Maybe the dado is a good candidate to pull into the hyperspectral analysis effort? I don't know for certain but have some idea that that process might reveal things about paint, dyes and etchings, pitting relevant to same, etc.
Good thought Jeff, caveat being that testing for presence of paint may not result in a useful data point either way since the C-47 parts list does show five different possible part numbers and I doubt it could be determined which version was on the Sydney C-47. i.e. we don't know (yet anyway) if
all versions of C-47 kickplate were painted. Testing would no doubt still be enlightening though...
My purpose in posting on this thread has been to test the notion (espoused in post 2 on page 1) that the only reasonable source for a dado-like appurtenance with a blue material remnant attached is a Lockheed Electra. I think the desired point has been made and I trust will be given fair consideration.
Next tangent: Despite the above, I'm not necessarily convinced that the artifact
is a C-47 kickplate or a heat shield or whatever simply because its construction doesn't make sense...why would the thing be built so elaborately, ie with micarta
electrical insulation between pieces if the intent was anything other than to isolate parts of it electrically. Could it be somehow related to aircraft radio componentry, cases or installation racks? Maybe even Coast Guard LORAN or communication radio equipment, disposal of which seems to be undocumented.
Preceding paragraph assumes that the statements about the micarta insulation in Tighar article are factual and not part of what is foot noted as inaccuracy in the article.
http://tighar.org/Projects/Earhart/Archives/Research/Bulletins/43_DadoPart1/43_Dado1.htmlAlso, if just a heat shield, why not just use one piece and bend a 90 on a sheet metal brake rather than build from two pieces