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

[A26 Special K]

Time to go shopping for the right side cockpit windshield. It is delaminating and one edge of the frame has corroded out. Windshield we can have made, but the frame is another story. Our sheet metal guys are going to have to ponder this one. Good thing we got two sheet metal types who came for the first time today to volunteer. Plenty glad of that. We are up to 21 people now. Could use a few more sheet metal workers. Got lots to do to make her all pretty again. You can find us at Meacham Field on Saturdays primarily now. Stop on by and pay us a visit. Be glad to show our work done and work to go. JR

[A26 Special K]

Trivia question of the week. What is the big black round sorta looking thingee and what does it do? Tim is wondering so please help us out. He spent a great deal of time changing out old black hoses today. The old ones didn't want to come off and the new ones certainly didn't want to go back on. Go figure! JR

[A26 Special K]

Didn't we say we had cleaned out all of the bird and rat nests in the airplane?? Well, look what Denis found inside one of the external wing bomb racks. How do those critters get in there way up in the air under the wing? The one and only hole was barely big enough to get the wiring harness through. Anyway, he has continued the work to clean up the racks and get them ready to remount under the wings. We would love to find the 230 gal external tanks and make them functional so if anybody has a lead on where to find these, please contact us. Thanks, JR

[A26 Special K]

David L and grandson Ethan installed the inspection plate back on the tail and then started measuring and cutting the P seal that will be glued in place around the mounts for the horizontal stabilizers. Yep, they are getting close to being ready to hang back on the airplane. JR

[A26 Special K]

The gang was all very excited to see the famous 42D patch get finished up on the leading edge of the horizontal stab today. They got this done and started prepping the rest of the outside and inside for primer. One of our new sheet metal guys, "Strat", helped finish it out. Kewl!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Joe T and Strat smoothed out the external side of the 42D patch. There are a couple of holes where the pneumatic tube came through for the leading edge deice boots that will need to have a half dollar or so sized plug stuck in and then it should be ready to start shooting back on the stabilizer. Niiice! JR

[A26 Special K]

A tour group came by to see all of the airplanes today. When the Southern Cross DC 3 finished up with rides and training, the crew brought the airplane back to the VFM ramp and all the kids bolted to see what was making all that good noise. It is a great feeling to see the next generation still gets excited about airplanes!! That is what we are all here for ... to let them see what our veterans did for them. Nice to know we are still needed!! We have a mission! JR

[skymstr02]

Trivia question of the week. What is the big black round sorta looking thingee and what does it do? Tim is wondering so please help us out. He spent a great deal of time changing out old black hoses today. The old ones didn't want to come off and the new ones certainly didn't want to go back on. Go figure! JR

That is the prop feathering pump.

[b29flteng]

Trivia question of the week. What is the big black round sorta looking thingee and what does it do? Tim is wondering so please help us out. He spent a great deal of time changing out old black hoses today. The old ones didn't want to come off and the new ones certainly didn't want to go back on. Go figure! JR

That is the prop feathering pump.

Nope. Electric hydraulic pump.

[A26 Special K]

Oh wow, we have two very plausible answers. The motors are very similar for the feathering pump and the standby hydraulic pump, so Tim had to look it up in the IPC (Illustrated Parts Manual) and it shows it to be the prop feathering pump. It is a big hummer is all I can say, but look at the size of the prop it is dealing with. JR

[A26 Special K]

David A .. we have three Davids so hard to keep them straight... anyway, David A, our ace electrical genius, reworked the cannon plug and wiring for the nav lights on the tail and got these all working again. Isn't it great to have a guy around who understands "sparks". And back in the day, people thought those were the work of the devil. Just goes to show... By golly, we are thankful to have all of our electrical guys on board. Picked up a new hand for hydraulics a few weeks ago and another two for sheet metal, but we still need more sheet metal guys to work the nacelle problems from the two left gear collapse incidents a long time ago. Like to talk with you if willing to help us out. Come on by our hangar at Meacham Field any Saturday. It is possible to work at other times more convenient, but Saturday is when the majority of folks are there. Just ask for JR. The other JR.

[A26 Special K]

Ahhh, the good news. Parts that we had to have fabricated for the vertical stabilizer are on the way at last. A big thanks to Jerry D for getting these made. We got the new brake sitting on the table waiting for installation and so that just leaves one more big item to come back so we can finish hanging the left main gear. Oh happy days, stuff is going back on the airplane!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Clay, our most excellent metalsmith and all around engineer, is working on this contraption for the A-26. WE intend to go first class in our airplane. Any guesses as to what this is going to be?? Hmmm?? Gave you an easy one this time!!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Just so we remember how the airplane will look when finished, here is the AF Museum example. We are looking for 230 gal drop tanks still if anybody has any leads. Thanks, JR

[shrike]

Clay, our most excellent metalsmith and all around engineer, is working on this contraption for the A-26. WE intend to go first class in our airplane. Any guesses as to what this is going to be?? Hmmm?? Gave you an easy one this time!!! JR

That's a potty box, innit?