Storch.no

Tiger Moth News 19 August 2023

When took on this work we promised that the Tiger Moth should be able to taxi under its own power when it left our workshop. This goal was achieved 19 August at Kjeller. Following a few engine adjustments Tiger Moth maestro Helge Storflor taxied Tiger Moth 145 onto runway 30 grass at Kjeller. A couple of runs along the runway with high tail made a finale to the project.

We believe Tiger Moth 145 has a rather unique appearance. However, it is replicated as closely as possible to the paint scheme it wore late April 1940.

Next, we will trial install skis and prepare the airplane for a 330 km long journey by road to Dombås. There it will be displayed at the local war memorial collection (Dovre og Lesja krigsminnesamling).

Lars Håkensen doing the last adjustments to the magnetos

Conrad Mohr next to Tiger Moth 145. Photo via Bill Mohr.

At holding Bravo at Kjeller

Runway 30 grass at Kjeller

Tiger Moth News 15 February 2023

This project has been going on for many years, but finally we can se an end to it.
Four wings and the tailplanes are finished and ready for installation. We have even trial installed the lower wings. The engine is basically finished and temporary installed in the engine mounts. Only a few nuts, gaskets and other minor details is missing before the engine can be permanently bolted on. However, we discovered unexpected problems when we started to install our engine cowlings. We had the original front cowling and a set of worn-out cowlings panels from various airworthy Tiger Moths. Surprisingly, the Norwegian cowlings differs considerably from the British design. We had to decide whether to go all British or keep the original Norwegian front cowling and modify the British made panels. In order to be as original as possible, we decided to do the latter. This involves modifying three panels and make a side panel from scratch.

Trial installation of the left lower wing

Reworking engine cowlings

Tiger Moth News 18 June 2022

The engine restoration has been in focus the last months. This is the original Gipsy III engine which was installed in the airplane when it crashed in April 1940. Luckily the engine was removed from the wreckage by locals during the first summer and kept indoor ever since. Although many details, amongst them the cylinder heads, magnetos and the carburettor disappeared, the basic engine was in a good condition when we started the restoration. The aim is to make it runnable, although this will include the installation of some Gipsy Major parts. As can be seen om the photos, the completion is not that far away. The cockpits have also been completed lately.

The assembly of major components.

The engine in the correct position with the rear gearbox attached.

The finished aft cockpit. This is close to the historically correct lay-out for the Norwegian production, based on photos and Norwegian blueprints. It doesn’t look like it has been left outside to rot for 50 years.

News 2 April 2022

Long time since we last had an update. Although the progress on Tiger Moth 145 has been slow, lots of work has been carried out in the “Storch nest”. Oner reason for this slow progress has been the heavy maintenance on Tiger Moth LN-MAX. Additionally, serious problems with the starter on Storch LN-WNS has drained available time from the Tiger Moth 145 project.

However, now it’s time to present some good progress on Tiger Moth 145:

·         All four wings are ready for the final layers of dope
·         The fuselage is complete with instruments, flight controls and auxiliary fuel system
·         The fuselage is fabric covered and painted
·         Final assembly of the fuel tank and upper wing center section has started
·         Started on the engine overhaul

Trail installation of the top wing superstructure , tank and engine.
LN-MAX behind.

Details from inside the aft cockpit. The rather unusual “Norwegian” installation of the compass and the manual fuel transfer pump (cockpit floor, right side) is notable.

Tiger Moth 145 with two layers of dope.

Final assembly has started.

News 1 August 2020

More bits and pieces have steadily been added to the airframe. The most welcome was several landing gear parts sent to us as a gift from The Old Aeroplane Company P/L in Tyabb in Australia! Combined with a few original parts from Tiger Moth 145 we have managed to rebuild a complete set minus rims and tires. Another significant addition is the instrument panels. The only items remaining is the altimeter and the compass. There were several variations between instrument panels on Norwegian Tiger Moths. We have a few blueprints and photos and believe we have made a representative panel. The plan is to install all details inside the fuselage before we put on the fabric.

The aft instrument panel nearly completed.

Historical reference; This Tiger Moth seems to have a radio installed.

Doors, landing gear and firewall being attached.

News 1 January 2020

The restoration is moving along nicely. Three wings are now structurally complete. The lower R/H wing is fabric covered, stitched and taped. The fabric is glued on the lower L/H wing and it is ready for stitching. We decided to use modern Ceconite fabric because this should last longer than any of us. A teacher at Dovre Handverksenter (Hjerleid) is about to make new wing spars for the upper R/H wing.

The lower R/H wing during stitching.

