Warbird Information Exchange

After lurking in the shadows reading posts and learning much from this well-run group, I am stepping into the light to see if any reader might have possession of a B-24 CONTROL WHEEL they would sell me so I can reunite it with the Ford control wheel center cap I own?

I’d throw up a picture of the cap for all to see, but alas this site won’t let me upload images from my desktop. However I’d be happy to email any group member the image if requested.

Thanks to member suggestion here are photobucket imge links to cap:

Have you checked out Jay Wisler's website?

http://www.warbird-parts.com/invent/SPECIFIC.HTM

Scroll all the way down towards the end of the page and you'll see one for sale for $325.00.

Regarding the pics uploading most folks use photobucket. You can set up a free account, upload your pictures there, and just use a link. There's also a sticky thread in the hanger forum which explains how to post pics.

Good luck!

John

Time for a trip to the optometrist, Johnny...Mr. Wisler's selling a Lib control column, not a wheel.

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

Ooops!! Sorry about that...thanks for pointing it out Dan! You're absolutely right....it's time to get my eyes checked (or maybe I should just get my head out of my ass ).

John

Thanks, guys! I actually saw that listing on the net: “B-24 control column less control wheel, has all sprockets, rollers, etc., excellent condition.”

I interpreted that mean it had everything BUT the control wheel. Maybe I’m reading it wrong. I’ll make inquiries.

Thanks for the photo bucket tip. Friendly group.

I'm having all kinds of fun w/ photobucket now (see added pic links in my original post). This is the baby I'm looking for:

Killer Kane,
Good luck. They are very tough to find. I only have one control wheel for my B-24 project. The last one I saw on E-Pay went for more than a WWII Jeep Project. Here is mine:
http://www.questmasters.us/B-24_Page_2.html

And Yes, mine is blue - not black! Don't ask, I haven't been able to figure that one out yet (but it does have a "32" prefix number, so it is definitely for a B-24.….and I found it at a B-24 crash site).

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Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
B-29 42-24791 "Big Time Operator"
C-47A 43-15137 "7H" Normandy/Holland Vet
SNJ-5B S/N 84947
UC-45F 43-35764 Cockpit
PT-26A 42-71104
LNE-1 S/N 31556
CG-15A Cockpit
CG-4A Cockpit (x2) and fuselage
Follow QuestMasters on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/QuestMastersMuseum
Museum collection homepage: http://www.questmasters.us

Hey Van,

I've actually seen your project on the web. Amazing. Control wheels are like finding a needle in a very large haystack. I've seen a repro B-29 wheel for sale at $495 bucks, here:
http://www.garciaaviation.com/cgi-local ... nstruments

I've emailed them to see if they could fabricate a B-24 wheel. That would probably work for display. But in your case to have one built for a real airplane... is probably a different story.

Where was your airplane manufactured originally?

Gary

Here is the response I received from Garcia Aviation:

"Hi Gary, thanks for the inquiry. I don't know of any B-24 Control wheels that are available in either original or reproduction at present. Occasionally they turn up. If one does I'll keep your information and let you know. I was able to get the B-29 control wheels from a museum and apparently they were quite expensive to make ,but I had some material they needed desparately and they let the wheels go. Thanks again and I'll keep you posted. Jim Garcia"

Gary,
My B-24 is going to be a FrankenLiberator, if I actually pull it off. Most of my nose parts/sections are from Consolidated "J" Libs. My bomb bay/waist section is from a Ford "L" Lib.

_________________
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
B-29 42-24791 "Big Time Operator"
C-47A 43-15137 "7H" Normandy/Holland Vet
SNJ-5B S/N 84947
UC-45F 43-35764 Cockpit
PT-26A 42-71104
LNE-1 S/N 31556
CG-15A Cockpit
CG-4A Cockpit (x2) and fuselage
Follow QuestMasters on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/QuestMastersMuseum
Museum collection homepage: http://www.questmasters.us

Hi Van

That looks like quite the project? Do you have a line on wings or more of a fuselage?

"FrankenLiberator." Never heard that one before. Although stories I've read about ground crews cobbling together spare parts during WW2 to get enough airplanes for bombing raids -- it doesn't sound too far fetched. If you ever get that baby in the air, you definately deserve some kind of medal or something -- as you know their are only a handful of surviving airframes, let alone flying examples.

Best of luck. My hat is definately off to you. I hope you continue to document your project via the web.

Gary

Killer Kane - I came up with the name "Franken-Liberator" since I'm using parts from a bunch of different B-24's, from crash sites to NOS. Will it fly - no, not unless I load all of the parts on a C-5. At best I hope to assemble a good chunk of the rear of a B-24 and a nose section. I have just about everything to complete the tail section that I have (less the ever illusive ball turret - but I do have the hanger). I'm going to give it my best go since there are only a handful (roughly .1% if my math is correct) of the 18,000+ B-24's produced.

_________________
Thanks,
Van
Kosovo, Afghanistan (x2) and Iraq Campaign Veteran
B-29 42-24791 "Big Time Operator"
C-47A 43-15137 "7H" Normandy/Holland Vet
SNJ-5B S/N 84947
UC-45F 43-35764 Cockpit
PT-26A 42-71104
LNE-1 S/N 31556
CG-15A Cockpit
CG-4A Cockpit (x2) and fuselage
Follow QuestMasters on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/QuestMastersMuseum
Museum collection homepage: http://www.questmasters.us