New Zealand, Warbirds, Bangers, and QC's

Flew down to Nelson, NZ late last week to pack an F-86 that we just purchased into a box. Also took the opportunity to check out the locally produced Kiwi QC's at Nelson. So here's a few pics of some really sweet airplanes, and some crazy banger powered A's with QC's....

Landed in Auckland, and found this Airstream set up as a coffee shop during the transfer from International to domestic terminals



Boarded a flight to Nelson and flew over some beautiful country



Landed in Nelson and met up with out hosts, had a bite to eat, and called it a night. Next morning we arrived at the hangar and hit it hard and stripped the F-86 for packing into the container for the short trip home.

Early morning looking out from the privately owned hangar..



The aircraft is an Avon Sabre, the Aussies threw a Rolls Royce Avon engine into the Sabre airframe for a bit more grunt than the standard US issue F-86, and it kicked ****! The markings currently applied are not original to aircraft, and we will remove these when back in Oz and apply the correct Aussie markings worn by the aircraft during the late fifties.



The F-86 shared hangar space with this absolute pristine restoration of an Avro Anson. Words cannot describe the detail and amount of work that has, is is still going into, this aircraft, it is amazing and a true credit to the owner.





The 'Helmet Cowls' are one the most complex sheet metal pieces on this aircraft, with Grant and Dan doing a great job getting them back into shape.

 

I took some time out to make the short 10 minute drive up the road to visit Derek and check out his Kiwi Quick Changes. Derek has changed my opinion of banger's, showing me some of the craziest flat 4's I have ever seen.

Derek first showed me his large stock of all things 'A'. If Derek doesn't have it, fair chance you ain't gunna get it...





Some of the projects in store include a 28 panel delivery, a slant screen sedan, and a little modified.





The main reason I visited Derek was to check out his Quick Change centres that he produces. Nothing but quality here.

 

Good stuff Jamie looks like you saw some great stuff while "working"...

 

In the main workshop another 4 A's, with 3 of them running hopped up bangers.

Stock Vicky



My favourite, RPU







Delivery



And of course a coupe



I've left the camera card at work, so I'll finish this off tomorrow.

 

Beautiful pics. That F-86 is gorgeous. My Grandfather was a pilot in the AF, went in at the start of ww2 and retired on the mid sixties, lots of hours in the Sabre and F-80/T-33 and others.

So be sure and post pics of that thing when its back together, looking forward to it.

 

Thanx, that gold roadster pickup is the cat's ***!

 

One engine which really stood out for me was this one. I could have this wrong, but I think Derek said it ran a 'McDugan'??? alloy head. Also twin plugs, and a Nissan V8 distributer.

 

Frank Duggan from Melbourne did alot of interesting alloy heads . Could be one of his .

 

Ohhh my....

Let's see.....junkets over to NZ, wrenching on kick *** F86 warbirds, checking out local hot rodders stashes, and bench racing.

Just galad to see our taxpayers funds being put to good use haha !!

Get ME a job there man.

PRONTO !!

Rat

 

AWESOME!

Thanks, Jimbob.

 

As an Aussie Taxpayer............I would rather see my dollars spent on this, than BigReds ideas

More Please

 

Anyone know what this steering box came from???

 

Did I miss something? How do you know taxpayers dollars funded this?

 

JB works for the Australian War Memorial - a taxpayer funded museum

 

Sorry mate, don't know.

 

This banger had an Isuzu head with external belt driven cam





Another banger 'in stock'



QC's housings in stock







And. last of all, the Sabre before we broke it down for shipping.

 

Fantastic pix! Thanks for posting!

 

surprised we didn't throw in a skyhawk too...... good old Helen turned them from a going concern that we could have used to trade up and still have an airfarce to being a pile of barn finds with out the barn.....
Still looks like you had a good trip and managed to put your downtime to good use, the Airstream coffe guy has 3 or 4 of those units I understand.

 

Awesome stuff!

 

I think that's a Datto Stanza(200B) steering box.

those QC are very ......desirable.

better save some pocket money....

Cheers,

Drewfus

 

The NZ Skyhawks have a lot of relevancy for Australia, for many years we have had 2 Squadron RNZAF a squadron of A4s based in HMAS Albatross. They have done a lot in training with the Navy, Army and Airforce.
Sadly I was duty Medic when the squadron CO Fatally crashed while training for an air show. I think and would personally like very much to see a NZ Skyhawk permanently on display here in Australia. It would be a great memorial to Murry and the great work that the 'Kiwi's' have contributed to us over the years.

(Sorry for the WAY O/T post)

Doc.

 

Hey Doc... "No Worries" Those are just the facts of life... anybody who has been deeply routed in the world of aviation know that this is a dangerous profession.

I'll be in a T-6 tomorrow flying formation over many Memorial day parades and there are a few less of us compared to a couple of years ago.

But we enjoy acknowledging our men and women that flew in the Heart of danger to protect us from attacks of our enemies.

Great photo's and thanks for posting them!

 

Pretty sure its a toyota steering box the 32 ch***is was put together by Chris Webby here in Nelson

 

Is NAVY an acronym for something?

 

Yip that steering box looks like its maybe a toyota crown, late 70's, ive got a couple of them and from memory it looks the same.

 

Navy shouldn't be in all caps and is short for Naval not navel and Marine was for Mariner but MARINE can be an acronym for My *** Rides In Navy Equipment... Semper Fi!!!

 

Well there were more than a few acronyms made up about the Navy, all derogatory so I wont post any. I must have hit the 'caps lock' key instead of shift. They made up a few for Army as well, all in good fun.

Just for you Brootal I will go back and fix it.

Wingnutz, Hmm......... Just a LITTLE jealous of your ride! Have a good day, Lest we Forget.

Doc.

 

Interesting ,in the photo of the engine with what is probably a Duggan head it is fitted with a manifold made by Thomas ,is this an old Eddie Thomas design or another Thomas, I worked for Eddie starting in the late sixties and never saw anything like it.

 

I presumed it was an Eddie Thomas manifold, but I was a little curious about that.

 

Derek Thomason at Antique Ford is a very cool guy, and has been a great help to me with my 28 A build.
Great pics... aint it amazing how trad hotrodders get off on trad planes too.... I guess the warplanes were really the hot rods of the skies.