Hello from South Coast UK

[Johnc61]

Hi, im from the South Coast, Hampshire (Hill Head) in the UK. I started life many years ago as an Electrical Fitter then ended up in telecommunications for the past 30 years. I kept my hand and machine skills alive through R/C modelling and collecting vintage IC aero engines, mainly restoration and repair. After giving up my various firearms due to the changes in UK gun laws, I returned to shooting with air and CO2 guns which also got me into vintage gun repair and modern gun modification. Thats about it. As I approach retirement within the next 6 years (ish) I intend to replace an ancient Taig with a new Chinese model lathe. A new challenge! Thanks for looking

 

[xjs]

Hi John --

It sounds as though we're on about the same (retirement) schedule. I'm from roughly the same 'hood (London east end)though somehow wound up out in Hawaii, where I've built a little machine shop in downtown Honolulu, a place not used to such things. If i stay here after retirement i may move and/or expand it a little. A bit difficult to ship in all the materials one needs, but one manages. Currently wrestling with a 5-cylinder radial which I'm sure will be a thing of beauty but isn't yet. Anyway welcome to the forum, and I hope you have as much fun as I'm having.

Michael Ty

 

[Herbiev]

Hi John and welcome to the forum. I too spent most of my life in telecommunications here in Oz.

 

[Johnc61]

Hi John --

Currently wrestling with a 5-cylinder radial which I'm sure will be a thing of beauty but isn't yet. Anyway welcome to the forum, and I hope you have as much fun as I'm having.

Michael Ty

Thanks Michael. 5 Cylinder radial sounds like a challenge to me! But with all that nice weather you have Im sure it is a pleasure. Workshop. Sounds great. Im converting my garage into one ready for 'that day' when it arrives. Cheers. J

 

[Johnc61]

Hi John and welcome to the forum. I too spent most of my life in telecommunications here in Oz.

Thanks for the welcome. Telecoms in better weather though!

 

[compspecial]

A warm welcome to the forum John, from yet another telecom guy..Hampshire is a lovely spot and I'm not surprised by your interest in aero engines and planes, as Supermarine made aircraft there and isn't Farnborough there too? plenty of inspiration there!

 

[Johnc61]

A warm welcome to the forum John, from yet another telecom guy..Hampshire is a lovely spot and I'm not surprised by your interest in aero engines and planes, as Supermarine made aircraft there and isn't Farnborough there too? plenty of inspiration there!

Thanks for the welcome. Supermarine made seaplanes (Southampton) - the S6 flew across the solent in the Scneider Trophy Air Race which is 5 minutes from where I live. The Spitfire first flew from Eastleigh airport which is 10 mins drive from I live. Farnborough is an hour from where I live and I worked for 2 years at the Royal Aircraft Establishment based there after I completed my apprenticeship. My apprenticeship was as an electrical fitter at Portsmouth Dockyard and I served part of that at Fleetlands helicopter repair base. So, plenty of aircraft involvement, yes!

My 4 year apprenticeship had two years workshop based and two years 'on the job'. The first year was hand tools use and machine shop. My first lathe use. But only after a test piece had been made by hand using a hacksaw and files to produce a perfect rectangle of mild steel, measured by the instructor with a micrometer to zero tolerence. MoD training in those days was tough. Still got all the tools and test pieces I made. Strange I now want to go back to it for fun!

 

[Omnimill]

Welcome to the forum, I'm 40 miles along the coast from you. Just in case you don't know, there is a model engineering exhibition at Sandown next month!

http://www.modelengineershow.co.uk/