding on Saturday and, as it happened, I needed to go to Avspecs on Friday to drop off something for a UK-based project. After dropping off the part with Warren Denholm's son Jaiden one of the engineers, Dylan Stace, kindly took me on a guided tour of the facilities. He explained that TB252's new American owner wants the aircraft at Oshkosh this year so the Spitfire is front-and-centre at Avspecs. 

Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr
Untitled by Zac Yates, on Flickr

My helpful (and patient) guide explained the new owner wants the gun and cannon bays fitted out, so it should make for a sharp, detailed machine when complete. He said to make Oshkosh this year she needs to be on the water in May - exciting times!


* Goodall says she served in this role at Odiham, Acklington, Boulmer, Leuchars and finally Bentley Priory before being taken down as part of Tim Routsis' deal.

[zenrat]

Second article says the engine is the same one it left the factory with.  So was the engine in it when it was guarding the gate or is it just luck they have been reunited?