Bodywork on ebay.............

[Splat]

Had an XK120 in the forward hold (A330) ex-LAS. VS were loading the Caparo T1 demo vehicle into a 400 next to us! The rear clip really ought to fit into the FLUF. Still reckon that GLA security will have kittens....

But yes, take photos and put them up here

[biggles]

Splatters old chap, will it fit in a 'bus do you think? I'm positioning back down from GLA on the 2959 at sunday lunchtime so might be able to get it then, but it has to get on that flight with me as no time to stash it anywhere at the airport....

[Splat]

I'd say, yes. The ex-bmi 319s at Gatwick can't handle ULDs which might actually a bonus for you. The rear hold is often netted for crew bags, and it should fit behind the nets, keeping it separated from the baggage. If the load is low, then the forward hold will probably be empty, in which case it could be lashed down in there. Might be worth pitching-up with a coil of nylon rope from Homebase. It always comes in useful, even if you don't have to use it here!

As an aside, I had the cabinets in our art deco inspired bathroom made to my own design. I wanted a classic book-matched burr walnut veneered finish. The cabinetmaker that we used had recently returned home to Andover after five years living and working in San Diego. The two very large sheets of veneer were sourced from his old suppliers in California, shipped overland very loosely rolled and packaged in a vast but extremely light cardboard box, to our crew hotel in Chicago, who held it for me until my next visit. The box came back across the Atlantic, to LHR via MAN, on the flight-deck jump seat.

Similarly, the very small, simple chrome knobs that I wanted for the cabinets were nigh-on impossible to locate. I spent hours and hours over several days, on the internet. I eventually found them produced by a foundry in Colorado. They were dispatched to our crew hotel in LAS for my collection. Overall, well travelled furniture!

[biggles]

Yer right, I had forgotten they are not containerised aircraft. When you read of a pilot arrested at Gatters for suspiciously measuring up airbii cargo doors, and found bang to rights armed with a tape measure, twill be me!

Now, to complete my rallying call for assistence, can anyone tell me if the rear clam with hump will fit in to a space measuring 1.6m deep x 1.3m wide x 1.2m high? That is the load area of the mighty Citroen Berlingo van, weapon of choice for the mission! Doesn't matter if the rear clam is slightly more than 1.6m across, as I will indeed be armed with a roll of blue nylon rope (don't go anywhere without that, I have a four year old after all!). For any child protection advocates reading, of course I'm joking, nylon rope is useless for four year olds, gaffer tape is the only thing that works.....

[beng4]

Shouldnt be a problem, i got a full set of bodywork including the rear clam with the hump in the back of my old peugeot partner (old shape)- it was a squeeze but it went in. I now have the new style berlingo and its even bigger, you should have no problem!

Ben

[biggles]

thanks Ben, most useful info.

[stricor]

if it is of any use,

collected mine in a vw transporter, all the panels, plenty of room.

Cor

[biggles]

Thanks Cor, but it will be a berlingo van booked for £15!! I managed to pick up a trip to Edinburgh with the morning off, and that's a much easier run to the pick up, which is on a farm between Kelso and Coldstream, right on the border between England and Scotland. Certainly one of the more remote locations in the UK....

Splat, if you are in EDI night stopping in the next 10 days or so, could you eye up the crew bus to see if the clam will fit in the rear luggage area? ISTR it's quite a generous load space but better to be sure before I create a scene!

Regards all
Tim

[Splat]

Hi Tim,

Sorry, but I won't be in EDI in the foreseeable future. However, from what I remember, it's a relatively small minibus. Two rows of three-abreast seating in the rear. With five CC on a 321, one of us travels up-front with the driver. Typically small luggage space behind the last row of seats, certainly not big enough even when empty! The CC are picked up first and when we get on (that's right Jon, separate hotels ) the driver usually has to re-arrange the bags to find the room for ours. Never done EDI from LGW, but can't imagine that it's any different.

Good luck!

Simon

[techbod]

I had a similar issue picking up my rear clam section - I tried to get it to fit into an a4 avant. It almost did a couple of different ways but the hump height was the problem as it was just slightly to high for the roofline.
In the end I had to put it on the backwards onto the roof. Even that way round it acted like a giant airbrake - I must have done at least 5 MPG less on the way home and the engine ran hotter than usual.

Retrospectively, a hire van would have been a much more sensible solution.

Thanks for pointing out the original ebay link, I could do with the scuttle section. Just got to work out how best to get it back if I buy it....