Mitchells at Chino

[Dan Newcomb]

Mitchells Forever...

[rwdfresno]

I love that shot of Moody and Fanny!

If you like shooting the Mitchells another good opportunity coming up at Eagle Field. Should have at least three if the stars and planets align properly.

Ryan
www.eaglefield.net (shamelessly plugging lol)

[Nathan]

How come they all got the same Bare metal?

[vg-photo]

Nicely done, Dan!

[rwdfresno]

How come they all got the same Bare metal

It costs a lot to paint an aircraft and a TON of energy to strip an aircraft. Also for "working" aircraft like Fanny and Pacific Princess they often have various logos or re-paints due to movie work or sponsorship and I think that is just a lot of work to keep up a paint job with that sort of stuff going on. Also "working" aircraft require a lot of maintenance meaning the cowling and access panels are coming off all the time which is also hard on paint. Princess and Fanny spend a lot of time outside the hangar and the sun makes quick work of the paint. Plus it was common to see late production Mitchells in natural metal.

[Django]

As long as we're discussing one of the greatest twin aircraft of all time, what models had the exhaust stacks all around the cowling BUT without the stainless tips on the ends of the exhaust ports? And what year would that model be? AND would it have been painted or bare metal?

[Dan Newcomb]

http://www.vectorsite.net/avb25.html
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Elevon/baugher_us/b025i.html

Tons of info if you need it. Or was this a quiz?

[Django]

I'm trying to date a piece in my collection. It's the similar cowlings as Miss Mitchell has, but w/o the stainless tips in the exhaust ports.

[rwdfresno]

As long as we're discussing one of the greatest twin aircraft of all time, Very Happy what models had the exhaust stacks all around the cowling BUT without the stainless tips on the ends of the exhaust ports? And what year would that model be? AND would it have been painted or bare metal?

Well the Clayton stacks began with the B-25C-15 serial number 42-32383 and then it was continued through J production. Later aircraft modified by Hayes Aircraft were fitted with a half collector ring on the top cylinders. Based purely on what I have seen in photographs I would say that the stainless tips came about somewhere in J production around -10 production block. I have seen some earlier aircraft with mismatched stainless and non-stainless tipped ports that were obviously replacement panels.

It could have easily been natural metal or OD. The inboard top panels were OD on natural metal aircraft to cut down on glare, and the lower panels were usually part gray on most OD aircraft. Depending on the theater, squadron, group or even down to the individual aircraft in some squadrons they would have OD or natural metal finish. I have seen pictures of C/Ds, F-10s, Gs and Hs all in natural metal.

Last edited by rwdfresno on Sun May 27, 2007 10:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

[planeoldsteve]

Ryan

What is the story on this thin intake scoop? When and why did they do away with them?


Steve

[Fairfax Ghost]

the low flat intakes are the original intakes for the holly carbs. most flying today have the post war mod bendix carb's and replacement carb intakes

[planeoldsteve]

Fairfax Ghost

Thanks for the info!
Did that go hand in hand with the exhaust stacks mods?
Welcome to the WIX!

Steve

[Fairfax Ghost]

I looked at a few of my old pic. and I think the two mods where done at different times or at lest strarted at different times I have some pic. with the collecter ring but not the carb mod. so it looks like rings first carbs later. Jim

Last edited by Fairfax Ghost on Sun May 27, 2007 12:07 pm, edited 5 times in total.

[mentormarc]

One day that will be us Dan.

[planeoldsteve]

Mitchells Forever...

Dans 3rd picture looks like the B-25 may have the thin scoops and the collector ring? Any one have a better picture of the top side of the engine?

Steve