News 3 September 2019

Also, the lower R/H wing is nearly ready for fabric cowering. Like the first wing, this is assembled mainly by repaired original parts made at Kjeller. We even had a complete aileron. The biggest challenge was to reproduce the trailing edge near the fuselage. The trailing edge curves slightly upwards on Tiger Moths made by DeHavilland while it is straight at Tiger Moths made at Kjeller. The third wing, the lower L/H wing is also nearly finished. For the fourth wing we only have a couple of ribs left, so we might have to make several new ones for this.

The nearly finished lower R/H wing standing next to the fuselage while the first ribs are being slide onto the spars on the lower L/H wing.

Only a few parts from the original Tiger Moth no. 145 can be used, but this bracket has survived 50 years outside in the forest.

Erling Eckhoff has signed the aileron 10 September 1934.

A rib being repaired.

News 13 April 2019

The upper L/H wing is now complete and ready for fabric cowering. We started out with two bad wing spars, a heap of broken ribs and a number of worn-out metal fittings. It turned out that all except two ribs was originally made at Kjeller. It was evident as most of them was marked Kontrollert (controlled) in addition to a date and a signature. Even the nails and screws are recovered from original Kjeller parts. We think this became an exceptionally good documentation of a Kjeller built wing.
Next in line is the lower R/H wing.

The upper L/H wing ready for fabric cowering.

This rib was Kontrollert the year after Tiger Moth 145 was finished. It came originally from Tiger Moth 189.

Crash pads and windshields installed.

News 2 January 2019

In December 2018 all available parts were trail installed on the fuselage frame. This included seats, flight controls, the extra fuel tank and the wind shields. Finally it looks like a Tiger Moth. Following a nearly complete disassemble, we started final painting and installation of parts. In order to finish installation of the upper wooden construction, the tail and forward fuselage sections were bolted together properly for the first time. We have also installed the fabric on the underside of the floor boards. At present the stick and rudder pedals are fully operational. Next is final installation of seats. Making four new wings is also on the to-do list.

Trail installation of fuselage parts.

Cockpit details. With the forward seat removed the 45 liter extra fuel tank is visible.

News 15 September 2018

Nearly all details completed this summer are made from scratch. It is sometimes tricky to find out exactly how our Tiger Moth was back in 1940. We have a few drawings but we are also dependent on making measurements at the Tiger Moths based at Kjeller. The problem is that they all have become a bit different during the years, and that there was a significant difference between British models and the models licence built at Kjeller.

The upper wooden structures on the airframe about to be glued.

The first trail installation of the tail surfaces.

Nothing is thrown away. You might find something useful.

News 25 April 2018

The Storch is flying and the Tiger Moth is alone in the workshop. The cockpit area was missing almost everything and it is a huge task to get all completed. We have acquired a few original Tiger Moth parts, but a large number has to be made from scratch based on drawings or pictures.

The front rudder bar and pedals made from scratch.

Almost nothing remained from the tail section. Everything seen on this picture is made from scratch.

The front cockpit throttle quadrant ready for painting

The elevator trim mechanism at an early stage of reproduction.

News 26 April 2017

The Tiger Moth has been on the back burner for several years. The Storch has got most attention, but Eivind Svenningsen has done some Tiger Moth work in-between. Notably, most of the flight controls in the cockpit nears completion. Lots of parts has been finished and made ready for final installation. The last component that has received attention is the oil tank. It was badly crunched in an accident, but Eivind has managed to make it oil tight and look right. The Storch is a few months from being completed. Then the Tiger Moth will get full attention from the whole team.

The painted fuselage frame ready for installation of parts.

Eivind Svenningsen re-shapes the oil tank.

Flight control details

News 28 January 2012

The fuselage frame is ready painted and the floor board is in place.
Some parts of the seat support structure and flight controls are also about to find its right place. The original front cowling is in airworthy condition.
As one of few Norwegian Tiger Moths no. 145 had an extra fuselage fuel tank which has been found and installed. More details is on its way.

The fuselage frame with a few details attached.

Two attachment brackets lend for copy and one being manufactured from scratch.

News 24 October 2010

More working hours has been spent on the workshop this summer than on restoring airplanes. 90 m² of a previously “cold” section of the building has got the same treatment as the rest of the workshop. A part of this area has become the carpenter’s workshop and the Tiger Moth airframe has already moved inn. It is about time to get started with the cockpit area. The Gipsy III engine has also got some attention. During disassembly it was found to be in excellent condition with no wear. The plan is to find missing parts and run the engine.

The carpenter’s workshop with the Tiger Moth fuselage frame in place.
The walls are decorated with Tiger Moth parts still carrying the original fabric from the pre-war period.

