Aircraft pictured in the late 40's (photograph courtesy of The Brooklands Collection)
Aircraft pictured in the late 50's (photograph courtesy of The Brooklands Collection)
The aircraft pictured in the 80's. (photo courtesy of Bill Teasdale)
Freshly restored DeHavilland Tiger Moth (2010) in its original RAF training markings.
Tiger Moth schematic - Sut through drawing showing the wooden construction of wings and tubular steel fuselage.
Main fuselage trial assembly - Major parts being removed before fabric covering.
Instrument panel assembly. - Instrument panels redesigned to include modern instruments and materials. First fit to check tollerances before final painting.
1st fit of tailfeathers. - Trial fitting and adjustment.
Original brass parts and schematics. - Checking restoring existing parts against drawings and parts list's, making of new parts and sourcing of missing or irreparable parts.
Organising parts for final assembly. - Final painted parts for assembly.
Restoration of original Spruce wing struts. - Main interplane struts constucted from original spruce timber, carefully stripped and sanded ready for clear varnish.
Undercarriage parts with final fabric finish. - Steel, timber and fabric coming together to make a final undercarriage leg.
Original compass restored - Compass dismantled, serviced, stripped and re-painted.
Newly manufactured instrument panels. - New instrument panel including modern but small aviaonics. Layout complete before final painting.
Completed front panel.
Completed rear panel awaiting altimeter.
Installed front panel - Completed panel final installation.
Upper surface fabric application.
Applying fabric to fuselage underside.
Detailed fabric parts - Inspection covers and drain hole patches.
Trial fitting of control cables. - 1st trial fit of control cables and adjustment before fuselage fabricing.
Cutting of fabric side parts - With the fabric held in place, marking and cutting to size before bonding.
Side fabric installation - All interior work carried out allowing the installation of fabric to the sides of the fuselage.
Cutting detailed fabric reinforcement parts - Where fabric comes into contact with solid parts, reinforcing patches are installed.
Left side fuselage fabric completed - All reinforcing tapes, details and cable outlets acurately applied. Fuselage ready for silver and clear dope.
Right side fuselage fabric completed - All reinforcing tapes, details and cable outlets acurately applied. Fuselage ready for silver and clear dope.
Fuselage ready for transport for final paint. - Final undercoat layer of 'Silver' dope applied. Silver dope actually with aluminium powder to block out UV rays from effecting the fabric. Timber reinforcing for road transport to paint shop.
Colour scheme research. - Checking original 1940's drawing against historical text and various photographical avidence to finalise an acurate colour scheme and markings in preparation to instruct paint shop.
Gipsy Major engine before restoration - 4 cylinder, inverted, inline, air cooled, direct drive Gipsy Major Mk1 engine, to be fitted to the Moth after routine maintenance and restoration of paintwork. Engine with 200hrs since its last major overhaul. Photo shows how neat the engine is with no external pipes. The frontal area is very narrow.
Gipsy Major after restoration
Rear engine case detail
Tail wheel installation - Tail 'Skid' modified to hold a wheel. All hardware replaced and steel overhauled and re-painted.
Applying vinyl graphics to wings and fuselage - Original 1940's drawing used for sizing, position and colour reference.
Final registration - Application of registration mistakingly before painting the yellow training stripes. Some clever masking to be done!
Final assembly of tail feathers
A true British restoration project! - Final assembly of all major hardware after final painting.
Final installation of wheels.
Lowered on to its wheels for the first time in 8 years!
Trial fitting of cowlings - Fitting and adjusting of engine cowlings before final paint.
Fuel tank installation & plumbing. - Simple graviy fed fuel flow, supplies the engine from a tank mounted between the upper main planes (wings). Basic engineering but very strong centre section struts support the tank and align all wings, providing the main structural support.
1st test running of the engine. Started on the 4th blade and with mimimal problems!
Almost a finished aeroplane!
Aircraft during 1st rigging.
Finished rear cockpit.
Placard detail with history.
Magneto switch with brass detail.
Placard detail with speeds.
Wings rigged, almost ready to fly!
Pitot tube installed with its tubing, protected with leather.
Test flying complete, airworthy once again!
Wind under the wings at last!
Final photo shoot showing overall quality.
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Tiger Moth restoration
Restoration of DeHavilland DH82 Tiger Moth