The new news 24 thread

[stuboy]

I think I may of sorted the mighty moped...  now gonna leave it overnight and see if starts tommorow...

[Stinkwheel]

Got a new welder to replace my 20 year old snap-on 2135.

Got the e-bay special Blackline Mig 200 as reccomended and used by a few on here

 

Only tried it on a few off cut scraps so far,  5kg reel of 0.8mm wire, straight CO2 as shielding gas,  just to make sure it works. Holy Cow its easy to use, It turns out these new  fangled IGBT MiG's are excellent, Would recommend to anyone.

[Lord Sterling]

3 days and £321 later and the Vectra has a new rad. Brill. Hopefully this'll stop any further coolant disappearage. 

Obviously it'll be a test when I take it to work next week. 

Next on the list for the garage is the Jag for a new condenser. 

Maybe I can have actual working air-con for this summer????

[Sunny Jim]

@Lord Sterling your jag's an X300 like my hearse isn't it? Providing the torx bolts which hold the radiator bracket aren't too recalcitrant removing the rad isn't too much of a chore and the condenser is in front of that. Presumably the system no longer contains any gas so you don't have to worry about any escaping? Could save yourself a chunk of garage labour, I'm no star mechanic but replaced my rad without any issues.

[Mrcento]

12 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Ram Air Turbine, as below

Gives some power if electricals and batteries fail

yup, effectively a windmill/alternator that drops to give some power to critical systems.

Have seen some images that show it may well have deployed (it certainly sounded like it had in 1 of the videos, very distinctive sound, like a WW2 bomber)

Top images are from the doomed plane coming down, bottom is an example....

And here's what it sounds like (Most audible from 13 seconds in)

which would give some basis to say there could well have been a systems failure/dual engine/hydraulic failure, but it may also have been thrown out in the panic when they thought they'd lost thrust and were stalling, when in fact they'd lost lift.

There's an excellent video online from 74 Gear (A 747 pilot) going through what he sees an he's pretty much saying similar, RE flaps not being in the correct config. His working theory is pretty much that it looks most consistent with the co-pilot possibly retracting the flaps instead of the landing gear by mistake given the moment it happened, the lack of flex in the wings and the stages of the change in AOA of the nose as it goes into stall.

But the possible RAT deployment does throw a few more questions into the mix.

[High Jetter]

Ironically, we're in the middle of watching the series on Pan Am 103.

[Wibble]

56 minutes ago, Mrcento said:

yup, effectively a windmill/alternator that drops to give some power to critical systems.

Have seen some images that show it may well have deployed (it certainly sounded like it had in 1 of the videos, very distinctive sound, like a WW2 bomber)

Top images are from the doomed plane coming down, bottom is an example....

And here's what it sounds like (Most audible from 13 seconds in)

which would give some basis to say there could well have been a systems failure/dual engine/hydraulic failure, but it may also have been thrown out in the panic when they thought they'd lost thrust and were stalling, when in fact they'd lost lift.

There's an excellent video online from 74 Gear (A 747 pilot) going through what he sees an he's pretty much saying similar, RE flaps not being in the correct config. His working theory is pretty much that it looks most consistent with the co-pilot possibly retracting the flaps instead of the landing gear by mistake given the moment it happened, the lack of flex in the wings and the stages of the change in AOA of the nose as it goes into stall.

But the possible RAT deployment does throw a few more questions into the mix.

Even I couldn’t mistake flaps control for landing gear, they’re not even close. More to it I think.

[Mrcento]

7 minutes ago, Wibble said:

Even I couldn’t mistake flaps control for landing gear, they’re not even close. More to it I think.

Agree, but i do think it's something along those kind of lines alongside that something else.

I would say there's another issue that has distracted them (potentially explaining the potential RAT deployment) and if there hasn't been some kind of unimaginable systems failure, in the panic of that other emergency, there's also been some kind of wild error made trying to 'clean up' the plane to get some airspeed up etc. 

