B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

NImrodA26 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:57 pm

I notice that one of your rockets has the shunting cap over the fins. Mine did not come with that, not that it matters on an inert piece. So far, haven't been able to find one. I did see another HE head for one at a flea market once, but the guy INSISTED that it was a shell for a artillery gun. I thought it was a little pricey anyway, so didn't bother to argue.

BTW, Jim, rocket instructions same as airplanes, "pointy end forward."

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

[quote="NImrodA26"]
BTW, Jim, rocket instructions same as airplanes, "pointy end forward."

Well, dang, Randy, that is too simple... pointy end forward... we have no plausible denial if it goes the wrong direction. Don't you remember that Claymore's had instructions something like "aim toward enemy" but they really didn't say which side to aim at the enemy. See?? that is plausible denial. :-)

JR

NImrodA26 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:44 pm

Concerning the 2.75's, I have one story. About half way through Project Big Eagle at NKP, word came down that we were not to use a certain lot number of the warheads. I believe they were the WP heads. Turns out that we already had some assembled and loaded in launchers. The order was to download them carefully, and store them separately from other lot numbers. Turned out that someone at the arsenal where they were made figured out that some of the fuzes "may be partially armed, or worst case, fully armed."
Anyway, all were downloaded and stored in a tent revetment between the runway and ramp. The Army flew in a X-ray unit with specialists to inspect the warheads. They set the unit up in a tent next to the other tent to check them. I went in one day and got to see them checking the heads. They would lay 4 or 5 heads side by side on a pallet with this "Thing" overhead, and this guy was sitting looking at a TV screen thing, and could see the fuzing mechanism within the warhead.The picture looked basically like a negative of an X-ray you see of a person. I remember you could see the gears and all sorts of stuff in there, none of which I recognized anyway. But the guy did point out what he was looking for. It didn't matter how the head was laying on the pallet, he could tell whether or not it was good or bad by looking for certain things. I think it turned out that they found some that were "partially armed", but none that were beyond that. Don't think we flew any of that lot number again.

carlisle1926 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:47 pm

I've started working on the two cluster bombs for "Special Kay". I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how the bomb shackle attaches to the case. The trouble I see is that the shackle is only about a 14" long or so, but the case is very long. It seems like the bomb shackle lugs would need to be about 3-4ft apart for balance. Something isn't jiving. I'm going to be in the Ft.Worth area Friday and Saturday. I plan on stopping by and measuring inside the bomb bay again to make sure these things that I'm building are correct. I hope to get these knocked out and to y'all in the next few weeks.
Jason Barnett

airnutz · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:45 am

A26 Special K wrote:

Our other project is a CG-4A Troop Glider of the kind used at Normandy on D Day. After the K project is done, we can start on getting the glider airworthy... yes, that is what we said here... airworthy. When is the last time you saw a WWII military glider fly at an airshow? Ck out our website at http://www.greatestgenerationaircraft.org
Cheers, JR

That's pretty cool news JR, a few of those CG-4A possibilities have come and gone over the years...fingers crossed for it happening this time. :wink:

Do we need to start digging up the snatch gear to take it to the next level?

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 9:28 am

Randy, You want a cover? I have another 2.75 that's like yours that has one also. I have the 2.75 and the black motor shipping tubes they came in. Just 3 months ago I got the wood crate that 6 were shipped in.

NImrodA26 · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:00 am

Randy, You want a cover?
=======
That would be cool, then I'd have a complete unit. Let me know what you want for it.
Randy

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

carlisle1926 wrote:

I've started working on the two cluster bombs for "Special Kay". I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how the bomb shackle attaches to the case. The trouble I see is that the shackle is only about a 14" long or so, but the case is very long. It seems like the bomb shackle lugs would need to be about 3-4ft apart for balance. Something isn't jiving. I'm going to be in the Ft.Worth area Friday and Saturday. I plan on stopping by and measuring inside the bomb bay again to make sure these things that I'm building are correct. I hope to get these knocked out and to y'all in the next few weeks.
Jason Barnett

Sure thing Jason, stop on by to see us and we will figure out the bomb shackles. Saturday is best, but if you can only come by Friday, let me know and I will try to be there or find somebody to help you. Thanks, JR