The Gipsy III during disassembly.

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	Tiger Moth News 19 August 2023 When took on this work we promised that the Tiger Moth should be able to taxi under its own power when it left our workshop. This goal was achieved 19 August at Kjeller. Following a few engine adjustments Tiger Moth maestro Helge Storflor taxied Tiger Moth 145 onto runway 30 grass at Kjeller. A couple of runs along the runway with high tail made a finale to the project. We believe Tiger Moth 145 has a rather unique appearance. However, it is replicated as closely as possible to the paint scheme it wore late April 1940. Next, we will trial install skis and prepare the airplane for a 330 km long journey by road to Dombås. There it will be displayed at the local war memorial collection (Dovre og Lesja krigsminnesamling). Lars Håkensen doing the last adjustments to the magnetos Conrad Mohr next to Tiger Moth 145. Photo via Bill Mohr. At holding Bravo at Kjeller Runway 30 grass at Kjeller Tiger Moth News 15 February 2023 This project has been going on for many years, but finally we can se an end to it. Four wings and the tailplanes are finished and ready for installation. We have even trial installed the lower wings. The engine is basically finished and temporary installed in the engine mounts. Only a few nuts, gaskets and other minor details is missing before the engine can be permanently bolted on. However, we discovered unexpected problems when we started to install our engine cowlings. We had the original front cowling and a set of worn-out cowlings panels from various airworthy Tiger Moths. Surprisingly, the Norwegian cowlings differs considerably from the British design. We had to decide whether to go all British or keep the original Norwegian front cowling and modify the British made panels. In order to be as original as possible, we decided to do the latter. This involves modifying three panels and make a side panel from scratch. Trial installation of the left lower wing Reworking engine cowlings Tiger Moth News 18 June 2022 The engine restoration has been in focus the last months. This is the original Gipsy III engine which was installed in the airplane when it crashed in April 1940. Luckily the engine was removed from the wreckage by locals during the first summer and kept indoor ever since. Although many details, amongst them the cylinder heads, magnetos and the carburettor disappeared, the basic engine was in a good condition when we started the restoration. The aim is to make it runnable, although this will include the installation of some Gipsy Major parts. As can be seen om the photos, the completion is not that far away. The cockpits have also been completed lately. The assembly of major components. The engine in the correct position with the rear gearbox attached. The finished aft cockpit. This is close to the historically correct lay-out for the Norwegian production, based on photos and Norwegian blueprints. It doesn’t look like it has been left outside to rot for 50 years. News 2 April 2022 Long time since we last had an update. Although the progress on Tiger Moth 145 has been slow, lots of work has been carried out in the “Storch nest”. Oner reason for this slow progress has been the heavy maintenance on Tiger Moth LN-MAX. Additionally, serious problems with the starter on Storch LN-WNS has drained available time from the Tiger Moth 145 project. However, now it’s time to present some good progress on Tiger Moth 145: · All four wings are ready for the final layers of dope · The fuselage is complete with instruments, flight controls and auxiliary fuel system · The fuselage is fabric covered and painted · Final assembly of the fuel tank and upper wing center section has started · Started on the engine overhaul Trail installation of the top wing superstructure , tank and engine. LN-MAX behind. Details from inside the aft cockpit. The rather unusual “Norwegian” installation of the compass and the manual fuel transfer pump (cockpit floor, right side) is notable. Tiger Moth 145 with two layers of dope. Final assembly has started. News 1 August 2020 More bits and pieces have steadily been added to the airframe. The most welcome was several landing gear parts sent to us as a gift from The Old Aeroplane Company P/L in Tyabb in Australia! Combined with a few original parts from Tiger Moth 145 we have managed to rebuild a complete set minus rims and tires. Another significant addition is the instrument panels. The only items remaining is the altimeter and the compass. There were several variations between instrument panels on Norwegian Tiger Moths. We have a few blueprints and photos and believe we have made a representative panel. The plan is to install all details inside the fuselage before we put on the fabric. The aft instrument panel nearly completed. Historical reference; This Tiger Moth seems to have a radio installed. Doors, landing gear and firewall being attached. News 1 January 2020 The restoration is moving along nicely. Three wings are now structurally complete. The lower R/H wing is fabric covered, stitched and taped. The fabric is glued on the lower L/H wing and it is ready for stitching. We decided to use modern Ceconite fabric because this should last longer than any of us. A teacher at Dovre Handverksenter (Hjerleid) is about to make new wing spars for the upper R/H wing. The lower R/H wing during stitching. News 3 September 2019 Also, the lower R/H wing is nearly ready for fabric cowering. Like the first wing, this is assembled mainly