Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:42 pm
Canso...the forklift is an old International Harvester. I don't know the model number off the top of my head though. 
It's essentially just one of their tractors that they just turned around backwards and put the forklift stuff on. The original instrument panel for the tractor is even installed, but it never had the holes punched out. It's pretty neat, and is one heck of a helper around here!
Ober...those old escape ropes are so rotten that they wouldn't hold my fat *ss up, even if I decided to hang myself with them. I cut them out today while cleaning up the inside.
I reckon I could just keep posting pictures of this thing as I progress with it, but I doubt there is really that much interest in it, other than y'all seeing just how crazy I've become lately. My guess is y'all would rather see more ligitimate projects here on WIX.
Gary
It's essentially just one of their tractors that they just turned around backwards and put the forklift stuff on. The original instrument panel for the tractor is even installed, but it never had the holes punched out. It's pretty neat, and is one heck of a helper around here!
Ober...those old escape ropes are so rotten that they wouldn't hold my fat *ss up, even if I decided to hang myself with them. I cut them out today while cleaning up the inside.
I reckon I could just keep posting pictures of this thing as I progress with it, but I doubt there is really that much interest in it, other than y'all seeing just how crazy I've become lately. My guess is y'all would rather see more ligitimate projects here on WIX.
Gary
Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:59 am
retroaviation wrote:I reckon I could just keep posting pictures of this thing as I progress with it, but I doubt there is really that much interest in it, other than y'all seeing just how crazy I've become lately. My guess is y'all would rather see more ligitimate projects here on WIX.
Gary
Now you really are going insane if you think that!
I love these posts 
Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:12 am
Gary,
Interesting prototype for a homebuilt kit! Will you be selling plans anytime soon to raise funds for Austin Acres? Seems like you might consider the name, "Ole 928" for this bird and continue with pictures as you have definitley stirred interest amongst the WIX folks here.
After all, a crazy person is often a misunderstood genius!
Keep the pics a comin'!! Yee hawwww
Dave
Interesting prototype for a homebuilt kit! Will you be selling plans anytime soon to raise funds for Austin Acres? Seems like you might consider the name, "Ole 928" for this bird and continue with pictures as you have definitley stirred interest amongst the WIX folks here.
After all, a crazy person is often a misunderstood genius!
Keep the pics a comin'!! Yee hawwww
Dave
Mon Jul 27, 2009 11:21 am
Hmmm, haven't thought about nose art...but I can assure you that if I do come up with something, it won't have any reference to anything CAF on it!
As far as plans, it's simple.........just get you some C-97 and PBY pieces, and a forklift, and start stickin' them together. It helps to hang out around people who don't care as much about airplanes as they do their image, in order to get the cool parts before they throw them away.
Gary
As far as plans, it's simple.........just get you some C-97 and PBY pieces, and a forklift, and start stickin' them together. It helps to hang out around people who don't care as much about airplanes as they do their image, in order to get the cool parts before they throw them away.
Gary
Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:00 pm
retroaviation wrote:Hmmm, haven't thought about nose art...but I can assure you that if I do come up with something, it won't have any reference to anything CAF on it!
As far as plans, it's simple.........just get you some C-97 and PBY pieces, and a forklift, and start stickin' them together. It helps to hang out around people who don't care as much about airplanes as they do their image, in order to get the cool parts before they throw them away.
Gary
Gary, you are a legend in my eyes!
Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:15 pm
he forgets, every now and then, how awesome we think he is!
Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:23 pm
I'm late to the party, but that is pretty kick ass Gary!
Shame about the Beech tail, as that really had a great look.
Shame about the Beech tail, as that really had a great look.
Mon Jul 27, 2009 12:51 pm
Kinda reminds me of "Pancho Goldstein's Taco and BBQ Emporium"
couple a picnic tables under the wings, vent the grill exhaust out the a$$ end and You be in "Bidness" Gary.
couple a picnic tables under the wings, vent the grill exhaust out the a$$ end and You be in "Bidness" Gary.
Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:42 pm
I think it needs a Austin Acres tramp stamp.
Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:54 pm
Now all you have to do is fire up one of them R4360's you have and try to convince some potential donors that it will be taking to the air soon. Not sure if it worked for the Doc group or not but it made for a nice youtube video.
Mon Jul 27, 2009 6:22 pm
Obergrafeter wrote:I think it needs a Austin Acres tramp stamp.
Great minds think alike! It's funny you mention that, Ober. The plan is, after the wings are painted silver, to paint Austin Acres across the top of them. I have it mowed into a portion of my yard, but I just don't think that's as noticeable as it would be on the wings.
Gary
Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:14 pm
Obergrafeter, the rope is for the little white men in little white suits....ha-ha, hee-hee, ho-ho.......
Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:57 pm
Well, a tiny bit of progress was done on the Stratolina today. Because the top of the wing is so dang rotten, and is clearly going to continue to be exposed to the elements, I decided to apply some silver roof sealer to it. Now, before anyone gets all upset that I'm "ruining" this wing, it's actually just the opposite. I'm trying to do what I can to save what's left of this clunker, while at the same time, utilize it in a fun sort of way. I figure that IF someone ever wants this wing for anything down the road, this roof sealer will strip right off of the wing, much like the existing paint will. However, in the meantime, it will help keep the sun from beating down on the aluminum so badly, while also helping keep what little rain we get, from seeping its way into all of the little seams in the upper skin surfaces.
So after spending two days of trying to get the roof sealer stirred up (don't ask.......I'm about as talented with non-aviation related things as "Tim, the Tool Man, Taylor"
), I was finally able to get it all figured out and start spreading it on the wings. It's weird stuff, as it looks brown while stirring (for a long, long time, I might add), and is brown while brushing it on. However, as it dries, it turns silver, just as I was wanting. Unfortunately, what it took for me to finally realize that, was watching it change colors on my clothes, in the areas where it splashed on me while stirring. 
The stuff leaves brush marks on it, but I really don't mind. It'll all look good when I paint "Austin Acres" on the top, eventually, so that the Google Earth satellites can see it.
I only got the right wing, and part of the center section done, as there is a thunderstorm kinda-sorta threatening to come this way. So I'll get more done tomorrow, I reckon.........
Here's a view from on top of the horizontal stab of the Stratolina, looking forward. You can clearly see the road that leads up to my property at the top of the picture. So, it's pretty easy for the neighbors to see this thing from over a quarter mile away.
Also, in this picture, you can kind of get an idea of just how rotten this wing is. The fine folks at the RGV Wing of the CAF were kind enough to lay the wing upside down, and store it that way for years, so those worrysome fuel vents, rounded nacelles, and upper wing skins, are no longer an issue. However, you can see why I'm trying to do something to help seal this thing up. The plan is to get some sheet metal and just kind of "cover up" these larger issues, followed by roof sealer. That way, IF someone wants to restore this thing at some point, there might be at least a little something left of it..........
Oh, and I have a question for you PBY experts out there...
What are these little doo-hickies that are on the top surface of the wings? Were they for winching up the depth charges or something??? Antenna hooker-uppers maybe???
So, that's all I have to report for now. I've done a little cleaning up of the cockpit section, but nothing picture-worthy. I'll post another update when there's something interesting going on.
Gary
So after spending two days of trying to get the roof sealer stirred up (don't ask.......I'm about as talented with non-aviation related things as "Tim, the Tool Man, Taylor"
), I was finally able to get it all figured out and start spreading it on the wings. It's weird stuff, as it looks brown while stirring (for a long, long time, I might add), and is brown while brushing it on. However, as it dries, it turns silver, just as I was wanting. Unfortunately, what it took for me to finally realize that, was watching it change colors on my clothes, in the areas where it splashed on me while stirring.
The stuff leaves brush marks on it, but I really don't mind. It'll all look good when I paint "Austin Acres" on the top, eventually, so that the Google Earth satellites can see it.
I only got the right wing, and part of the center section done, as there is a thunderstorm kinda-sorta threatening to come this way. So I'll get more done tomorrow, I reckon.........
Here's a view from on top of the horizontal stab of the Stratolina, looking forward. You can clearly see the road that leads up to my property at the top of the picture. So, it's pretty easy for the neighbors to see this thing from over a quarter mile away.
Also, in this picture, you can kind of get an idea of just how rotten this wing is. The fine folks at the RGV Wing of the CAF were kind enough to lay the wing upside down, and store it that way for years, so those worrysome fuel vents, rounded nacelles, and upper wing skins, are no longer an issue.
However, you can see why I'm trying to do something to help seal this thing up. The plan is to get some sheet metal and just kind of "cover up" these larger issues, followed by roof sealer. That way, IF someone wants to restore this thing at some point, there might be at least a little something left of it..........
Oh, and I have a question for you PBY experts out there...
What are these little doo-hickies that are on the top surface of the wings? Were they for winching up the depth charges or something??? Antenna hooker-uppers maybe???
So, that's all I have to report for now. I've done a little cleaning up of the cockpit section, but nothing picture-worthy. I'll post another update when there's something interesting going on.
Gary
Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:52 pm
All right...Couldn't stand it anymore....hehhehhehheh....
(To the tune of Nothin' could be finer than to be in Carolina)
Nothin' could be fina
Than to have a Stratolina
In my ba-a-ack yard,
Nothin' could be sweeta,
'Cause it's part Catalina,
In my ba-a-ack yard
Yes, sir,
That's what he said,
On my own,
Without any aid,
Nothin' could be fina
Than to have my own Strat-o-lina
In my ba-a-ack yard!
(To the tune of Nothin' could be finer than to be in Carolina)
Nothin' could be fina
Than to have a Stratolina
In my ba-a-ack yard,
Nothin' could be sweeta,
'Cause it's part Catalina,
In my ba-a-ack yard
Yes, sir,
That's what he said,
On my own,
Without any aid,
Nothin' could be fina
Than to have my own Strat-o-lina
In my ba-a-ack yard!
Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:31 pm
Ha! And they say I'm crazy!!!
Gary
Gary