Lancaster NX611 ‘Just Jane’ – Restoration Update 156

An image of Avro Lancaster B.VII "Just Jane" from a couple of years ago. The aircraft is presently undergoing a restoration to flying condition, and here is the latest progress report on the efforts at East Kirkby. (image via Wikimedia)
United Fuel Cells


As many of our readers will be well aware, Avro Lancaster B.VII NX611 Just Jane is under restoration to airworthy condition with the Lincoln Aviation Heritage Center at former RAF East Kirkby in Lincolnshire, England. The group has made magnificent progress, even during the pandemic, and we thought that our readers might like to see a recent report, reproduced here with permission…


The Rivet Club – Newsletter 156

by Andrew Panton

Work to rewire the Lancaster has been progressing this week, with the main electrical panel presently on the bench. We will be rewiring this board for the systems currently in use and will add to it each time another system comes on line, so it will be an ongoing project for several years. At the moment, the Lancaster runs a smaller distribution panel rather than the initially installed example, so we will be swapping back to that original unit with this rewire. As you can see from the image below, this panel is a bit of a “rat’s nest” of wires and fuses, so it will take some time to strip it out and solder the new circuits in.

ae402bbd 0e49 0aaf aa1b 93461419ede2
NX611’s main electrical panel on the bench for rewiring.

Work on KB976’s rear fuselage has continued as well. John and Les have slaved in NX611’s castings and tubes into their equivalent locations in KB976’s rear fuselage so that the turret hoop positioning can be set and riveted up. Once the riveting is completed, we will refit the castings and tubes back into NX611.

7152cae1 8ec3 e0ef af63 4b22fc1908f1
Castings and tubes from NX611 fitted to KB976’s rear fuselage so we can set up the rear section for riveting.

95b56cdc 721c 705a b19a c7f4fc3dc73a
The castings and tubes in place.

5ec6112b 94cb e25e 8e86 e002f0038dff
The starboard side casting and tube.

 

The jig for NX664’s wing is very close to completion. We received the newly-manufactured top attachment points from Intelect, and John has dry fitted and fixed the extending arms into the set length. The jig is now fully adjusted with the top attachment points, and the spar attachments are all lined up with the column ready for the final drilling of the attachment carry plates. Rundles engineering at New Bolingbroke has produced jig pins for us so that we can fit the wing to the jig without using original wing bolts. We have also taken the spar attachment plates to Rundles for drilling with 1″ and 1 7/16″ holes to match the spars.

c792549c 80bb 1d7b 0b8d 86281d35d7ad
The spar attachment points on NX664’s wing are shown here lined up with the jig ready to receive the carrying plate.

eafec8e1 3d19 2065 69a1 a1205c7d9cd1
The carrying plates and pins for the spar. We just need to have the appropriately-sized holes drilled through the carry plates.

Next week will see all of the top attachment arms drilled to match the front spar so that we can bolt them in place. The final fitting of the spar end attachment plates at the column end will also take place. This will complete the jig – we can then drill-off and disassemble the wing for repairs. To complete this next stage with the wing, we need to boost the wing fundraiser to £30,000, so please do continue to support the Gofundme campaign if you would like to see the wing work progress by clicking on the WINGS FUND button below.

8e913da3 3743 a180 2783 76b56935829c
The wing jig’s top attachment points are just being marked ready for drilling.

 

Keith has completed a repair to one of the badly bent and damaged extruded stringers in NX664’s wing. Keith had to straighten it and affix repair patches in two areas. While it would have obviously been preferable to replace this stringer outright, it’s repair proved more cost-effective, since the original extrusion profile is no longer available. Ordering a small batch of newly-formed material would have cost a small fortune manufacture and heat treat!

c7a0907b 22a2 f52a 25e5 572c4ab4f2dd
A formerly damaged stringer from NX664’s wing showing its repair patches after undergoing straightening.

7c646c0a 3f47 5e16 1660 ba8278551ae3
Stiffener plates marking where the wing stringer received repairs.

Phil has been continuing his work on KB976’s rear fuselage stringers. The components which he has been working on this week run above the doorway and join the new doorway structure to the forward transport joint extrusion. We have now placed the order for the production of the wooden dies to manufacture new fuselage formers for this section. They will be with us in the new year so that we can finally produce the new formers for KB976 and get the fuselage repairs completed.

8ef6376d baed 44df 81c9 7898266ce569
Phil preparing to make new stringers for KB976’s rear fuselage so that he can continue his door frame repairs

3c11d731 4275 fc62 00e0 ffa66da617f8
The area of KB976’s rear fuselage where Phil will be placing new stringers.

5b471138 3969 63a5 217a 2d059f748b23
The new stringers in place.

e41e8dfa ade2 ccc6 b331 8e75cb75dee1
The new stringers as they attach to the forward transport joint.

 

The latest video showing some of the restoration action at East Kirkby during late November, 2021…


That’s all for this particular update. We hope that you have enjoyed reading it. As can be seen, a lot of work remains to be done, but the aircraft is well on the way back to flying condition. It is being done in a methodical and careful manner in order to keep the aircraft available for ground-running operations during the summer months. For those interested in helping support this important project, please click HERE

Be sure to check out their store HERE as well… There are many cool items to buy which will help get Just Jane back in the air!

5950b96b53fca257ead878469b70e12a?s=150&d=mp&r=g

Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends.

After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups.

Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

Array
About Richard Mallory Allnutt (Chief Editor) 1060 Articles
Richard Mallory Allnutt's aviation passion ignited at the 1974 Farnborough Airshow. Raised in 1970s Britain, he was immersed in WWII aviation lore. Moving to Washington DC, he frequented the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum, meeting aviation legends. After grad school, Richard worked for Lockheed-Martin but stayed devoted to aviation, volunteering at museums and honing his photography skills. In 2013, he became the founding editor of Warbirds News, now Vintage Aviation News. With around 800 articles written, he focuses on supporting grassroots aviation groups. Richard values the connections made in the aviation community and is proud to help grow Vintage Aviation News.

1 Comment

  1. I am an Australian and my father, bomb Aimer, G.F.Rogers flew as an Aussie in RAF 207 squadron Spilsby with 32 missions over Europe Jan 44 – Oct 44. I visited your fabulous museum in Aug 2010 and went inside Just Jane. My God . How did those boys fit. It brought tears to my eyes when the engines started and taxied down the runway. I was so impressed. I would like to donate to the restoration and love to see the plane fly again.

Graphic Design, Branding and Aviation Art

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*