997 parts, only one to go

Press, 24 August 1988, Page 10

997 parts, only one to go

By

DAVE WILSON

It must be one of the most complicated aeroplane doors in the history of aviation — 998 parts for something no bigger than a standard household toilet window. The door is attached to one of the most sophisticated pieces of aircraft restoration in New Zealand, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum’s 46-year-old Avro Anson trainer. But Air Force Museum workers, having built an aeroplane from scratch and now completing the complicated door, have found themselves stymied for want of a lock. Not just any lock, but.a particular tvnft used on British cars; in the 1930 b — a Wiling Junior right-hand lock.

It is all a little frustrating for the museum workers because they have a Wilmot Junior left-hand lock, but it will not fit the complicated, rebuilt door of the even more complicated rebuilt aeroplane. A conventional, modern door lock is out of the question because the museum’s restoration standards demand authenticity in each project One of the civilian planewrights on the museum staff, Mr Brian Smith, said the Anson door was recreated using almost 60 original Avro factory drawings to guide construction. “The only original parts we had were two lengths of piano hinge and a window latch. Everything^lse had to be made, including # the 99 wooden, plywood, fabric, metal,

perspex, rubber and leather parts, along with 540 tiny brass nails, 223 woodscrews and 136 other fastenings.” ' But when it came to the lock, the Avro drawings merely described it as “a Wilmot Junior, right-hand.” It was a commercially available item 48 years ago but unprocurable today. The museum staff hope a vintage car enthusiast or lock collector may be able to supply or swap the elusive lock. The Avro Anson reconnaisance trainer in the museum represents the 23 Ansons used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force between 1942 and 1952. None survived<itact into the 1980 s.