Warbird Information Exchange

Gary,

A while ago, when I was working dayshift, I had to change an IDG(integrated drive generator) on a 757. I won't bore you with the details of why or how important is was to get it done, but the biggest problem was having to stop every 5 minutes to answer he "when's it gonna be done" questions from every supervisor that could find a reason to be out there. I finally anwsered "It will bedone one hour after the last person asks me that question. Now go away and let me work". It probably doesn't help much, but it helped me at the time.

RICK

Thanks y'all. I reckon the best way for me to get folks off my back is to just get the airplane flying. I know that most of the time, folks don't have any acidity when they ask me about when it's going to be done, but at the same time, they don't realize that they're just one of many that ask that very question. Either way, all of this is just a feature of me being tired, grumpy, and whiney. It'll all get better soon enough and I'll be able to start on whatever my next project will be.

On that note, it's back to work now on that stinkin' entry door.

Gary

You've done an awesome job, so far, and I, for one, love the paint scheme change.

I'm not prepared to sift through 150-some-odd pages to find out if this has been answered: isn't the nose too long for a B-24A? If so, are you going to shorten it at some time in the future?

Yup & nope.

This airplane did have the short nose, but in 1945, Consolidated installed an RY-3 nose to the airplane. There's a little more to the story, but that's the basic answer. If you get the latest Warbird Digest Magazine (on news stands now), there's a pretty informative article on the airplane, which also makes mention of the long nose on it. Oh, and it's only 14 pages to go through vs. 150+.

Gary

Wonder why they put the long nose on it? Seems like a lot of effort for little gain...

_________________
"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Don't forget that this was Consolidated Vultee's company airplane--they seem to have modified her whenever something new was designed for production. The different mods done to this and the other transport Liberators could fill a large (albeit boring) book. As to the effort needed to add the long nose and late model greenhouse, it was simply a matter of using new pieces off the assembly line and matching them up to the existing fuselage. Wish we had that luxury!!

Scott

I thought that AM927 was used as preproduction test bed for some of the RY-3 and C-87 Subassemblies. Is that right? Or am I all FUBAR'd?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Shay,

Consolidated did try out new stuff on Ol' 927 from time to time, so I'd say you aren't FUBAR'd, but the airplane was MUBAR'd(modified up beyond all repair!!). In fact, I'm MUBARing the old girl some more as soon as I finish this post.

Scott

I've got every issue of WD from #1!

Yeah, I saw the reference to the long nose, but since this is the only B-24A out there, I thought I'd ask anyways. It'd be fun to see a short-nosed B-24 some time in the future. I can always dream, I guess.

You know Gary, they got that neato chop saw out in Tucson. I'll bet those boys would be glad to cut a couple of feet out the nose for you. It'd just be a cut and splice job then.

Do you intend on putting the cockpit glass back to a more traditional configuration in the future?

Rich Dann

hi garry i think you need one of these up there


this was seen today at the liberator restoration at werribee just outside malbourne australia,the work they are doing is wonderful great job so far i look foward to seeing her finished .
paul

Yes, I'd very much like to do some more work on that. We did install some of the greenhouse windows this year to give it a touch more authenticity, but frankly, we just didn't have the time, money, or manpower to do the rest of it like I wanted.

Gary

I WANT A WEE LIBERATOR! That is an awesome vehicle to behold, and I could actually operate it legally!

Gary,

Understand exactly what you are saying about the gawkers who ask about it being finished.

Some on the current project are referred to as "Captain Blister"..... why?, blisters only come out after all the hard work is done.......

Have you also noticed when things are being taken apart there are millions (slight exaggeration) of helpers but when they are going back together the helpers can be counted on the fingers of one hand - that is until they can be photographed in front of something finished?