Warbird Information Exchange

However, I have an idea that might get a few more people down your way... stay tuned for more info, I'm concocting something.

The CAF Bikini Squadron!!!!

I agree...a few photos of Gary bending metal while surrounded by a bevy of blonde bombers might just do the trick.

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Sh*t, Dan... great idea, but I don't know any Hawaiian Tropic or Hooters girls. Guys, get out there and start, um, 'beating the bushes' (:D) to get some pretty girls to help Gary!

Here's my contribution... I just composed the following email and sent it to all the chapter contacts of IPMS (International Plastic Modelers Society) chapters within a few hour drive of Midland, and also copied the editor of the IPMS newsletter, the director of events, and the president of the Society. I'm the 1st VP of IPMS Tidewater, and I know that there's several of us who'd LOVE to be able to take part in actually restoring a genuine WWII aircraft back to stock configuration... this would seem to be a golden opportunity for aircraft modelers to really get their hands dirty, and do some detail work in 1/1 scale for a change!

I hope it makes a difference, I really do... it's about the best I can do from up here in Virginia.

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Hi guys-

My name is Lynn Ritger, I'm the 1st VP of IPMS
Tidewater, and I have a proposition for you guys.

You have all received this email because of your
position within IPMS, or your proximity to Midland, TX... yes, I know it's several hours away for many of
you, but it's closer than Virginia! Anyway, most (if
not all) of you will be familiar with the
Commemorative Air Force's B-29 "Fifi" and their B-24A
"Diamond Lil", which are based out of Midland.
Currently, both aircraft are down for heavy
maintenance; the B-29 is receiving four new R-3350s,
and will be down for a while.

But "Diamond Lil" is something different. The crew
chief of both aircraft, Gary Austin, has been working
almost non-stop on a very special project... it has
been decided to return the aircraft back as close as
possible to stock B-24A configuration. This is no
small task, as "Diamond Lil" was converted into a
passenger carrying LB-30 during the war.

Gary has been posting his progress on the Warbird
Information Exchange board, and it is positively
amazing to watch the transformation. But he needs one
thing more than anything else right now, and this is
where you guys come in... he needs volunteers to help
on the aircraft. No experience is necessary, he'll
show you what needs to be done, and you'd have the
chance to work on a genuine WWII aircraft and take
part in an amazing restoration effort.

As IPMS members, this would seem to be an ideal
opportunity to showcase the Society and the
willingness of our members to help bring history alive
for millions who attend airshows annually to see
aircraft such as "Diamond Lil". I'm not suggesting a
donation drive, although that would doubtless be
welcome... what I'm hoping is that you guys will
spread the word and try to get some manpower down to
Midland to help Gary get the B-24A back in the air.
Remember, every little bit will help... even a couple
hours one Saturday can make a difference!

To see the progress done so far, have a look at the
thread on the WIX board:

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... sc&start=0

The homepage for the B-24/B-29 squadron is:

http://www.cafb24b29.org/

And the phone numbers for making arrangements to
assist are:

901-857-3350
580-471-3048

Thanks for your time, guys, and have a wonderful
holiday season!

-------------------------------------------------

Good luck Gary, and please continue your excellent work in keeping us updated!

Lynn

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Wisdom, courtesy of shrike: "In aviation, as well as marriage, it's often just as important to be seen to be doing something as is to do it properly in the first place."

Holy smokes Lynn, that's an excellent idea you had! I can't wait to start seeing those folks (and the bikini babes) here to start working.

I very much appreciate the effort you've made to try to help me get this ol' airplane back in the air. The support from everyone here on the WIX site has been amazing.

Thanks again,
Gary

We just received that case of Airsho DVD's that the CAF First Observation Detachment sent (thanks Paul), so anyone that comes in to volunteer with the Liberator will receive one of them as a thank you gift. They do a great job on these videos and you will surely enjoy the footage.

Gary

Gary,

Not that you owe anyone here an answer, but I guess I'm at least curious as to the feasibility of grafting a "standard" Liberator cockpit enclosure on 'Lil. Each time I see one of Ed Kaleta's ads on Barnstormers I start imagining what 'Lil might look like. Would the process be more of an issue with structure and dimension or with the FAA?

COCKPIT ASSEMBLIES • FOR SALE • B24 and PB4Y cockpit assemblies for Museum display. Many sections available. Tail cone sections, side gunners fuselage panels with windows, engines and cowling sections from WWII crash sites. Landing gear retract cylinders, main gear assemblies. Many other items. Great WWII museum display material. • Contact Ed Kaleta - KAL AERO SERVICE, INC. located Dulzura, CA USA • Telephone: 619-468-3759 • Fax: 619-468-3579 • Posted November 29, 2006 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Report This Ad

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Dan, more than anything, time and money are my biggest issues right now. I want to see the greenhouse cockpit on the Liberator as well, but I'm just not able to take the time to do that right now. We are talking with the Kaletta bunch about some of the parts they have, but haven't worked anything out yet. I may be able to do some "window work" with the cockpit section on our airplane, but it's just too early for me to tell if I'll be able to work on that this session or not.

