Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

Mustang51 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 09, 2007 9:06 pm

Great shot of the SPAD. Off Topic I know but fantastic - my second favourite beast.

Steve Corbett · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 1:07 pm

Here is a "gee whiz" I have the s/n for the original sperry sight just can't find it today.

retroaviation · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:21 pm

Well, the first tailgunner's door is officially built! The only things left to do to it are to install a handle on the inside, cut out the hole in the Plexiglas for the gun to protrude when stowed, and finish up some final details on the rollers...all of which I'll take care of when the second door is finished as well.

There are still a couple of little hang ups when operating the door, and it doesn't fair in quite as nice as I'd hoped, but this is one of those areas where I just have to suck it up and move on. I don't have time to iron out all of the little detais....unfortunately.

Anyway, here's what it looks like now (oh, and the white section on the aft end is the Plexiglas portion with it's protective covering on it)........

From the inside........

And opened up.......

Oh, and since everyone else seems to get off topic every now and then, I thought I'd show y'all our first rattlesnake encounter of the year. It was a little chilly outside, so he had his rattle set on "vibrate" (didn't make any noise :lol:

). Mark "neutralized" a second one shortly after the encounter with this little fella, but I wasn't there for that one. We couldn't find that worthless cat, Mosquito, to come and help, so we had to do the dirty work. Hmmm, two in one day...it's lookin' like we'll be aces in record time this year. :roll:

...........

Gary

Former Member · **Joined:** Mon Aug 29, 2005 1:40 pm **Posts:** 1493

retroaviation wrote:

We couldn't find that worthless cat, Mosquito, to come and help, so we had to do the dirty work. Hmmm, two in one day...it's lookin' like we'll be aces in record time this year. :roll:

...........

I have a feeling Mosquito might've learned his lesson after his last encounter. Having your head swollen to the size of a grape fruit is probably a bit painful for a cat (and a human for that matter). :shock:

She's looking beautiful Gary...keep up the good work!

The big question remains however...once she goes out on tour what are you going to do to keep yourself busy?

John

Django · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:45 pm

Door looks great Gary!

I suprised all the Yankee's trapsing around last week didn't rile up a few of those rattlers. :lol:

Much to my Dad's dismay, I was hoping to see one in person... safely of course!

retroaviation · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:27 pm

jpeters wrote:

The big question remains however...once she goes out on tour what are you going to do to keep yourself busy?
John

Frankly, I'm looking at several options right now. Maybe stay here, maybe go to New Zealand, maybe somewhere else. Heck, I may just get out of airplanes all together and round up grocery carts at the Sack and Save. Waaaay too early to tell yet. I'm sure y'all will hear about it, whatever happens.

Django wrote:

I suprised all the Yankee's trapsing around last week didn't rile up a few of those rattlers. :lol:

Much to my Dad's dismay, I was hoping to see one in person... safely of course!

Well Chad, you and your Yankee friends just come on back. Not only will we put you to work again, but we'll do our darndest to find you a rattler or two.

We'll use the cats as bait. :shock:

Gary

Mark V · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:44 pm

retroaviation wrote:

Heck, I may just get out of airplanes all together and round up grocery carts at the Sack and Save.

Gary, Noooooooooo!!!

Django · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:51 pm

retroaviation wrote:

Heck, I may just get out of airplanes all together and round up grocery carts at the Sack and Save. Waaaay too early to tell yet.

Gary

I KNOW you'd like working on hot rods...

ALAN.L · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:53 pm

retroaviation wrote:

[Frankly, I'm looking at several options right now. Maybe stay here, maybe go to New Zealand, maybe somewhere else. Heck, I may just get out of airplanes all together and round up grocery carts at the Sack and Save. Waaaay too early to tell yet. I'm sure y'all will hear about it, whatever happens.
Gary

Mmmm, must be something about Chief Engineers and rebuilding large,nearly, one of kind four engine bombers.
I know of another one who is coming to the end of a winters major rebuild who is looking for some 'me time'. But he is on about going to Texas for some summer sun.....

Whatever you decide Gary, you deserve to have a bit of chillin' time mate.
Cheers, Alan

RickH · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:26 pm

Welcome to Wal Mart,... can I get you a basket ?

Of course there's always the other old standyby,... "Do you want fries with that" ? :lol:

davegnz · **Joined:** Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:36 am **Posts:** 36

Find it a big surprise that the USAAC would sell to the RAF one B-24 with US Government Furnished Equiptment installed (ie Sperry Bomb Sight) - you would think that the RAF would have specified a mount for one of their own Bomb Sights (yea I know the Radios, Armament and such are also considered GFE).

Did the Sperry sight also have a Stabilizing unit (the Nordon had the head (or Bomb Sight) as well as a stabilizing base - and is this unit complete?

Gary, are you going to Zinc Chromate the stringers and formers before you reinstall the removed panels? Still think you are going to need to install some type of latch to keep the tail gunners doors secured open.

Somewhere in my mess of files I have shots of Liberator II tail mounts (with the doors retracted - but with twin mounts installed) problem is all my files are in storage while I move.

* * *

"re: Heck, I may just get out of airplanes all together and round up grocery carts at the Sack and Save. "

Worked Heavy Iron (Commercial Air) for 15 years - killed 9 airlines in that time - set-up maintenance departments, run them efficiently then watch the suits spend too much money, then file for bankrupcy.

Now I spend my time raising and showing dogs (couldn't take the agrivation of watching my hard work go to waste) - so I know where you are coming from.

Dave G
A&E / IA / FE

davegnz · **Joined:** Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:36 am **Posts:** 36

http://www.acseac.co.uk/gallery/index.p ... 36&pic=953

(AM258

http://www.acseac.co.uk/gallery/index.p ... 36&pic=955

Liberator II with bomb bay open

Mustang51 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:31 pm

Gary, for some reason known only to computer officianados and Klingons, I have not been able to open up any of the shots that you have taken of the rebuild since about page 70. Other shots taken by others on the thread come out fine and my IT guys here at work cannot fighure it out. Go figure. Know what you feel like after all that work. It took us three years to rebuild the PV-1 in Stockton before we could fly it out to Australia. If you do come to this site of the planet haul yourself through Sydney and I will get you down to Temora for one of our shows. Accommodation wont be a problem

Elroy13 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:51 pm

Dont feel bad Mustang51..Im having the same issues. I think it might have to do with who people have hosting their pics...(photobucket, etc.) I have to view Gary's pic's from the pc at home. They wont work from the office pc.

wardie · **Posted:** Tue Apr 10, 2007 9:52 pm

If Gary does take Mustang51 up on the Sydney/Temora offer then I for one will move heaven and earth to be there to shake Gary's hand for the amazing job that he's done.

I will also be buying him more than one shout of his favourite tipple to show my appreciation of his skills.

Wardie

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Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

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