Info needed on BLACK 6, W.Nr. 10639

[harrison987]

My question is whether or not she was re-skinned for airworthy status during any of her restorations (pre 1997).

Does anyone know?

Thanks!

Mike

[ChrisS]

Hi Mike

Russ Snadden the original restorer sometimes visits here:

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/index.php?

Regards

Chris

[Revi16]

It's been quite a while since I've read the book, but I believe very little skin was replaced.
The Black 6 book by Russ in an excellent read.

Regards,
Mike

[Peter D Evans]

Hi Mike...

I know for a fact that she was stripped down to bare metal circa 1994/95.. but I recommend that you contact FlyPast member Augsburgeagle (via the link above provided by Chris) as he was kind enough to help me with this thread regarding some photos I took of Black 6 at Duxford...

Cheers
Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[ChrisS]

If all else fails you can find Russ Snadden under his own name on eBay UK.

Cheers

Chris

[blackbeemer]

I WAS A PAINTER & FINISHER IN THE R.A.F FROM 1983 TO 1995, WHILE I WAS POSTED TO RAF BENSON BETWEEN JAN 1989 TO AUG 1991 I WAS PRIVILIGED TO BE PART OF THE TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR PAINTING BLACK 6, I WAS ON LEAVE THE WEEKEND THAT OUR GUYS APPLIED THE FULL PAINT SCHEME, BUT I REMEMBER BEING ASKED TO SPRAY MANY DIFFERENT ITEMS IN GREEN PRIMER, I MET RUSS SNADDEN MANY TIMES AS HE WORKED AWAY RESTORING HER, I MUST ADMIRE THIS GUYS TENACITY AND COMMITMENT TO THIS PROJECT, HOWEVER THERE WAS OTHER GUYS WHO WORKED AWAY AS WELL, CHIEF TECH JOHN DIXON , SGT PAUL BLACKAH, I WAS LUCKY ENEOUGH TO BE THERE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS FIRST RUN UP AFTER ALL THE YEARS OF WORK WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN PRIMER, I WAS ALSO THERE THE FIRST TIME SHE WAS FLOWN OFF THE GRASS AT BENSON, SADLY ON THIS FLIGHT THE PROPELLER WAS BENT WHICH I THINK WAS A BIT HEART BREAKING FOR ALL INVOLVED, THE PROP WAS SENT BACK TO GERMANY FOR REWORKING . AS FAR AS I REMEMBER IT TOOK ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS TO SORT. I HAVE VARIOUS PICTURES OF HER IN PRIMER AT BENSON CIRCA 1990, I ALSO HAVE A WATER COLOUR PAINTING DONE OF HER IN A HANGER WITH RUSS SNADDEN DEPICTED ALONG WITH OTHERS, ITS BEEN SIGNED BY THEM. ITS BREAT TO HAVE BEEN A SMALL PART OF SOMETHING WHICH PLAYED A MAJOR PART OF OUR HISTORY. IF ANY ONE WANTS ANY PICTURES I CAN SCAN THEM AND SEND THEM TO YOU, I ALSO HAVE AN INFORMATION BOOKLET THAT I WAS GIVEN AT THE TIME. PLEASE CONTACT ME ON MY E-MAIL geraldbmw86@yahoo.com
Regards all hope i hav,nt bored you with this little bt of history

[waghorn41]

Originally Posted by harrison987

My question is whether or not she was re-skinned for airworthy status during any of her restorations (pre 1997).

Does anyone know?

Thanks!

Mike

I know! Black 6 was not re-skinned it was all original apart from a couple of small patches we had to put in. Yep, I was on the team when it was at Northolt (unwanted and despised - I kid you not). I remember the elation when we got the fuselage in primer, really felt we were getting somewhere. the fun we had, Russ, Ian Mason (R.I.P), John Elcombe, Pete Hayward and yours truly. But Black 6 and I go back to 1941 before it was built - but that's another story.

@blackbeemer - I would love to see that watercolour