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

[A26 Special K]

Well, Randy, you were lucky in a way. I don't know that beer would be used as a currency of exchange of gratitude nowadays... maybe in combat zones in Afg and Iraq?? Anybody have any insight to this? But I can sure understand it. And wasn't it a big problem keeping CO2 fire extinguishers filled?? I still have one that I have been saving for a special occasion!! Halon took all the fun out of it. We did get a very nice one donated though for the airplane as our big hangar extinguisher. One of our volunteers refurbished a cart for it and it looks nice in front of the airplane. We also have an original extinguisher that was mounted in the aft compartment. Tomorrow being Saturday, the whole gang will be out to work so we are having a pizza day. Now if I could just find green pizza for St. Paddy's, we would be stylin!! Green in Texas!! JR

[Ken]

Well, Randy, you were lucky in a way. I don't know that beer would be used as a currency of exchange of gratitude nowadays... maybe in combat zones in Afg and Iraq?? Anybody have any insight to this?

I'm sorry to say you guys probably saw the USAF's best days. Only a couple bases in theatre today allow alcohol and, based on my experience, they scan the barcode (not bar-code, although I see the pun) on your ID to ensure you purchase no more than 3 beverages. All of this is must be done in either your duty uniform or the USAF-mandated PT outfit (and you had best make sure your t-shirt is tucked into the gym shorts). Oh, and I almost forgot the mandatory reflective belts, political correctness, micromanagement, etc.

Sure, some things are better about today's military, but the overall attitude today is foreign compared to what you gents experienced. I will stop there, but if anyone missed Walt Boyne's "Tailview" editorial on the back page of the April "Flight Journal", you may want to read it. The man couples wisdom and chutzpa to make a fine editorial on the state of our AF.

All that aside, I do not want this thread to go off topic. Here's a sincere thank you to all those in these pages who served or are serving!

Ken

[A26 Special K]

Here is a nice shiny left main wheel well that is getting closer to being finished so that we can get some paint on it and hang the gear again. Mark had this week off for spring break and has devoted a lot of time to stripping the paint.. all 3 layers... out of there. Still trying to get it on the rollers so we can tow it down to Spring Fling on the 31st at Meacham and everybody can see our handiwork. BTW, anybody know what that pulley and cable arrangement does in the picture? JR

[Dewayne Doud]

Are the cables and pully for actuating a fuel or oil shutoff valve?

[A26 Special K]

Are the cables and pully for actuating a fuel or oil shutoff valve?

Sorta...Dewayne, real close... they run the fuel selector valve!! Kinda important. BTW, the Galluzzi mod on the fuel flow indicator... nobody has guessed "moved the gauge where pilots couldn't see it" yet. I really expected that from somebody like the O2 Ladypilot, aka, Duck Driver, but alas, I guess she is too busy getting her nails done?? But I digress... uh, oh yes... the FF gauge has a diaphragm in it that was the culprit of the wobbly needles. Galluzzi had the troops put a hole in the diaphragm and make it a direct reading gauge. Problem ... and mystery solved!! Many thanks to Jim G for explaining that to us. He now lives in FL and runs his own fine wine importing biz, but I don't think he bores any holes in those corks before their time! Come see us today at Meacham. We will be celebrating St Paddy's Day with the whole restoration team. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

Progress!!! Clay and Miguel are doing some eyeballing on the leading edge to make sure the new rib that Clay made will fit properly against the skin. This replaced the old damaged one that fit just about where the 42 D patch is in the skin. Probably all damaged by the same impact, whatever that was. Anyway, it all lined up perfectly so we are going to shoot some new primer on all of the interior of the leading edge plus the forward spar. Might as well while we have it split and then can start shooting rivets to get it all back together. The elevators are ready to hang as soon we get some material to make the gap seals. The team celebrated St Paddy's day with a pizza party for lunch. Couldn't find any green pizza so we just "played like" it was green. Now that the sun has returned and we can open up the hangar a bit more, having the extra light sure helps to see what we are eating and hammering on the airplane. Don't forget, Spring Fling is only two weeks away now. Looks like our DC-3 will be out of winter maintenance in time to give rides that day. The vintage airplanes, car show, bikes, vendors, food, helicopter rides, WWII vehicles and re-enactors, the Flying Musicians, are all just about lined up for the shindig. Hope we see yall there!! Going to be great fun. Ck out our website for information, tickets and discounts. http://www.gga1.org and also, http://www.pacificprowler.org on the Facebook page for pictures of some of the planes and cars etc that will be there. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

