Warbird Information Exchange

We would like your input. As we are gathering art for shirts and hats, we thought we might ask for your ideas on what might be a good place to start. For example, with T shirts, any particular color that you would like? We have traditionally used black because they don't show all the oil that drips on us when we are working around the airplanes, but we are open to suggestion when it comes to T shirts that might sell better. What pictures or artwork would you like? Front, back or both? What would make a hat look good? What would you want on it?? What price range vrs quality would you expect in buying a shirt or hat? The whole idea is to make some money to support the K restoration, but we also want to spread the word about the airplane and its history. Nothing is nicer than a walking billboard who will help spread the story!! OK... so talk to us ... post here!! This is your chance to be in on the ground floor of a great and remarkable airplane!! Help us out!! JR

Three of us made the trek over to Dynamold, Inc. in Ft Worth yesterday to see how some of their products are set up and applied. We were particularly impressed with several versions of the moldable shim materials. They donated a couple of different products and we want to say thanks to Larry and Mike for these. Various aerospace manufacturers like Bell and Lockheed-Martin use the moldable shims. We plan to use it in the repair of our horizontal stabilizer spar. We will have doublers installed but the moldable shim will seal any minute gaps and the small area where the corrosion was ground out. With tensile strengths starting at 300,000 lbs, the moldable shim material should contribute to the better than new repair strength of the spar. When we get it all put together, will post some pics of it. Good morning!! Jim R.

This is a "before" picture of the right main gear. Most of this is simple surface rust, but we will be taking the gear out after the Nimrod reunion on 5 May to start the clean up and overhaul the same as the left side. This will give K three good legs for starters. With the history of gear collapses in the type, we will look at the gear swings very carefully and try to catch all of the "problem areas" before she flies again. Stay tuned!! Jim R,

Much progress today. Here Big Mike and Denis are prepping the various components of the left main gear for paint. Got most of it done today so that when the parts that are out for plating come back this coming week, it should go together in about 30 minutes... ok... so it never goes as planned.. 4 hours, then. Then when we get our brake assembly overhauled, it will be ready to put the wheel back on and presto, we will be off the jacks. Also, want to thank the CAF A-26 guys for trading us a good avionics door. Their airplane was fitted with a different door a long time ago so this one is no longer useful to them, but it has a good latch which is what we need the most on our door. It even has a lock on it. Not sure why, but we will make it operational. Maybe some of the old time avionics guys can tell us if they ever used these on the line. Perhaps it was intended for the "secret" missions to the Congo or other places??? I somehow doubt the AF ever used them. JR

David A and Arnold put up the two antennae, (for you TU grads, antenna's) today and got them all bright and shiny. Will try them out next week with a Ham radio and an antenna tester to see what they like in the way of frequencies. Personally I like two or three times a week, but Arnold said that wasn't what it was all about. Nevertheless, there was a lady visiting the museum today who walked by while the guys were working on the "wires" up top. She asked what those "wires" do and before I knew it, I blurted out that they hold the vertical tail on. I know, I know, I will probably burn in you know where, but I just couldn't resist. She was wearing one of those ugly burnt orange T-sipper T shirt and well, I just couldn't help it. Came out just like that. The funny thing is that she never even questioned it or anything. Just went her merry way. And yes, she was blonde. Not that it had anything to do with it, but.... I better go find another picture before I get in trouble again with the O2 lady.... and no, it wasn't her.... this time. JR

Dave Lester and grandson Ethan worked all day on the tail cone cleaning it up and priming inside while mounting the new formation lights on each side along with the rest of the nav light assembly. It was a really tight fit to get hands inside for the last screws, but Ethan managed to get it done without the thing biting too hard. Dave and Ethan are regulars every Saturday and together they make a fine team. This is a great example of generations working together and passing down skills to the next in line. The boys we are training now will be the ones who work on and fly these warbirds in the future. It is never too early or too late to start. Besides the great fun of working on or operating this A26, it is a living memorial to the folks who flew or worked on them... living history for all to see, touch and hear... and ok, smell when it cranks up with all the oil smoke. Special it is!! JR

Ditto above comments. This is Javier and son Ian removing one of the hinge bolts on the rudder tab. It might take a little longer to get the job done, but it is worth it to pass along some training and most importantly, some enthusiasm for what we do. Ian seemed to have that!! It is a pleasure to watch new generations preparing to fill our shoes. Just would like to make sure we give it our best shot that they do so with full knowledge of what it took to get us this far. JR

More landing gear wind chimes!! These were primed and hung to finish drying in the wheel well while the paint shop got the next round ready for spraying. We have decided to go back zinc chromate in the well wheels although the insides of the gear doors will be black. There is some disagreement on whether they were black all over inside, but most of the Nimrods remember green and that color would be best for showing up leaks or other maintenance issues compared to black. So there ya go!! JR

The right side battery box got installed and the left side is about ready as well. That is a full size 24V replica battery to test the fit in the tray. We are still working on converting the system back to the original configuration instead of having two car batteries in the right wheel well. JR

She asked what those "wires" do and before I knew it, I blurted out that they hold the vertical tail on

Now that's funny!!!!!!!

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Hi Randy... glad you enjoyed my fo paw. Hey, we been missing you around here. You been off on another adventure to an air musuem? We had a busload of Brits come running thru the museum this morning. They are part of the group that just collects N numbers and a few pics, then runs. I think they try to hit as many museums as they can in a week. Seems to be quite the thing there. I guess it would be an ok hobby, but I couldn't ever do it that way. I just gotta stay and drool over the airplanes and find out all I can about them. Power to them if that is what they enjoy though. Good having you back. JR

More landing gear wind chimes being prepped by Mark and company. This gear should turn out as good as the nose gear soon. Our main concern is getting the correct manual for the brake overhaul. It appears that the brake assembly is different from the current KC-135 brakes so we are trying to figure out which type was used. They have anti skid and multi disc pads so they are definitely not the original or DC-6 brakes. Oh well, that's the breaks!! I know.... couldn't resist the pun, but have to amuse myself while on whirly thing watch. Got a big line of thunder things heading our way. JR

Hey, we been missing you around here

Been having some Internet problems- fun & games! Going up Tuesday to IAD to see Discovery delivered to the museum. Supposed to do a flyover- hope to get some pics.

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Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm

Glad you are back. Hey, if you get some good shots, be sure to post ok? Would love to see those. An astronaut friend of mine who just retired is writing a book on his many years of adventure on the Shuttle and I can't wait until it is published. He also flew on an A-26 at Edwards before going to NASA so we have another future passenger to take for a ride!!! See ya soon, Jim R

........if you get some good shots, be sure to post ok? Would love to see those.

Will try to get some shots. Problem is knowing which direction they'll be landing from. We'll be on the Rte 50 side of the airport.They are supposed to do a flyover of D.C. and the Musuem at Dulles before landing, so hopefully we can get a few shots of it. Thursday they are going to do the change out of Discovery and Enterprise. All of course, weather dependent.
Looks like you folks are making great progress on the "K". Will be good to see the difference since I was down there last.
Randy

_________________
Randy Ryman
Project Big Eagle
NKP Thailand 1966
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/florence/florandy.htm