Here's a very quick photo update for y'all. As you know, I have right at a week now before we're scheduled to conduct our ground school and have our first flights in the B-24 for the year. So with that being said, I've not made the time to take the detailed pictures I probably should have for decent progress reports for everyone. I'm sure y'all understand though. My last "big" project is this stinkin' entry door that has been a thorn in my side since the day I took the old one apart to find that it was completely rotten inside (particularly at the bottom of the door). This, along with other factors, required that I essentially start from scratch and make a new door. Well, I'm closing in on it, but the steps for the door have been problematic for me. I'm trying to make something that's strong enough for our "guests with girth" to enter with, yet light enough that some of our older volunteers will be able to lift the door into the closed position.
The following pictures are just a very basic overview of what's been going on lately. You'll just have to use your imagination to fill in the blanks.
I know it doesn't prove anything, but this first picture is intended to show y'all that I don't just think about this freakin' airplane while at work. I was at the house, in the early evening, trying to get some sleep, when all I could think about is the design of this door. I cut out a piece of one of the pages from my cell phone instructions and turned it into a B-24 fuselage section and entry door...so to speak. I was trying to use anything I could find (camera straps, etc.) to simulate hold open chains and retraction cables, or whatever else I could imagine to make this thing work. Frankly, I can't tell you if I even came up with any good ideas on this evening. I simply don't remember anymore........
What I do know is that when I started messing with the door again, I decided to undo some of the hard work that Daniel had put into it, by taking the ladder system off that he'd installed. He and I had talked about that ladder system and thought that it would work out, but it didn't. It was cumbersome and difficult to walk on, and would never work for the general public or our volunteers. As Bob Diemert (of "The Defender" fame) would say, "It was a good idea, it just didn't work." So, off came the ladder, which left me with the basic door again.........
Another of my crappy ideas that had to be replaced was the holder-uppers for the hand rail arms. After watching folks go up and down the door (when the ladder setup was in place), it was obvious that the brackets I'd made were not substantial enough. So, as ugly as they are (I don't have time for "pretty" anymore), I made some new brackets that are substantially stronger........
This last picture shows a mostly completed new step. It's made from several different angle materials and extrusions, along with some of the leftover floorboard material that we used in the back of the B-29 during it's most recent work project. I've since finished this step and am moving on to the other two that will go into the door assembly....
It's going to look like hell, but at this point, I've just got to get this stinkin' airplane finished. Just last night, I had four calls within a half an hour from people who've not lifted a freakin' finger to help with this project, asking if I'd have the airplane finished in time for them to fly next weekend. I understand their curiosity, but do you realize how freakin' frustrating it is to be asked that question over and over and over and over?
Okay, rant over...back to work.
Gary
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I guess our two languages are really quite similar after all!!