by repaired original parts made at Kjeller. We even had a complete aileron. The biggest challenge was to reproduce the trailing edge near the fuselage. The trailing edge curves slightly upwards on Tiger Moths made by DeHavilland while it is straight at Tiger Moths made at Kjeller. The third wing, the lower L/H wing is also nearly finished. For the fourth wing we only have a couple of ribs left, so we might have to make several new ones for this. The nearly finished lower R/H wing standing next to the fuselage while the first ribs are being slide onto the spars on the lower L/H wing. Only a few parts from the original Tiger Moth no. 145 can be used, but this bracket has survived 50 years outside in the forest. Erling Eckhoff has signed the aileron 10 September 1934. A rib being repaired. News 13 April 2019 The upper L/H wing is now complete and ready for fabric cowering. We started out with two bad wing spars, a heap of broken ribs and a number of worn-out metal fittings. It turned out that all except two ribs was originally made at Kjeller. It was evident as most of them was marked Kontrollert (controlled) in addition to a date and a signature. Even the nails and screws are recovered from original Kjeller parts. We think this became an exceptionally good documentation of a Kjeller built wing. Next in line is the lower R/H wing. The upper L/H wing ready for fabric cowering. This rib was Kontrollert the year after Tiger Moth 145 was finished. It came originally from Tiger Moth 189. Crash pads and windshields installed. News 2 January 2019 In December 2018 all available parts were trail installed on the fuselage frame. This included seats, flight controls, the extra fuel tank and the wind shields. Finally it looks like a Tiger Moth. Following a nearly complete disassemble, we started final painting and installation of parts. In order to finish installation of the upper wooden construction, the tail and forward fuselage sections were bolted together properly for the first time. We have also installed the fabric on the underside of the floor boards. At present the stick and rudder pedals are fully operational. Next is final installation of seats. Making four new wings is also on the to-do list. Trail installation of fuselage parts. Cockpit details. With the forward seat removed the 45 liter extra fuel tank is visible. News 15 September 2018 Nearly all details completed this summer are made from scratch. It is sometimes tricky to find out exactly how our Tiger Moth was back in 1940. We have a few drawings but we are also dependent on making measurements at the Tiger Moths based at Kjeller. The problem is that they all have become a bit different during the years, and that there was a significant difference between British models and the models licence built at Kjeller. The upper wooden structures on the airframe about to be glued. The first trail installation of the tail surfaces. Nothing is thrown away. You might find something useful. News 25 April 2018 The Storch is flying and the Tiger Moth is alone in the workshop. The cockpit area was missing almost everything and it is a huge task to get all completed. We have acquired a few original Tiger Moth parts, but a large number has to be made from scratch based on drawings or pictures. The front rudder bar and pedals made from scratch. Almost nothing remained from the tail section. Everything seen on this picture is made from scratch. The front cockpit throttle quadrant ready for painting The elevator trim mechanism at an early stage of reproduction. News 26 April 2017 The Tiger Moth has been on the back burner for several years. The Storch has got most attention, but Eivind Svenningsen has done some Tiger Moth work in-between. Notably, most of the flight controls in the cockpit nears completion. Lots of parts has been finished and made ready for final installation. The last component that has received attention is the oil tank. It was badly crunched in an accident, but Eivind has managed to make it oil tight and look right. The Storch is a few months from being completed. Then the Tiger Moth will get full attention from the whole team. The painted fuselage frame ready for installation of parts. Eivind Svenningsen re-shapes the oil tank. Flight control details News 28 January 2012 The fuselage frame is ready painted and the floor board is in place. Some parts of the seat support structure and flight controls are also about to find its right place. The original front cowling is in airworthy condition. As one of few Norwegian Tiger Moths no. 145 had an extra fuselage fuel tank which has been found and installed. More details is on its way. The fuselage frame with a few details attached. Two attachment brackets lend for copy and one being manufactured from scratch. News 24 October 2010 More working hours has been spent on the workshop this summer than on restoring airplanes. 90 m² of a previously “cold” section of the building has got the same treatment as the rest of the workshop. A part of this area has become the carpenter’s workshop and the Tiger Moth airframe has already moved inn. It is about time to get started with the cockpit area. The Gipsy III engine has also got some attention. During disassembly it was found to be in excellent condition with no wear. The plan is to find missing parts and run the engine. The carpenter’s workshop with the Tiger Moth fuselage frame in place. The walls are decorated with Tiger Moth parts still carrying the original fabric from the pre-war period. The Gipsy III during disassembly. Top of page