Worlds only USMC Mitchell PBJ-1J Restoration CAF's Semper Fi

TimAPNY · **Posted:** Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:48 am

WOW!

It has been a while since I've checked into this thread and I'm shocked at how far you guys are and how well the aircraft looks. Great job and thanks for posting pictures for us to follow all the hard work.

Tim

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:38 pm

Thanks for the kind words.

D

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

How about a WIX fundraiser for overhauling the props?

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:36 am

Here are some shots of the right bomb bay door. Both doors require heavy repair. All of the stringers and both inner and outer skins will be new along with a few formers. We found out that the left door is actually from an “H” model as it had holes in the bottom used for an assembly that held a torpedo in place. I recall that our bird had a gear up at Long Beach back in the early 1950s and I assume that is when that door was acquired.

Russ Babbitt Jr. · **Joined:** Fri Sep 07, 2012 11:54 am **Posts:** 7

How many crew members does it take to hang a bomb bay door???????

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:18 pm

Thanks to artist Thomas Van Stein and painter extraordinaire Mike Hohls, for the nose art. It is not quite complete but will be finished soon.

Dan

JOHN MILLER · **Posted:** Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:45 pm

that is sweet

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:40 am

So does this mean you'll be christening her soon?

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:11 pm

Well it has been a long but very pleasant week. The big visit is over. As far as I could tell it looked like a success. Our wing members worked hard to pull this off and it showed. My most stressful moment was cooking (burning?) over 160 hamburgers Monday night. As far as I know I didn’t kill anybody so life is good.

Proud SoCal Wing member,

Dan

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Sat Mar 23, 2013 10:18 am

Is that a Paris Jet next to the Mitchell?

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:12 pm

Fouga23 wrote:

Is that a Paris Jet next to the Mitchell?

Good eye!~ Sure looks like one to my old squinties

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Sat Mar 23, 2013 5:11 pm

Yes it is a Paris Jet that we have just obtained. Got a buyer?

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Sat Mar 30, 2013 2:57 pm

Marc and I will be flying his T-34, N341MR back to Florida. We will leave CMA this Monday and after attending to several other matters visit the air show on the ninth. I hope to see some PBJ fans while I’m back there.

Dan

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:14 am

I am back from the Baker Fly In. Marc and I flew the T-34 all the way back to Florida to participate in some of the most intense formation flying imaginable this side of the military. What an experience! Now it is back to the real world.

Dan Newcomb · **Posted:** Wed May 01, 2013 11:44 am

Here is some of the best news we have had in years. Our Crew Chief Marc Russell made this official yesterday.

Semper Fi,

Dan

Well gang, its time to take a major step forward. I know this is not news to some of you, but it will be for a lot of folks who haven't been around for a short while.

With the help of the So Cal Wing, the PBJ was able to get a rocking deal on a freshly overhauled R-2600 built for a B-25. It is in a can in Midland and the only step we have before getting it to So Cal is just that. The engine is ours and we just have to set up transportation. This is a big step as we didn't have to use any of our original engines and will now have a spare core. Its a deal that just fit perfectly for us and the price was right. I have to mention that the matching funds from Midland played a major role making this event happen.

So what is left. That list is getting smaller and smaller all the time. We are nearly finished with the second bomb bay door and have only a couple more days work on the build up. After that, we will be doing the fitting and then, we are basically done with all of the sheet metal work.

We still need to tension all of the cables in the plane. That is another major item but it is all time and not components. Everything is installed but we need some experienced people to work with us.

Pilot seats are going in. These are a later style seat and the runners are completely different. Those are currently being installed but are a major amount of work.

Still need avionics but have been offered some great deals. Hopefully some funding will come our way in the near future to get those going.

Wiring is nearly complete. When Jeff Nelson is ready, we will be to. This should be the last visit as he has already done a great deal of work.

Hydraulics are basically complete except the nose gear door and a couple of minor issues.

Fuel and Oil tanks are being built. Still waiting for the call that will allow us to pick up the oil tanks and the remaining main tanks. After that, it will be only the two aux tanks for each side so a total of four tanks. We have already paid for the oil tanks and have money on account with them for other tanks.

Prop overhauls will be the last thing to do as an AD on the props requires maintenance after a certain amount of time.

We still will need to get one engine overhauled unless something pops up unexpectedly.

We have to hook up the engines and get them unpickled. This means oil lines, hydraulic lines, carb hookups, fuel lines, and all of the wiring.

There are a lot of little things of course but we have a great team. The end is in sight so keep the faith.

See you all soon,
Marc

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Worlds only USMC Mitchell PBJ-1J Restoration CAF's Semper Fi

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