Mark and Denis got the left main wheel well just about cleaned out and alodined. Hope to shoot paint this week if conditions permit. This was one big chore trying to get all those layers of paint out. Kudoes to these two hard working guys for going the extra mile to git er dun. Thanks, JR

[A26 Special K]

Felipe E. got started on cleaning up the doghouse and prepping it for paint. In doing some checking of the manual, we identified the pedestal that housed the controls for the recon cameras that would have been mounted in the bomb bay. They were probably removed long before the K was taken out of training service as the slots are covered by military installed panels. There are still nav radios and indicators back there so obviously there was a manned position associated with it at one time. This area was originally painted gray unlike the cockpit which was painted black. We will go back with gray on the interior of the doghouse. Once we get the interior all painted, etc, we will install the canopy frame with new glass. We are looking for seats to go in this section that are similar in action to Flight Attendant seats in airliners... the kind that automatically retract the bottom when the weight is off. It appears we could install two positions there in seat tracks so they would be removable for access to the tail cone and avionics bay. JR has so many great ideas!! Cheers, the other JR

[A26 Special K]

We were very pleased to have a package delivered this week with this gizmo from Houston. No, not from the space program formerly known as NASA before the current administration gutted it, but our little ol "funny bomb" replica maker, Jason, his own self. Seems he has been pack-ratting some A26 stuff for his art work and generously offered to share. OK, game on... what does the gizmo do?? PS, many thanks, Jason. This helped us out a bunch!!! Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

This shot shows the area directly below the rudder. Somehow it was damaged before we removed the rudder. The rudder torque tube goes thru the hole that is supposed to be there, but you can see the other damage. Anyway, JR is working to repair this area so that we can re-hang the rudder. We need this done along with the fabrication of the gap seals and then it should be ready to go. This is just another example of the things we run into that slow down the project and add to the cost. We could use some more help with sheet metal work if anybody has those skills and would like to join our restoration team. We accept donations as well and since we are a 501c3 non profit, they are tax deductible. Go to our website to our address to send it. You can also order patches or challenge coins with your credit card. http://www.gga1.org
Thanks very much, The other JR

[A26 Special K]

The bomb bay door actuator is being overhauled by Amy. She has moved from the tail compartment to the bomb bay in case anybody from the Post Office is reading this, please note new address!! So far she has replaced all of the hydraulic lines, repaired all of the door hinges and bearings and is ready to hang the actuator back in place. Her next project will be the nose gear actuator. The gear was overhauled and installed, but we need to run all of the system in the wheel well through the same treatment. Well done, Amy!! Thanks, from both JR's

[A26 Special K]

Another problem child... see the pitting inside toward the other end of the gear leg? This corresponds to a support arm that was welded on the outside during original manufacture. Looks like it finally caused this rusting. We will have to send it out for replating and boring. This will cost us some more time, but there are other things to work on for sure. JR

[muddyboots]

The bomb bay door actuator is being overhauled by Amy. She has moved from the tail compartment to the bomb bay in case anybody from the Post Office is reading this, please note new address!! So far she has replaced all of the hydraulic lines, repaired all of the door hinges and bearings and is ready to hang the actuator back in place. Her next project will be the nose gear actuator. The gear was overhauled and installed, but we need to run all of the system in the wheel well through the same treatment. Well done, Amy!! Thanks, from both JR's

You have a hotty working with you and you post this blurry assed pic? Harumph!

[A26 Special K]

Are you sure the picture is fuzzy or maybe just your eyes going on you?? Sorry about that. BTW, we have now gone over 43,000 views. Thanks everybody for your interest. Be sure to check our website for info on the Spring Fling Flyin and car show at Meacham. www.gga1.org This is going to be an outstanding event with all the old airplanes, vintage military vehicles, motorcycles, all sorts of vendors, food, airplane and helicopter rides, WWII re-enactors, aviation art dealers, book author ... just an incredible fun for all time. Please put Saturday, March 31st from 9 am to 6 pm on your to do list!! Come see us. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

We have been asked about our website page for making donations to the A26 restoration project so here is the link if anybody would like to help us out. http://www.gga1.org/our-story
This is the page that will take you to a secure credit card or PayPal account link. Many thanks for your donations. They are tax deductible since we are a 501c3 non profit organization. Be sure to specify your donation is for the A26 in the comments section. Cheers!! Jim R