Weathering seen on TVAL aircraft

jamo · 14 March 2010, 01:01 AM

The aircraft operated by The Vintage Aviator Ltd are 'working' aircraft, not static exhibits, so its interesting to observe what types of weathering effects are evident. Here are a few photos from the hangar visit today:

The Albatros DVa has only been finished for six months or so. Note the oil spill down the fuselage centre line from the drain cock and inspection hatch:

Even the newly completed BE2c replica has some exhaust staining on the undercarriage support strut and the horizontal stabiliser:

The Sopwith Camel replica has a 160hp Monosoupape engine and the staining is reasonably significant under the fuselage and lower wing:

It was difficult getting far enough away from the Camel's fuselage to take this photo (lying on my back underneath it):

The Bristol F2B had significant staining and 'blotching' of the centre section of the lower wing:

And it has some interesting discolouration under the rear fuselage:

jamo · 14 March 2010, 01:08 AM

There is further discolouration under the centre section of the Bristol F2B's upper wing:

The SE5a's have some interesting mud splashes under the tailplane and the lower wings:

My interest is from a modelling perspective, to obtain reference material for more realistic weathering effects.

James

crankcase · 14 March 2010, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamo

The aircraft operated by The Vintage Aviator Ltd are 'working' aircraft...
...the Camel's fuselage ...lying on my back underneath it...

James, lying down on the job, so to speak!

Thanks for your efforts to make these instructive photos of the "hard to spot" places on the aircraft. It is comforting that they are not pristine display models but show the effects of real use.
marc

buzz1941 · 14 March 2010, 01:53 AM

Thanks to you, James!

'14-'18aviationcollector · 14 March 2010, 03:02 AM

Hi James,

Thank you very much for posting the photos! They are very interesting, and I found similar marks on my WW1 radio controlled aeroplanes when I was flying them regularly.

Cheers,

David.

karrart · 14 March 2010, 09:31 AM

On the Camel- was the staining symetrical? On the one 160Gnome Camel I've been around, much more crud spits out of the left and so the left wing underside catches more.
Robert Karr
no cute bunnies:
Robert Karr | Facebook

Colin A Owers · 15 March 2010, 12:11 AM

It would be very interesting to know if the colours used are mixed to the original specifications as the PC10 shows different shades depending on its age. If they were all mixed the same, then we would have a good idea of the colours of PC10 as it aged in the field. Note the colours of the Bristol Fighter and the S.E.5a fighters in published photos to see what I mean.

Colin A Owers

jamo · 15 March 2010, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karrart

On the Camel- was the staining symetrical? On the one 160Gnome Camel I've been around, much more crud spits out of the left and so the left wing underside catches more.
Robert Karr
no cute bunnies:
Robert Karr | Facebook

Thats an interesting question Robert. I recall there was staining on both lower wings but I wasn't looking to see if it was symetrical. Maybe next time.

Apparently it's much more straightfoward cleaning off the castor oil on the metal surfaces, that is relatively easy. Those black hair-like 'cracks' are curious on the Camel. Its almost like the dope has cracked and the oil has got in further there. The effect on the wing looked like when you put turpentine on paper and it goes translucent.

Regards
James

Dan_San_Abbott · 18 March 2010, 10:05 AM

Hi James:
All of those markings are from operational use. I wam some what surprised that they had not removed the oil staining from the Alb.D.Va. If left, it could damage the plywood. The first job I got was a Hangar Boy. I had to clean to oil off of the bellies of the aircraft. The mud under the wings and tailplane is common for wet dirt or muddy airfields, it is thrown of the wheels intake-offs and landings. I would be concerned about the water staining on the Bristol F2B center-section.
Blue skies James,
Dan-San

jamo · 24 April 2010, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karrart

On the Camel- was the staining symetrical? On the one 160Gnome Camel I've been around, much more crud spits out of the left and so the left wing underside catches more.
Robert Karr
no cute bunnies:
Robert Karr | Facebook

Its been a while since I started this thread, but I've just got back from a most successful ANZAC Day airshow at Hood aerodrome in Masterton and I managed to have a look under the Sopwith Camel to answer Robert's question. It was just back from a flying display so hadn't been cleaned up at all. Remember this aircraft is powered by a 160hp Gnome Monosoupape engine. It was absolutely dripping with castor oil! The whole undercarriage was glistening with the stuff, plus all under the fuselage and the under surface of the lower wings. And yes the exhaust staining seemed quite asymetrical with more on the port side (from the pilot's perspective).

More photos from the airshow to come on a seperate thread