Pima Air Museum restoration updates (12/16/08)

[Pat Carry]

Nice restoration work taking place there! Thanks for the links.

Last edited by Pat Carry on Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

[APG85]

That's alot of paint to strip off of the B-36. Were they originally natural metal when in service?

[Steve Nelson]

I'm really looking forward to visiting Pima again. We're planning another visit in 2010..when the IPMS National Convention will be in Phoenix. We had a great time there in 2004, but this time we plan to rent a car and spend a couple of weeks kicking around the state.

SN

[jamesintucson]

That's alot of paint to strip off of the B-36. Were they originally natural metal when in service?

Partially. The aluminum areas of the aircraft were unpainted for at least part of their service life while the magnesium was always painted. Obviously we'll be painting the whole aircraft for preservation reasons.

James

[DaveM2]

We just received some copies of the new Museum Book at the Classic Wings office. Excellent high quality publication and well worth buying, whether you have visited the museum or not! Superb histories and photos of not only all the exhibits, but of the museum itself.

Dave

[Ztex]

That Widgeon is a funky looking machine. The hull is very different from a regular Widgeon.

Interesting.

Thanks for the updates.

Z

[viking73]

That's alot of paint to strip off of the B-36. Were they originally natural metal when in service?

Partially. The aluminum areas of the aircraft were unpainted for at least part of their service life while the magnesium was always painted. Obviously we'll be painting the whole aircraft for preservation reasons.

James

Also, weren't the undersides painted white for "anti-flash" purposes on some of them at one time?

[jamesintucson]

We just received some copies of the new Museum Book at the Classic Wings office. Excellent high quality publication and well worth buying, whether you have visited the museum or not! Superb histories and photos of not only all the exhibits, but of the museum itself.

Dave,

Thanks for the compliment. I'm glad you like it. It was a lot of work but the final product was worth the effort.


Ztex,

The Widgeon was modified for testing different hull shapes by NACA and Edo. There were four different bolt on hulls that could be switched out for various tests.


viking73,

Yes the bottom of the B-36 is painted white for anti-flash protection.

James

[Michel C-GNCJ]

Wow ! Some people at Pima have indeed been busy ! Nice update, thanks !

It will definitely be worth a return visit next time I'm in the area.

Great work !

[vernicator]

We just received some copies of the new Museum Book at the Classic Wings office. Excellent high quality publication and well worth buying, whether you have visited the museum or not! Superb histories and photos of not only all the exhibits, but of the museum itself.

Dave

I had my first visit to the Pima museum and was simply blown away.

I purchased the softcover version of the new museum book in the gift shop and it is a must have for anyone that has been or plans on going to the museum. The history of each and every specific airframe is well documented. Excellent work!!

[wwrw2007]

I read that they only have one engine for the B-36. What happened to the other engines? Isn't this the plane that was almost flown back in the 70's?