B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

[A26 Special K]

That looks very close to the boost pump on the B-17. We got ours at S & T Accessories in New Braunfuls, TX.

Not the same, although it is similar to the B17 pump, but it appears that S & T can overhaul our pumps and we have been given some leads on finding others. Thanks for the tip. We appreciate it very much. I also have an appreciation of O2's from back in the day. Cool... Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

The gang is hoping to install the right horizontal stabilizer and some more of the gear actuator in the left wheel well tomorrow.. Sat, Sept 22. We are looking at the instrument panel again and have located some original instruments for it to replace the replacements. Somehow a Cessna Airspeed Indicator just seems so wrong! Putting in a 2 inch G meter, too, like the original. Yes, it had one! Yippee. Makes for tight cornering when aiming at wild hogs. In other news, looks like we will be adding to our collection soon. We just got our restored Huey back for static display. We want to establish a Viet Nam display to go with K. We also have a keen eye on acquiring a Half Track to go with our Duece. When the engine gets done, some of our other volunteers will be starting on that restoration. Doubt it will be running by Fall Fling time on Oct 13, but you never know. The Huey and other helicopters will be there for sure though. Be sure to leave the date open and come see us at Meacham Field in Ft Worth on Saturday, Oct 13 from 9 am to 6 pm. There will be a car show, fly-in of vintage airplanes, military airplanes and our B-25, A-26 will be on display for tours. Our DC-3 will be giving rides so this is your big opportunity if you want to do that. Ck out our website for more details. http://www.gga1.org. Greatest Generation Aircraft is a non profit educational foundation and this is a much needed fund raiser for the continued restoration efforts of our airplanes. Mah best, JR

[A26 Special K]

This is similar to the hub cap we are looking for the nose wheel. This one is from a Goodyear 41104-E and our wheel is a Goodyear 34874-A. Several aircraft used one of three types of this size wheel. It takes a 36 SC tire. The P-38 used it for a main gear wheel. It was used on the nose of the B-24 and B-29 for example. Anybody having a lead on where to find this cap and the snap ring that holds it in would be very much appreciated if they shared the news with us. Thanks, JR

[A26 Special K]

It was a great day in the neighborhood! Now both horizontal stabs are in place and all torqued up... ready for the elevators when the gap seals are completed. Man, it sure looks nice to have her tail feathers about done!! Can almost hear those R2800's turning over with that particular whine of the gear box in the nose of the engine. Music to the ears until she fires up. But I am getting ahead of the game here. Back to the tail, the guys finished out the mounting of the stabs and started with the installation of the hydraulic actuator on the left main gear. That should be finished once we replace one more bolt. It turned out the one in it was not correct. Sometime during one of the two gear collapses back in the day, the wrong bolt was used. Corrected now thanks to Mark's sharp eye. While this was a good day for the team, we were also very pleased to have a visit from two of the Nimrods. JR

[A26 Special K]

Fred Moomau and George Matthews, Nimrods from the NKP days, came calling today and said they were very pleased to see the progress we have made on the airplane. We showed them all of the things we have done and plan to do. We also discussed future airshow and city tour plans. Then we got down to business. It seems that Fred and George have been tagged with being the A-26 Reunion Co-Chairmen during the Air Commando Association convention at Hurlburt AFB, FL in Oct 2013. We were planning to fly Kay over the Memorial Service held in conjunction with the reunion on Sunday morning. George and Fred want to have her as a backdrop for the A-26 dinner if possible. When's the last time anybody had dinner with a sexy gal like Kay. Been awhile, I bet!! Anyway, they have some exciting plans for the dinner and who knows what these guys will come up with. The Nimrods were noted for being ... well, shall we say, a bit unconventional when they took a notion. That is what Special Ops is all about and these guys certainly fit that mode well. Stay tuned. JR in the Middle!!

