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Nigel (& ohters), Nigel, congratulations having the car moving again! Mine is already for 4 years in the state yours has been for 15....(on axle stands). Did your spray the bottom already, or are you gonna remove the wheels and suspension again? I'm thinking of doing the whole bottom before putting it on wheels again. I've the same kind of problems as you have (small garage, not to much light, damp & cold) but am considering this approach because imperfections won't really show up due to the layer of flexible undercoating hiding them. Then I'm gonna put the suspension... MORE
I just received my cert back from the British Heritage Trust and finally have a VIN. They ended up doing the search based on the body number. So, now it's time to order a VIN plate and stamp it with my new found identity. My question is, does anyone know of a way to get the VIN stamped correctly, from the back of the plate (raised #'s)? I've checked around and don't find any local machine shops with the reverse stamps. I supposed it's really not a must since my car isn't all original, but I thought it would... MORE
Yep, finally got the car moving on all 4 wheels! Admittedly I had to push it, but hey it moved! I finished off fitting the front suspension, got the hubs on and went down to the local petrol station to pump up the tires, got them on, lowered it off it's axle stands and pushed it out of the garage - moving on all four wheels for the first time in oooh 15 years at least! So yeah, it was an exciting moment for sure; you'll have to excuse my exhuberance, but I've waited a very long time for... MORE
Ed Well I recently saw pair of Sykes Pickavant Spring Compressors sell on ebay for 15 bucks, plus you can get them here www.machinemart.co.uk in the uk, no problem at all. http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.asp?p=040211224 Nigel "amukdigiphoto" 27067... MORE
I've tried using 'universal' spring compressors ie the type with two hooks on a double threaded rod, one RH thread, one LH thread, so when you turn the rod it pulls the hooks together. These are easily available in the UK and probably elsewhere, though I doubt if the VL Churchill item 18G153 is. The universal ones don't fit Spridgets well enough to use properly - the top of the spring is shrouded too much by the surrounding metalwork. Regards David "David Jacobs" 27064... MORE
or even http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgetspriteclub/sprite/spritefrontsusp.htm "David Jacobs" 27057... MORE
Yes, those are the ones. Its one of those situations where it is so easy to do and rather more difficult to explain. Having tried to explain it all I have discovered what you might find a very useful text at http://www.mgcars.org,uk/midgespriteclub/sprite/spritefrontsusp.htm It is on the midgesprite club website, in the tech tips section. Even having rebuilt front suspensions a few times for different people, it contains some useful reminders. R. "Roger Stinson" 27056... MORE
Hello all, Am I the only person looking at the messages regarding the Concord issue that sees "nationalistic" differences? It seems that - excepting the expert views of some members of the flying fraternity - most of the British views are concerned merely with the extraordinary expenses involved with the Concord and it's attendant problems, whilst the view from the USA seems broader and perhaps further sighted. I am fortunate indeed to live in the land of Oz, a place that could never be accused of being particularly pro-Brit, yet the abiding image of British Airways is the one... MORE
The Concord (in principle) is not done, percieved "national attitude" notwithstanding. It's timing was bad among other world events. Had times been good and/or had they been able in enlarge it (more passengers) or develop a more fuel efficient engine(s) for it (R&D costs at a time when there was no money?), the larger capacity or more fuel efficient versions would be flying today. OTOP ("paw" - obligatory cat content, Guy Weller...I caught that "chock" comment, fella....watch it!!:).... "today" , we have email and electronic conferencing. You can see how circumstances combined against supersonic international global flight world-wide. At... MORE
Hiya, Alan... All a question of extent in terms of earning and price ratios. I will give you an example. In 1958, my folks had constructed in gorgeous upper middle class suburbia a beautiful ranch style house in North Stamford. It went for $65,000. The average annual salary of an American Airlines Captain was around $55K or a little more at that time. Today, that house goes for about 1.5 million. The average AA Capt's salary today..... $250K. See what I mean. Average salaries are no where near keeping up with average rising costs in a lot of ways.... MORE
I agree with you... Even as a pilot who loves airplanes, I could not agree with you more. As soon as the price of oil took off, they should've dumped it....no doubt about this. Had the price of oil remained pretty much where it used to be prior to Middle East "nationalization", it would have been a real winner methinks in terms of international travel. But no way they could make this pay with such small passenger capacity at modern petroleum prices without charging horrendous fares. Big mistake. But is is one of the reasons I love the English... MORE
