Topic: Chipmunk No22

[Rob Merrylees]

Undergoing a total restoration at Tocumwal Canadian isChipmunk Serial No 22 , Australia's oldest example of the type.  It is also beleived to be the third oldest Chipmunk in existance in the world.  The first photograph shows Kevin Ainsworth and Tim Becroft doing some final rivetting on the wing.  Note that new skins have been fitted.
The second photograph shows the forward fuselage.  New skins have been fitted on the starboard side.

Quite a way to go to completion on this aircraft so I very much doubt that it will make it to the Groongal fly-in in November but who knows nwith men like Becroft and Ainsworth working on it!

[alvin sfc]

Nice one, thanks for sharing,look forward to pics of progress.

[Rob Merrylees]

Progress upon this project may appear to have been glacial but it is now coming together.  All metal repairs have been compled. the wings recovered, the front and rear sections of the fuselage reunited and fitted out.  In fact the aircraft will be moving into the paint shop shortly for refinishing before final assembly.

[Rob Merrylees]

The wings are now painted.  The first photograph shows a wing in as good as new condition.  The finish on the metal is surperb.  The fabric looks a little dusty in this first photograph but I think that it is just the angle of the photograph.  In the second shot the fabric work appears to be excellent.  The narrow peaked Canadian style canopy is ready for paint.

[Rob Merrylees]

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[Rob Merrylees]

Note that the Lycoming powered Chipmunk repair project lurking in the background has struck a problem with the repair of the rear fulelage/ rear bulkhead that will  set the project back many months.

[DGH]

Looks great Rob, you can certainly see all the hard work that has gone into it.

Can I take it the Lycoming Chippy is a little bit more bent or cracked than at first thought? Might be time for a full resto rather than a quick fix, put a proper engine back on the front and everything! He says with out any regard for cost, engineering or the owners desiree's! 

Thanks for keeping us updated. 

[Rob Merrylees]

The Lycoming powered Chipmunk was  if anything not as badly damaged as first thought in the most recent accident.  The wing, Fin and rudder are ready to go.

However, when section of the damaged skin was removed from the rear fuselage it revealed some very poor workmanship that had been carried out during an earlier repair.   The repair is so bad that the rear bulkhead will have to be replaced.  A crack in the rear bulkhead had been only stop drilled rather  than repaired in accordance with an approved repair scheme. Oversized rivet holes and holes drilled too closed to edges are among the faults.

 Although all is repairable, I am considering replacing the whole rear fuselage.  It is a matter of standing back for a while while we consider various options.

[david burke]

Rob - I have at least one rear bulkhead over here which is for sale . As for rear fuselages - I have sold one to a U.S restoration project but have others in the pipeline. Please prompt me if I don't reply quickly as things are fairly frantic at present! 

[Rob Merrylees]

Thanks for the offer of help David.  We have already sourced a new bulkhead and it has been decieded to repair the existing fuselage.   I will keep you in mind if we should strike any more problems.

Robert