'natural metal' TSR.2...well almost...

TsrJoe · January 03, 2005, 07:26:29 PM

... if youre lucky enough to have visited recently or have a copy of the current issue of 'Flypast' (Feb. 2005) the mob at the IWM. Duxford have stripped the paint from the forward fuselage of XR222 back to bare metal in preperation for display in the new £23.7 million 'AirSpace' complex.
So far all the external surfaces have been cleaned, and any damaged or deteriorated areas made good prior a visit to the paintshop for a respray back to 'pristine' condition (hopefully not 'Dulux white' this time! hmmm, pity they wont camouflage it either!!)

must admit, altho it never appeared in this way in the factory (the seperate components being primed prior to final assembly!) it does look rather different...

hmmm...i wonder how an Al/lLi alloy like X2020 would survive unpainted? (or even if it can be polished?)..the only other types i know of using the same spec of stuff for skinning being the NA. Vigilantie and the Concorde (altho theres probably a whole lot more!)

happy (forthcoming) modelling, cheers, joe

elmayerle · January 03, 2005, 10:43:36 PM

Given the tender care Al-Li alloys still seem to need, I don't think I'd care to risk them being unpainted. I know all the frames of the F-16 that use that are painted with a white epoxy enamel.

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:01:43 AM

Went to Duxford on Saturday and got in for free thanks to Chris Hughes (ex-Brampton guy) along with Steve Bamford of ARC webmaster fame!

Nick

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:02:53 AM

And a bit further back...

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:04:13 AM

Head on...

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:05:22 AM

A panel from the underside, poss the landing gear?

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:06:56 AM

This is bit dark but under the right wing thru all the scaffolding you can see the XR222 markings.

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:09:42 AM

Cockpit close-up, the canopies seem larger than when in white paint.

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:11:35 AM

As the tail has been removed for the work you can see how it was attached. Just like a model kit really!

Nick · January 10, 2005, 10:13:56 AM

And finally a view of the front undercarriage(?) bay. Enjoy!

Nick B)

Aircav · January 10, 2005, 10:39:36 AM

So did you take any bits home with you Nick

Mike Wren · January 10, 2005, 12:02:37 PM

QuoteSo did you take any bits home with you Nick

they won't find out til they try to put it all back together...

Nick · January 10, 2005, 03:09:42 PM

I couldn't see anything close enough to grab that would fit under my jacket!

I've not seen the magazine mentioned but the pics I got are typical in that I thought there was enough light in the hangar but the camera didn't see it that way...
I'm thinking about getting a tripod so I can use the lowlight long exposure setting without getting camera shake.

Nick B)

Hobbes · January 11, 2005, 01:26:28 AM

Quote
I've not seen the magazine mentioned but the pics I got are typical in that I thought there was enough light in the hangar but the camera didn't see it that way...
I'm thinking about getting a tripod so I can use the lowlight long exposure setting without getting camera shake.

If you don't have a tripod, try taking more than one shot from the same position. I noticed that about 1 in 4 shots would turn out OK in these low-light conditions, so if I take 4-6 pics, at least one won't be blurry.

Aircav · January 11, 2005, 01:52:15 AM

Tripod................hmmmm