Nanton Lancaster Museum 2014

Over this Summer my Aunt came to visit us from Germany. This was the first real time I or any of my siblings had met her. I was 1 1/2 when I went to Germany but I have no recollection of the events.  So the family's job was to treat her to the sights of Southern Alberta, and my choice was the Bomber Command Lancaster Museum in Nanton. It's one of my favorite places on this Earth. As it's one of the few places close to me where I can marvel at gone-bye Aircraft, and those Vintage Warbirds. As the Title explains Nanton's biggest attraction here is the Lancaster Bomber they restored. I Like to go tot his Museum at least once a year. And I was in for a few welcomed surprises :D

 Bombardier Station

Looking up at the Front Turret

Bomb Bay

Look at all that Weathering

Inside Landing Gear Bay

Note the Interior Green inside the Wings

Dambuster Bomb 

These Turrets are really a cool new addition to the Mesuem. The Turret ABOVE is a Martin Type Turret, Commonly used by the USAF, B-17, B-24, B-25, etc. Many Canadian Lancasters used these turrets vs the more common RAF "Lightbulb Turret" BELLOW. Martin Turrets were easier to obtain for the Canadian Air force. As the British types were being built in the UK. The Flying Canadian Lancaster actually has this Martin Turret mounted to the Lancaster.

This Rear Section of a Lancaster was Donated to the museum after being used in a TV Movie (No one seems to know which movie however) "Note the AA Damage" The Rear Turret was a sealed unit prone to malfunction and stop for no reason, Causing Many crewmen to loose their lives in these coffins.

On my Top 5 Favorite Aircraft list the Bristol Blemheim Mk IV comes in at 4th place.  Canada during the war had a weird Thing of renaming Aircraft, Which granted does make sense, letting people know that the aircraft was built in Canada.  Like the T-6 Texan was called the "Havard" The Halifax, well is Canadian named. The awkward named Blenheim was given a stranger name of "Bollingbrook" In fact there are no Blenheims left in the world only Bollingbrooks. Still however I love this plane, It's a plane I call an "Ugly Duckling" : An Aircraft that isn't the most attractive but you can't help but love it anyway. It's not as graceful looking as a Spitfire but it's still a pretty sight, with it's awkward sloped nose I still really have a soft spot for this Aircraft. 

Navigator/ Bombardier Station

Note The Curved Nose

My Dad and Aunt Ursulla 

Pilots Seat 

The hole behind the turret there is the entry access chute for the tail gunner 

Note The yellow chipped panel, this was the original overall color to this Trainer Bollingbrook,Repainted as a War time Blenheim.

While we were there we had a rare oppertunity to see their Mosquito up close. This section was in a restricted area, but our guide was more than kind enough to let me get in there and take some pictures granted I didn't touch anything :) This "Mossie" was found in storage in Calgary, and was being put up for sale soon after it was found. Thankfully Canada stepped up and was able to keep the Mossie in Canada instead of going over seas. My goal in these pictures was to take as many photo's of the Mosquito in it's original wooden finish before they painted the aircraft. Also Note the amount of silver metal pieces on the aircraft. Very few, excluding the Cowling covers and spinners.

This is the new cockpit flooring for the Mosquito. the Yolk is being test fitted and the hole is the entrance hatch.

One of the "Hearts" of the Mosquito. The Famous Merlin Engine. Still in very good condition.  

Inside the Bomb bay, the Wing section would be fitted on top first.

A look inside the Bombardier Position

More restoration work, this is the side of the Bomb bay.

BELLOW: The Original Cockpit floorboards, Note the weathered Cockpit Green.

I told my Sister, this would probably be one of the only chances she had to see a Mosquito like this, I insisted on taking Her picture next tot the aircraft, She reluctantly agreed :P

The Wing Section is in one large Piece and then fitted under the Fuselage closed in by the Bomb bay compartment. The section of the Aircraft is awaiting restoration. But is in surprisingly good Condition for a 50+ year old WarBird.

Wing Tip Electrics Connector. 

While I went around  chatting and studying the rest of this work space, My Sister took her Camera back and insisted on taking more detailed shots of the engine. Especially for me since I just finished building this engine for Tamiya's 1:32nd Spitfire Mk IX, and still had to build the Mk XVI. I'm quite serious about that, she really wanted me to have good pictures to better build the plumbing for my next project. Another reason why my Little Sister is the best :D

Control Stick

Another addition to the Museum is the project of restoring a Halifax Bomber, they are about 60% done collecting parts. And this piece caught my eye as the Front Turret to Early Halifax Bombers. I'm not sure if they've decided what variant of Halifax to build yet.

Mosquito spinners 

I'm not 100% sure but this appears to be the nose for the Later type Halifax Bomber, It looks the same but it appeared to be smaller. So I'm not sure what this is from though it bears many similarities to the Halifax.

This Roundel is off a Havard Trainer (T-6 Texan) I took it for my new Rebels @ Cloudnine logo.

This was by far the Biggest surprise this year, and as soon as I saw it I ran and got my Dad. A Me 109? Well yes and no. It's a 1:1 Full scale model. Hopefully I'll remember the story behind this properly. This was built by a Highschool history teacher in Edmonton. He'd been to Germany a few times and actually brought back original parts that are in this 109. It was built as a crashed belly landing, and a bit of a diorama around it. I can imagine the fun this fellow must have had building it, it's certainly been a dream for every modeler I know, to have a 1:1 replica aircraft. But troubles came when the 109 needed a home. It sounds like Nanton was a bit reluctant to take in an enemy aircraft. But the decision was made to take it in since it was a part of WWII and an important piece of avation History. The museum built metal landing gear legs and tires. And now she sits here in the museum, Willy Messerschmitt's notorious hunter.

Next to the 109 are some display cases featuring a Luftwaffe Pilots uniform and a replicated 109 control panel. I took these pictures of the control stick since it's a piece I'd love to replicate in 1:1 scale someday. Most of the gauges on the panel are real, only a few a replicated.

Our last stop is a Lancaster Cockpit, This was used in a different TV movie, (again I don't know which one) But it's pretty cool to walk through this semi fuselage and get a feel to be in the drivers seat. These pictures are of my sister and Aunt.

Lastly is this picture of my Dad next to the 109. Years ago he had an oppertunity to sit in a Hispano Ha-111 Buchon. These are often called "Spanish Messerschmitts" Since they were built by Spain and featured a Merlin Engine inside. They were most notably used in the 1969 "Battle of Britain" film. He has a really big picture of himself climbing in the 109 in his hobby room. So for me it was a great pleasure to take this picture. My Dad has a soft spot for the 109, as his Uncle flew on in the war and was shot down 1940. My Dad was named after him.