Of course, all assuming they had working controls at that point.....

[Wibble]

9 minutes ago, Mrcento said:

Agree, but i do think it's something along those kind of lines alongside that something else.

I would say there's another issue that has distracted them (potentially explaining the potential RAT deployment) and if there hasn't been some kind of unimaginable systems failure, in the panic of that other emergency, there's also been some kind of wild error made trying to 'clean up' the plane to get some airspeed up etc. 

Of course, all assuming they had working controls at that point.....

At this point I’m still betting on a hydraulic or system failure, or bird strike, although there’s no sign of obvious birds from the footage, particularly in light of other 787s having had flap deployment issues recently. I think the captain was too experienced for a configuration error but it could be of course, so I still think hydraulic failure. We’ll all know eventually, of course and may they rest in peace.

[Mrcento]

2 minutes ago, Wibble said:

 I think the captain was too experienced for a configuration error but it could be of course

I always think in all walks of life, it's best to treat the mega experienced as potential absolute beginners and leave no stone unturned.

Some of the worst mistakes i've seen in any field have been from the most experienced people within them.

Sometimes, arrogance and complacency takes over. 'I've been doing this 20+ years, i know all there is to know, i don't need no handbook or supervision, i can do this in my sleep etc etc' Giving it 10% attention and 5% effort.

I hope that is not the case here, and i'm kind of with you that at very least it seems likely 'something' else has happened that may have taken it out their hands entirely, or at very least they've been fighting something on the plane like a hydraulic failure prior to something else happening in the seconds after. The initial findings are going to be fascinating. RIP to all who were lost.

[Wibble]

13 minutes ago, Mrcento said:

I always think in all walks of life, it's best to treat the mega experienced as potential absolute beginners and leave no stone unturned.

Some of the worst mistakes i've seen in any field have been from the most experienced people within them.

Sometimes, arrogance and complacency takes over. 'I've been doing this 20+ years, i know all there is to know, i don't need no handbook or supervision, i can do this in my sleep etc etc' Giving it 10% attention and 5% effort.

I hope that is not the case here, and i'm kind of with you that at very least it seems likely 'something' else has happened that may have taken it out their hands entirely, or at very least they've been fighting something on the plane like a hydraulic failure prior to something else happening in the seconds after. The initial findings are going to be fascinating. RIP to all who were lost.

Aviation has always been a fascinating subject for me, especially with my dad being involved in it for his whole career but, I think we need to wait for updates from the professional investigators. I don’t think us pound-shop, autoshite air-crash investigators, of which I’m clearly one, can add anything of real value to be honest. My only flight experience is half an hour  in a glider and Microsoft flight simulator 2000.

[Metal Guru]

10 hours ago, Wibble said:

Yes, it’s quite miraculous really. I read about another guy who survived a crash and was also sat in 11a.

Ryanair will put a £1000 premium on 11a.

[wuvvum]

Helluva storm here at the moment.  Most intense lightning I've ever seen in this country. 

[Markeh]

6 hours ago, Metal Guru said:

Ryanair will put a £1000 premium on 11a.

Ironically I think 11A is the one window seat on Ryanair's 737 MAX that doesn't actually have a window, so arguably worse!

[comfortablynumb]

6 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Helluva storm here at the moment.  Most intense lightning I've ever seen in this country. 

Strange how these work.

Other side of the county to you, and not a drop here.

Shame, I enjoy a good storm

[barefoot]

My Scirocco won the 'best original patina ' award at the local car show this morning. 

[SiC]

33 minutes ago, barefoot said:

My Scirocco won the 'best original patina ' award at the local car show this morning. 

Was that a nice way of them saying "by far the most fucked looking out of all the cars"? 😉

[SiC]

Went to a local show today. Dig for Victory - WW2 themed event. 

