WIX Archives

Re: Walter Soplata's yard

Posted by Steve T on Fri Aug 15, 2003 06:50:41 PM

In reply top Re: Walter Soplata's yard posted by Dan Jones on Fri Aug 15, 2003 12:11:24 PM

Hi Dan--This is very interesting stuff!

: Walter did/does indeed make attempts to protect the airpla
: nes from the elements. Although my BT wasn't covered in a
: ny oil, much of it was heavily overpainted which has gone
: a long way to protecting the metal under the paint. The c
: hoice of colors was a little wild (orange and purple!) but
: alot of the aircraft is in great condition due to the pai
: nt that was litterally "lathered" onto it over the years.
: I tried last year to get Walter on the phone to find out
: the story of how he aquired my airplane but I couldn't get
: past his wife, so I drew a blank. Did you by any chance
: take any photos of the two BT-13's that Walt had in his ya
: rd when you were there? Mine was the one hidden under the
: trees with the bush growing up through the elevator!

Indeed I did shoot the two Valiants. And I well remember the one halfway back, next to the unusual Fleetwings, with the small tree through the tail. I think I have two fairly good pix of that one from my 1984 visit. Will take a look; not sure of the whereabouts of the negs (argh) but with today's scanning technology (even if I have to borrow it...!), that's not the issue it once was. One way or another I'll try to get copies of those pix to you.

Cheers

S.

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