" then had to sell the last few to British airways for 1 and Air France for 1 frank each, " All of the Concords (original Brit spelling , before the French hi-jacked it) were sold extremely cheaply toAir France or BOAC . Don't forget that both these companies were government run at the time so the loss or gain made by either the builders or the operators was still funded by the tax payer. It depended on the lucrative Paris / Heathrow to New York run to make money though (that's what it was designed for) And that... MORE
Cap'n I'm not disputing its 'beauty' or it's 'technological ability' at all, in fact perversely when it did go over, you can't help but go out and watch it in awe as it flew over. What I am saying, and I think I've done so now, is that in this day and age why is something that is not only uneconomic but provides so much 'noise pollution' allowed to go on? Sentimentalty has no place in business. In any other sector or business, it would have been axed years ago. It makes me very cross (as a BA Shareholder)... MORE
Terry My god, someone actually agree's with me! My sentiments exactly. As you say 'economic disaster' and the reason British Airways axed it is so =3D=0D ley because it was 'uneconomic' to run. As a British Airways Shareholder, I'm g =3D=0D lad they finally saw sense and got rid of the noisey 'financial blackhole' so t =3D=0D hey can focus their efforts on returning to profitability and actually start pa =3D=0D ying their shareholders some dividends again, instead of using 'our' money to underwrite and perpetuate a loss making cause for the sole enjoyment of people with more money... MORE
Expensive..Yes Noisey..Very But without doubt one of the most beautiful machines ever built. Gary L 1958 Frogeye (mostly) London, England. "Gary Lazarus" 26989... MORE
Hi Bob, If you go to the home page of this list there are four links to the Midget & Sprite Club website. The next time I'm in Southern California I'll be sure to look you all up (although the last time I was there was 1982)! Gary L 1958 Frogeye (mostly) London, England "Gary Lazarus" 26988... MORE
We, the British tax payers, subsidised this to the tune of many hundreds of millions of pounds and then had to sell the last few to British airways for 1 and Air France for 1 frank each, I think we could have got more on ebay! Wonderful technical achievement, massive economic disaster, all so a few rich kids could cross the Atlantic quicker than us poor people in economy class in 747s Terry "terry.isherwood" 26971... MORE
You can join online at http://www.mgcars.org.uk/midgespriteclub Look for 'Join Now' in the index. I'm joining too. R. "Roger Stinson" 26968... MORE
No, no, rdgard.... This wasn't aimed at you at all. My response was to Terry who complained (understandably) how the British citizen had to underwrite the costs of Concorde operations and what a losing proposition the whole thing turned out to be as a passenger carrier, despite the technological knowledge/insights, etc. it's manufacture engendered to the aviation industry as a whole. I mean, let's face it. Had oil prices remained reasonable as in pre-Concorde production days, many more of these planes would still be flying today. Good concept, good idea, poor timing with respect to nationalization of Middle East... MORE
Hey, Terry... The English/French did a magnificient job. If the Arabs hadn't nationalized oil and artificially set prices, the Concordes would have worked out just fine. Hindsight...always "20/20". But maybe the powers that be should have dumped the Concorde a lot sooner than they did, eh? Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26979... MORE
Bob... As Nigel says, French/British shared project. I loved following Concordes into Kennedy in visual approaches. While all are limited to 250KIAS below 10,000' msl, the Concorde has no such limit considering it's fuel consumption at low altitudes and it's fuel on board when it get here (from "over there". These guys would cruise around at nearly 400KIAS until they got in real close so you'd have to know how to "lead" them while forming up on them line astern so as to be about 3 miles behind them as they crossed the threshold on landing. Otherwise you screwed... MORE
Nigel... LBC=Little British Concord...LMAO..:):) I agree with you though. I admire and respect the technology as well of course and as a pilot, love the airplane BUT.... at modern oil costs it's impractical and yeah....it IS noisey and most especially so on departures, no doubt about it. And while one can excuse this in a military application ('cause it's "The Sound of Freedom" and thus, a necessary evil) but in a civilian one.....can't say as I blame you a bit considering you live under an aircraft departure corridor. Cap'n. Bob '60 :{) PilotRob@... 26973... MORE
List, I was only trying to rattle the cages of my UK friends when I called the Concord "French" .. Just a joke kids, lighten up a little. Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 26984... MORE
Cap'n No, LBC was right - Little British Concorde : ) Actually I think it was a joint effort between France and England, so it could well be termed Le (or La) British Concorde ! Anyway as I said, I for one am delighted it's finally going to be put to rest. As I mentioned I live right under its flight path (and let me tell you, although you probably already know) that plane is seriously noisy. So much so that when it went over, if you were on the phone you had to stop talking, or if you... MORE
I saw several take offs and landings at Heathrow several years ago and I will always remember them. I have seen one or two other types of planes land and take off that I have forgotten but I will never forget the Concord. I thought it was a French plane! Named after a grape (or was it wine)..... lolololol. Cheers, Bob in San Diego "Robert D. Gardner" 26967... MORE