[A26 Special K]

Another project that was started involved cleaning up the tow bar. It had sat outside for ages and badly needed a coat of new paint. So Big Mike volunteered to grind on it most of the day and prep it for a new coat of yellow. We plan to stencil USAF B-26K 64-17679 on it. He is also going to paint our blue practice bombs so they will be the appropriate OD with yellow stripes and the proper stenciled info on them. Next project will be to figure out how to build a collapsible tow bar that can hang in the bomb bay and go with us on trips. This one is far too big and heavy for that to happen. JR

[A26 Special K]

Mark and Tim got the actuator installed so it should be ready to hook up next weekend. Ray is going to build some new tubing for the brake lines so this side is getting closer to having the brake assembly go back in after the Fall Fling and Hangar Dance in Oct. JR

[A26 Special K]

Trying out the new gear door hinge on the left main. Cool... it fit. Yesssssss.. JR

[A26 Special K]

Just one more look at that beautiful tail!! Gap seals and elevators to go. Then the cables have to be hooked up, tension set and the tail cone can go back on. Bliss... JR

[CAPFlyer]

Another project that was started involved cleaning up the tow bar. It had sat outside for ages and badly needed a coat of new paint. So Big Mike volunteered to grind on it most of the day and prep it for a new coat of yellow. We plan to stencil USAF B-26K 64-17679 on it. He is also going to paint our blue practice bombs so they will be the appropriate OD with yellow stripes and the proper stenciled info on them. Next project will be to figure out how to build a collapsible tow bar that can hang in the bomb bay and go with us on trips. This one is far too big and heavy for that to happen. JR

Towbars are an often overlooked part of operation of warbirds anymore. Too many assume the little FBO's have the right kind of towbar and they don't. I would suggest asking the guys over at the CAF DFW Wing about their towbar for the R4D (3-piece all aluminum). I believe that member who owns a machine shop made it, but they may have outsourced it, either way, they'll be able to get you in touch with someone who knows how to make a "flyable" towbar.

[cooper9411]

Fantastic job and congratulations to all involved. Hopefully someday the one moved from Rockford to Vincennes will be as nice as yours is now!!!!!!

[A26 Special K]

Guess this is the "before picture" of the right gear. It has now been moved up on our list of stuff to do next. Once the Hangar dance is over and we can move back in place, we will get started on this side. Estimates are that it will go a lot smoother than the left side. And to CAPFLyer..you are absolutely correct about the towbar situation. We have run into it many times at airshows with the DC-3 especially. We have a special tow bar that fits in the bomb bay of the B25 so will probably use that for a model except it will have to be longer. The A26 tow bar hooks on to the strut where the B25 tow bar goes into the hub of the nosewheel itself. Need to make it somewhat collapsible to fit on the bomb racks ok. And to Mr. Cooper, thanks for your remarks and encouragement. I am sure the A26 you referred to is going to a good home and will come out looking like a great lady! All it takes is love, dedication and some $$. JR

[NImrodA26]

===========Hopefully someday the one moved from Rockford to Vincennes will be as nice as yours is now!!!!!!

Question: What is "the one" moved from Rockford? Are we talking about Rockford, Illinois? Curious.

[NImrodA26]

======= He is also going to paint our blue practice bombs so they will be the appropriate OD with yellow stripes and the proper stenciled info on them
=========
Remember, one yellow stripe had TNT filler (explosive)
Two yellow stripes, Comp B filler
Three yellow stripes, Tritonal filler

[A26 Special K]

======= He is also going to paint our blue practice bombs so they will be the appropriate OD with yellow stripes and the proper stenciled info on them
=========
Remember, one yellow stripe had TNT filler (explosive)
Two yellow stripes, Comp B filler
Three yellow stripes, Tritonal filler

So Randy, what would a 100 pounder typically have back in your day when they used some small ones on the front racks? And would 4 stripes make it a nuke? Aw, just kidding! Fred and George said hi, btw! They had to look at your picture on the nose bay several times to make sure it was you! I told them you said it was you 65 lbs ago and they got a kick out of that. Both were telling me how yall used to hang the external ordnance and then paint it black. Was it a spray paint or globbed on with a brush? I meant to ask them, but they were telling so many stories so fast that I could barely keep up. JR