I hope that helps explain it a little.

Gary

I think most are quite happy with the project at hand, Gary. Just do the job you have planned now. I think there's a strong probablility that winter 2007-2008 will get here eventually, and I'm sure you won't want to be sitting around then with nothing to do!

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It was a good idea, it just didn't work.

Heck, the way things have gone this past week, I'll be lucky to have this stinkin' door finished by the winter of 2007-2008.

Gary

Maybe I can help.

I have been reading your post for awhile and find it very interesting. I am in awe of what you are undertaking. I wish I could come to Midland and lend a hand, but not possible.

I live in the Seattle area and am the crew chief on an unlimited hydroplane. I have at my disposal a full machine shop, fabrication shop, and welding facility. Maybe you might need a machined part for this project and if you provide me with drawings I could build it for you and ship it to you.

Let me know what you think
Scott

You wouldn't happen to work for the same team that Brad Haskins does would you?

Scott, thank you for the offer. I will get with my maintenance officer and see if he's got any decent drawings that are usable enough to make some of these brackets and whatnot that I'll need. So far, the drawings that I have seen are great for reference material, but are not all that great for manufacturing. We'll see what we can come up with, so I may be getting back with you. Thanks!

Gary

I reckon it's time for another update. As y'all could probably tell from some previous posts, I've had a poor week of productivity. It just seemed like everything I touched turned to scrap. I have finally been able to get a few things done, so here are the photos from the last few days...

Before going any further on fabrication of other items on this door project, I had to rivet the piece together that will be the plug where the bottom of the old door used to be. All of the parts for this puzzle were acid etched, alodined, and primed before shooting them together......



Finally, something is actually riveted together.......




Now this piece can be clecoed to the fuselage (again), so that the remaining parts can be made to fit it.......



The next step was to make the lower door jam. This piece is also what the hinges retract into when the door is shut. I made more scrap with this one piece than I have with this entire B-24 project so far. I know, I know, "measure twice, cut once." But when I'm in a slump, it seems that the only thing I'm good at is making straight aluminum into a pile of bent up parts that aren't good for anything.........


It took a while, but when I finally got the door jam right, it was sweet. It felt nice to get something right for a change. The door slid right in place and the hinges work just like I was wanting......




Now that the door has something to swing on, I have started fabricating the upper portion of it. Once that is done, I will make the outer skins and then the inside portion. It just goes to show that a project that I thought would be done a week ago sometimes takes much more effort than originaly thought.

One thing that I've been very pleased with is the amount of help I have received this week. There were actually two different Squadron members here working...and they were both pilots! Ken Hyman and Matt Olafsen came out to do some of the "unskilled labor." They weren't here for very long, but it is truly amazing how much of this short term labor saves me in the long run. The airplane is about as taken apart as I need it for the inspection, so now it's clean up time and major fabrication time. The High Sky Wing here in Midland has also been ultra helpful and came by yesterday to collect all of our cowl flaps to start cleaning and stripping the paint off of them. They have also pledged to do the same with all of the other painted parts that have been removed from the airplane.

I cannot stress how important it has been for me to have this thread going on WIX. I sort of rolled my eyes when "bomberflight" started the thread just over a month ago, but I'm glad he did. I was going to keep this project sort of on a "hush-hush" level, only giving little tid-bits of information out, but I'm glad I didn't. There is enough secrecy in the Warbird world. I hope that these updates of mine have helped those of you out there who support the Warbird movement understand what those of us who maintain them go through. Your nice comments to me have not gone unnoticed, and I very much appreciate them.

Now, with all of that being said...it's time for me to get back to work.

Gary

Looking good from this side of trhe pond Gary, Well done!

Are you looking at fitting steps to the inside of the door for access or are you going to have some separate ones?
Cheers, Alan

Good on'ya Gary. Your work looks great. Big deal, you didn't right the first couple of times. The point is, atleast you kept trying and got in the end. Heck even the "Mona Lisa" wasn't painted right the first time.

You're do'n good work, keep it up and thanks for sharing your daily exploits.

On a side note Gary did you ever get your swivel mount for the .50 cal for the Bell gunner's position in ?

Thanks

Shay
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Semper Fortis

beautiful work, i wish i could be there to help.
i hope that one day i can have a job as interesting, challenging and rewarding as yours.

you may feel you are in a slump, but from here what you are doing and what you have done looks pretty darn good.