With the imminent release of Airfix's 1/48 Vampire F.3 kit, here's a small walkaround of the former RCAF F.3 at the Planes of Fame Grand Canyon.
DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
- PaulBradley
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DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
Paul
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- Stuart
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Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
Nice pic's Paul - it's in a bit of a state isn't it - are they planning on repainting it at some point?
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My Blog: https://stuartsscalemodels.blogspot.com/
- PaulBradley
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Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
Cheers, Stu! These were taken about 10 years ago, and, yes, she was in a state. The plan at the time was to restore her, but I've no idea whether that happened and their website is distinctly unhelpful; and I no longer know any of the folks working there. I had asked to boss to notify me if they were going to scrap her, as I wanted some bits, but they have never called.
Paul
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"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
- Stuart
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Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
That's sad to hear.PaulBradley wrote: ↑September 10th, 2021, 5:24 pm Cheers, Stu! These were taken about 10 years ago, and, yes, she was in a state. The plan at the time was to restore her, but I've no idea whether that happened and their website is distinctly unhelpful; and I no longer know any of the folks working there. I had asked to boss to notify me if they were going to scrap her, as I wanted some bits, but they have never called.
Stuart Templeton I may not be good but I'm slow...
My Blog: https://stuartsscalemodels.blogspot.com/
My Blog: https://stuartsscalemodels.blogspot.com/
- PaulBradley
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- Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
Just a follow-up. The museum closed its doors last winter forever. Apparently, Planes of Fame is building a new museum at Santa Maria, CA, to replace this and the one at Chino - airspace issues, in the case of Chino.
Paul
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
- PaulBradley
- Staring out the window
- Posts: 21220
- Joined: April 6th, 2011, 3:08 pm
- Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
Paul
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
- JamesPerrin
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Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
I've just finally clocked why the corner of the nose wheel door is missing - I think it's so it doesn't foul the wheel when that turns. That's bugged me for years; was it short shot, is there another piece etc.
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- TeeELL
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Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
I visited during my Canada/USA grand tour in 2019. The Vampire was in a heap and badly deteriorated, covered in tatty tarpaulins iirc - so much so that I’ve no photographs. Even then the ‘museum’ was in a state of slow decline - not entirely surprising as it was a bit a bit off the beaten track.PaulBradley wrote: ↑September 11th, 2023, 9:55 pm Just a follow-up. The museum closed its doors last winter forever. Apparently, Planes of Fame is building a new museum at Santa Maria, CA, to replace this and the one at Chino - airspace issues, in the case of Chino.
Tony
The older I get the better I was!
Current build:
Airfix 1:72 Javelin FAW9
Particular modelling interests:
Cuban Airforce aircraft, 29(F) Sqn aircraft, Aircraft I’ve flown
The older I get the better I was!
Current build:
Airfix 1:72 Javelin FAW9
Particular modelling interests:
Cuban Airforce aircraft, 29(F) Sqn aircraft, Aircraft I’ve flown
- PaulBradley
- Staring out the window
- Posts: 21220
- Joined: April 6th, 2011, 3:08 pm
- Location: Flagstaff, AZ
Re: DeHavilland Vampire F.3 Walkaround
I used to work there, back in the day, and the museum was perpetually short of money. The director was pretty handy and built a lot of display cases, and I built a lot of models for them, and put together a bunch of the displays . All in the best tradition of bodging.TeeELL wrote: ↑September 12th, 2023, 11:06 amI visited during my Canada/USA grand tour in 2019. The Vampire was in a heap and badly deteriorated, covered in tatty tarpaulins iirc - so much so that I’ve no photographs. Even then the ‘museum’ was in a state of slow decline - not entirely surprising as it was a bit a bit off the beaten track.PaulBradley wrote: ↑September 11th, 2023, 9:55 pm Just a follow-up. The museum closed its doors last winter forever. Apparently, Planes of Fame is building a new museum at Santa Maria, CA, to replace this and the one at Chino - airspace issues, in the case of Chino.
The museum was opened halfway to the Grand Canyon in a hangar at the old GC Airport, with the thought that people would stop in either on their way to or from the Canyon, but most people just wanted to get to the Canyon or get on to their next stop and very few actually stopped. It didn't help that the tiny place where it was located was a pit. A new hangar and museum space was built but that didn't help at all. When I worked there, we were lucky to get 50 people in a day coming through.
Eventually, it was seen by the higher-up at Chino as merely more of an overflow storage facility. Investment dried up completely and I guess they eventually decided to cut their losses.
Paul
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"
За демократію і незалежний Україну
"For Democracy and a Free Ukraine"