turn buckles and tank straps

[Nigel Watson]

Lynn it is uncanny as today I received an item purchased from Ebay. A turnbuckle. It was designated RAF type AGS 141 ABC 15-20cwt 3.25". It looked and is very close to the carrier parts manual. So I googled it and came up with an aero company over here that had turnbuckles but not with the same AGS numbers.

I went back to the trusty parts manual and read the details more closely to find the detail CO1UC 105114 TurnBuckle - Fuel Tank Connections (UK No. MT15/ AGS-492 BCE). The company have thesebut they are not only very expensive but the body is parallel instead of being tapered slightly at each end. The BCE refers to the thread direction of the end-body-end.

The one I got from Ebay is almost exact. Incidently it was described as having been used on the Gloucester Gladiator around 1937! Why manufacture if there is one already being made?

So if anyone is successful in tracking down the Gadiator stores please let me have 3.

Nigel