Cierva C19 info - ZK-ACL/G-ABCK

[KiwiZac]

Hi all!
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post, so mods feel free to shift if need be. :)

I'm researching New Zealand's sole Autogiro, a Cierva C.19 Mk.III. It was registered G-ABCK in the UK before coming here as ZK-ACL. A history of sorts has been provided for me by a fellow kiwi:
Cierva C.19 Mk.III Autogiro c/n 5140
G-ABCK 14/10/1930 Cierva Autogiro Co.Ltd., London
S.Abd
ZK-ACL 14/2/1931 Safety Flying (N.I.) Ltd., Wellington
Built 1930. Imported by Garland & Grant Ltd. Left UK 5Oct30. F/f NZ 31Dec30, CofA #99 valid to 10Oct31
Blown over by wind gust at Wanganui 17Apr31. Parts returned to UK May31.

The National Library of NZ has a great photo of the machine, and the aforementioned kiwi also provided one, however I'm still in the dark as to the colour of the upper decking. Here is the machine in question:
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a388/ZacYates/ZK-ACL.jpg
Photograph copyright Peter Lewis

If anyone has any further photos or information I'd be very grateful :). My immediate aim is to build a 1:72 model of the aircraft, but I'd absolutely love to build a flying replica! Perhaps in the future...:lol: Toward that end I'm gathering a LOT of photos.

[C. Beaty]

Brooks: Cierva Autogiros confirms what you already know about G-ABCK. “C of A October 14, 1930. To New Zealand December 1930 as ZK-ACL. Crashed at Oamaru, May 1931 and wreck shipped back to UK.

There were nine C.19 Mk.IIIs built from scratch at Hamble.

Here’s a scan from Brooks of C.19 MkIIIs under construction at Hamble.

[KiwiZac]

Thank you for the scan! I must track down a copy of that book, sounds like a real bible!

[C. Beaty]

That’s “Cierva Autogiros” by Peter W. Brooks, Smithsonian Institution Press, copyright 1988. Now out of print but there are used copies floating around internet book dealers.

The C-19 was significant mainly in that it was the first model with a cantilevered 3-blade rotor, the Mk.IV, and was the test bed for direct control.

Here are scale plan views from the same book:

[KiwiZac]

And thank you for THAT scan! Excellent!

I've found a 1932 card with a Mk.III on it, and the upper decking is coloured blue. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I've been able to find a ton of C.30 profiles but none of any C.19s.

[bopflyer]

Hi KiwiZac,

I live in Tauranga, would love to keep in touch and have a chat about your interest in tractor gyro's sometime!

Cheers

Barry