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

This was shot last year at the Tyndall AFB, FL show. Ray Kinney is in the P-40, yours truly and Pat Mahaffey are in the 25. So this is what she looks like naked. Just has some color in the right places to enhance her looks. :-)

We had done the Doolittle re-enactment and the air boss asked us to do one more pass with the P-40. Ray was a little out of position and had to really push it up to catch us on the downwind before we turned back inbound for the run. We had a lot of fun ribbing him about his slow airplane! :-)

Sorry Ray. JR

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 10:21 pm

NImrodA26 wrote:

Randy, You want a cover?
=======
That would be cool, then I'd have a complete unit. Let me know what you want for it.
Randy

Here is the other 2.75"

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

I suppose the question should be asked. Just how much of a warhead do these things have and how much of a mess would it make of a 400 lb feral hog?? Don't like to waste meat or time butchering/processing so would this be a happy medium?? Had to reconsider nape. Might leave a bad taste. Dean hasn't brought the promised Texas Kool Aid yet. Stay tuned. Oh, BTW, we are firm now on our Spring Fling plane and car show at Meacham. It will be held on the ramp of the old Sandpiper Hotel area that used to be a Helicopter service center... next to the fire station on Main St. Can see from the street so easy to find. Will have food, rides, entertainment, many vintage airplanes flying in and a car show. Ck out our Facebook page on the http://www.pacificprowler.org webpage. It has some of the "doings" that are planned. Come on out Saturday, March 31st. This will be good practice for the hog hunt later in the year when the K is flying and loaded for bear.....or pigs in this case!! :-)

TAHECoT

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:31 pm

A26 Special K wrote:

I suppose the question should be asked. Just how much of a warhead do these things have and how much of a mess would it make of a 400 lb feral hog?? Don't like to waste meat or time butchering/processing so would this be a happy medium?? Had to reconsider nape. Might leave a bad taste. Dean hasn't brought the promised Texas Kool Aid yet. Stay tuned. Oh, BTW, we are firm now on our Spring Fling plane and car show at Meacham. It will be held on the ramp of the old Sandpiper Hotel area that used to be a Helicopter service center... next to the fire station on Main St. Can see from the street so easy to find. Will have food, rides, entertainment, many vintage airplanes flying in and a car show. Ck out our Facebook page on the http://www.pacificprowler.org webpage. It has some of the "doings" that are planned. Come on out Saturday, March 31st. This will be good practice for the hog hunt later in the year when the K is flying and loaded for bear.....or pigs in this case!! :-)

TAHECoT

Depends on the warhead..........personally I would think that the flechette carrying round would do a fine job.

RAMC181 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 24, 2012 2:12 am

carlisle1926 wrote:

I've started working on the two cluster bombs for "Special Kay". I'm having a bit of trouble figuring out how the bomb shackle attaches to the case. The trouble I see is that the shackle is only about a 14" long or so, but the case is very long. It seems like the bomb shackle lugs would need to be about 3-4ft apart for balance. Something isn't jiving. I'm going to be in the Ft.Worth area Friday and Saturday. I plan on stopping by and measuring inside the bomb bay again to make sure these things that I'm building are correct. I hope to get these knocked out and to y'all in the next few weeks.
Jason Barnett

Which clusters did you decide to build in the end Jason?

The earlier M31:

These had welded-on forged suspension lugs, here's an older spec. drawing for standard 500lb lugs:

Or the later M35-M36 with screw-in lugs:

All the best,
PB

A26 Special K · **Joined:** Wed Nov 16, 2011 8:27 pm **Posts:** 2559

Paul B.. many thanks for the drawings. Most of the funny bombs that were carried by the Nimrods were of the M31 variety. They did have some larger ones though. I am told they had orders to never waste them or drop them without a specific target being marked. No suspected truck parks were to be hit or probed with these. Had to use something else because these were so effective.. better than nape even. The ROE said a truck had to burn to be counted. Blowing it to smithereens didn't count. Isn't that silly, but that was like most of the ROE there. Can't fight a war with a hand tied behind your back. So look out hogs... JR is coming fully loaded with no ROE out on the ranch and I am usin' both hands!! AHETCoT :-)

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B-26K Counter-Invader Restoration ("Special K")

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