Not usually my bag but I saw there was plenty of vehicles on show and on the moves, I decided to give it a go. The classic car area was pretty Spartan which was a disappointment to see the lack of attendance (I guess you could say the same to me that I didn't show mine...) but the rest of the show was excellent and I really enjoyed it.

Trucks, tractors, tanks, traction engines, artillery, exhibits and loud bangs!

Loads of photos uploaded in no particular order (blame Android for doing that).

[SiC]

The tank display 

 

 

[Snake Charmer]

Mmmm Bren carrier. 

[High Jetter]

Never seen a Unimog that early, some great other old kit there

[Split_Pin]

I didn't get an invoice for the gearbox service on my 75 a couple of months ago. Given that it's the only Pearl Black Contemporary SE on the road in Scotland, there was always another way I could prove I took it to the best Rover mechanic in Central Scotland - Google!!

The Streetview car was right outside his premises at the time I arrived. My A4 is in the picture too.

2nd time my 75s been on Streetvoew and 3rd time in its whole life!

[Popsicle]

Drove across the peak district today, Woodhead reservoir was looking a bit low. Get washing your cars, I think a hosepipe ban might be incoming.

Also saw a car fire on the M1.

[Lord Sterling]

On 13/06/2025 at 18:21, Sunny Jim said:

@Lord Sterling your jag's an X300 like my hearse isn't it? Providing the torx bolts which hold the radiator bracket aren't too recalcitrant removing the rad isn't too much of a chore and the condenser is in front of that. Presumably the system no longer contains any gas so you don't have to worry about any escaping? Could save yourself a chunk of garage labour, I'm no star mechanic but replaced my rad without any issues.

X308 (I think yours is too?). Yes, I could probably do it myself but knowing me, I'll fuck something up and end up damaging the condenser. I'd rather not be messing around with it myself. Plus, access isn't great for where it's stored, doing the outside on an unpredictable day and possibly rendering it unusable just doesn't interest me. I can just about afford it and rather it was done than not. I've put up with this for years and its time to make a change. I just want air-con like any normal person who wants air-con working in their car. Unfortunately for me, I'll have to pay a premium. And then, there is the Vectra to do yet....

[drewd]

On 13/06/2025 at 14:08, jonathan_dyane said:

I just need to get some acetone or some shit to melt off the soft touch crap

Elbow grease degreaser has worked for me in the past. Available in most supermarkets and discount shops.

[Metal Guru]

2 hours ago, drewd said:

Elbow grease degreaser has worked for me in the past. Available in most supermarkets and discount shops.

That’s great stuff, works really well. Used in my mother’s kitchen after she died. 40 years of cooking that usually involved the frying pan.

[andy18s]

My old Escort up on ebay.very little rust and no damage when I sold it though.

https://ebay.us/m/3snCy6

 

[bramz7]

Last time I drove to Scotland:

And today:

I was really nervous taking it this far as I'd not actually done a long drive, but it did well. It's not perfect, but it drives very well, and somehow averaged 44mpg over the first 300 miles. For a 1.6 Twinspark, that seems amazing. 

The diesel was the nicer cruiser, and I'd love another one to make the perfect pair. 

Hopefully my drive back is without drama too! 

[N19]

16 hours ago, drewd said:

Elbow grease degreaser has worked for me in the past. Available in most supermarkets and discount shops.

Yes, definitely one of those things to keep in the garage as well as the kitchen!

[Schaefft]

1 hour ago, bramz7 said:

Last time I drove to Scotland:

And today:

I was really nervous taking it this far as I'd not actually done a long drive, but it did well. It's not perfect, but it drives very well, and somehow averaged 44mpg over the first 300 miles. For a 1.6 Twinspark, that seems amazing. 

The diesel was the nicer cruiser, and I'd love another one to make the perfect pair. 

Hopefully my drive back is without drama too! 

I should really get things moving and get the 156 through a test. The 20V diesel is such a gem of an engine, it's a shame to just have it sit. Great to see a photo of it I haven't seen before.