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

[NImrodA26]

Well, you'll have one of them. Sorry, I don't have two! You'll just have to take the cigarette lighter adapter off the end. I converted it to automobile use. I'll bring it along next month.
Randy

[A26 Special K]

Well, you'll have one of them. Sorry, I don't have two! You'll just have to take the cigarette lighter adapter off the end. I converted it to automobile use. I'll bring it along next month.
Randy

Oh, that would be great! Thanks Randy!! Say, could you take a pic of the data info where it could be read? That is the original style light in the A-26 looks like. There are several versions of the C4A out there. It would be helpful in sorting these out. Again, many thanks. Wish I was going to be there on May 18 for the Militaria show and when you and Frank will be visiting us, but just got some bad news that I will be in the sandbox for 10 days and the 18th falls right in the middle of it. Just my luck because I really wanted to visit with yall. I think you will be pleased with our progress. The right main gear well is just a piece of art. JR

[A26 Special K]

The team got the right gear installation well underway today. Denis and David hung the trapeze. The real JR and Big Mike helped out. Meanwhile Brian and Rand cleaned out the top of the wing area where a lot of media dust had settled when the wheel well was being blasted. Work continued on the instrument panel. Stan got the insides of the armor plate that goes over the inboard wing panel leading edge all primed so they look nice. More progress was made in chasing down the wiring so that the engine gauges will work properly. David B. didn't bring cookies today, but he made progress on chasing down the plumbing for the fire bottles and emergency air brake systems. His gal usually bakes us something special. Guess we got spoiled in only two weeks!! Well, you know pilots and mechanics when it comes to food!! Overall, a very nice day in the hangar. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

Located some genuwine aileron gap seals in San Antonio at Alamo Aircraft. We had tried to make some ourselves, but they didn't seem to be quite right for some reason. Had the dimensions all wrong since we were working mostly from a picture. Now we have a good template to make the rest. This is a gotta have item on the A-26 so we were very happy to find the originals. JR

[NImrodA26]

.........Say, could you take a pic of the data info where it could be read? That is the original style light in the A-26 looks like.

I'll try to get some decent pics of the whole thing. Some of the data numbers are missing but here's what I can make out:

On top of the light, original lettering:

"To remove selective red filter, depress pins and pull off"
"Light, Cockpit, Type C-4A"
Specification Mil-L-6484B (ASG)
Mfrs. Part No. ?0245 REV. RR
Order No. ?41(60??-11498 (one of those question marks may have been the other ")"
Stock No. 60?-307-4734A
Soder??? g. Co. Inc. (Think maybe the "g." is the end of Mfg.)
U.S. Property

On the side of this lettering is more lettering, perpindicular to the above, stamped: OCT. 60
I'll see if I can get some better pics of it and post.

[NImrodA26]

This should do it. And by the way, I just checked it and it does work, Rheostat and all.

[A26 Special K]

Thanks Randy, that is exactly the info we needed. It was made by Soderberg Mfg. There are similar lights made by others such as Grimes. We know better what to look for now. Appreciate it. JR

[A26 Special K]

Who knew? Wow, there is a whole bunch of electrical bundles, control cables and hydraulic lines running thru the leading edge of the wing. No wonder the leading edge covers were armored. The guys are running down some of these wires to prove out the cockpit instrumentation still and they are hoping to get the panel back in place soon. We are still needing a 3 in 1 engine gauge that has the oil temp in degrees C and the fuel pressure range goes up to 30 psi. There are several gauges out there that only go to 25 psi which is ok for the stock A26, but we have different engines. It's an AN5773-2 part number, but the ranges can vary even within the part number. We found one pristine example, but the hunt for the other engine's gauge is ongoing. If anybody has such a critter, please PM me. Thanks, JR

[Steven M. Dennis]

Thanks Randy, that is exactly the info we needed. It was made by Soderberg Mfg. There are similar lights made by others such as Grimes. We know better what to look for now. Appreciate it. JR

Couple for sale on barnstormers right now JR...

WARBIRD COCKPIT LIGHT SET • FOR SALE • Type C4A. New. 28 vt. New list at $115 ea. Both for $75. Soderberg Made. • Contact Bill A. Ewertz, Owner - located Sonoma, CA USA • Telephone: 707 938-1465 • Posted April 17, 2013 •

Hope this helps,

Steve

[A26 Special K]

Thanks Randy, that is exactly the info we needed. It was made by Soderberg Mfg. There are similar lights made by others such as Grimes. We know better what to look for now. Appreciate it. JR

Couple for sale on barnstormers right now JR...

WARBIRD COCKPIT LIGHT SET • FOR SALE • Type C4A. New. 28 vt. New list at $115 ea. Both for $75. Soderberg Made. • Contact Bill A. Ewertz, Owner - located Sonoma, CA USA • Telephone: 707 938-1465 • Posted April 17, 2013 •

Hope this helps,

Steve

Hi Steve, had already talked with Bill about these. They are not the style we need unfortunately. Somewhere thru the years, the style was updated and curly cords went away. He has a good deal on them though if anybody needs the modern version. Thanks for looking for us! Appreciate it. JR

[Ken]

The style & features of the light have changed slightly, as you said, but I can attest that even the current version (with NVG NVIS green feature) still has the curly cord in the C-130 fleet. That can be one handy light.

Ken

[A26 Special K]

The style & features of the light have changed slightly, as you said, but I can attest that even the current version (with NVG NVIS green feature) still has the curly cord in the C-130 fleet. That can be one handy light.

Ken

Amen!! Just got lucky and found a stash of 4 of the lights we are looking for!! We will have two then to put in the 26 and two for the B-25 plus one spare. BTW, the ground school class next Sat, April 27th has sold out. Three other dates are available. May 11, June 8 and June 15. Contact Dana on our website for more info. There are some good discounts out right now. http://www.gga1.org. Help us keep 'em flying!! Or in the case of the 26, get her up and flying!! Thanks everybody who tried to help find those lights by the way! Come visit when you can. Cheers, JR

[CAPFlyer]

Glad you guys found the period correct ones. Maybe you guys can sneak over to LocoWeed or the Swabbies at Carswell and abscond with a few of the current models somewhere down the road to use during active service since NVG's would be a great addition when hunting hogs at night.

[A26 Special K]

Glad you guys found the period correct ones. Maybe you guys can sneak over to LocoWeed or the Swabbies at Carswell and abscond with a few of the current models somewhere down the road to use during active service since NVG's would be a great addition when hunting hogs at night.

Wait! Whaaat? Fly in the dark?? Would that be sporting or humane for the wild hogs? And after dropping the napes, wouldn't the NVG's just blossom out? There could be other logistical problems like how would the ground team pick up the roasted pigs in the dark? Hmmmm, interesting idea, but we need to get our minds together to work out all of the ramifications. I would really like to have the .50's working, but those might work better under a flare on a parachute rather than NVG's. Just don't have enough experience with them to know. Perhaps there are some on here who can enlighten us?? JR

[NImrodA26]

.............. I would really like to have the .50's working, but those might work better under a flare on a parachute rather than NVG's. =======
Let's see, one fifty will spit out about 14 rounds a second, X 8 guns,=112 rounds per second. At $4.70 a round for linked .50 cal., that's about $526 per second.................Man, that's gonna be some expensive hog meat!!!!! LOL