Following discussions with Andrew Panton of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby, it was decided to modify the antenna installation associated with the LSWC permanent Amateur Radio Station, call sign GB2CWP, located in the ‘Radio Room’ at East Kirkby and which is part of the WWII Radio Museum at the Centre.
It was agreed to dismantle the very tall (and guyed) AV640 and erect a steel lattice mast adjacent to the ‘Radio Room’ to act as a centre support for the 80/40m trap dipole, anchor point for the long wire HF antenna and base for the 2m and 70cm beams together with a co-linear. The presentation of the new arrangement was felt to be more in keeping with the 1940’s than the initial installation.
The LSWC had acquired a 60ft steel lattice mast and over the winter months designed and manufactured a base unit, transported all the parts to EK and completed the painting of all the sections. The base was concreted in at no cost to the LSWC, thanks to the generosity of the proprietors of the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre and work to carry out the modifications began a couple of weels ago.
Our pictures show Peter G1FLL ( Altitude Arry!), mit safety harness and hard hat, fitting the anchor points for the HF antennas at 30ft (another section may be added depending on performance and appearance). Each section of the mast was hoisted into position with the aid of a ‘cherry picker’, expertly driven by Andrew Panton, as can be clearly seen in the pictures and secured in place with steel bolts by Peter.
Meanwhile lots of supporting help was to hand in tidying up the old poles and co-axial feed lines, re-connecting the repositioned HF antennas and carefully dismantling the AV640 vertical mast.
All work was concluded by early afternoon with just the installation of the beams and co-linear to be done - hopefully before the Easter Holiday. Truly a good days work with thanks to Andrew Panton, Peter G1FLL, Andy M0ONQ, Karyn M0GSJ, Pam G4STO, Roger G3PVU, Mark M6ZAC, Clive G1BSN, Chairman Jonathan G6JUT and yours truly. Peter M0EJL