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

[airnutz]

Just from my experience, the rope gives you that much more security in case Mr. Murphy decides to come calling.

[therealJR]

We used some 1/2" climbing rope. 24 feet to be exact. Stuff it in there and carefully rotate the prop.
Worked like a charm!

[airnutz]

You guys got yer mukluks and hot pozole handy, or did ya'll elect to stay in the igloo today? Good luck!

[therealJR]

Chuck, one of our regulars got a dandy propane heater for an early Christmas gift. We had plenty of heat this morning when the hangar was a chilly 22 degrees. We had to thaw out a bit, so we went to the Kay chow hall aka The Calonic. Chuck soon found out the water line to the hangar was frozen. So we became emergency plumbers. Due to a misplaced weed eater, we found the offending line exposed to the elements. Some excavation, two each 500 watt halogen lamps and an hour later we had the line thawed. Used some of our knee pad material (closed cell foam) to wrap the line.

By then it was almost 2PM - time to get home, thaw out and get ready for some football.

Tonite's supposed to be a bit colder.

all we lack...

[therealJR]

Christmas Eve we had a good size crew from oh dark thirty till 3PM. Jim, Larry, Ed, David, Rand, Tim, Lefty, JR & Tristan the 3rd wiper. Glad to report the landing gear indication issue was finally whipped once and for all! Everything works "as advertised." Kudos to Larry along with his QC Dept. Bob who spent countless hours ringing out the entire system and creating a digital wiring diagram. Now Larry can make a final update to the diagram and sign this one off!

No doubt this is a most wonderful early Christmas gift for the Kay Krewe.

All we lack is finishing up!

[A26 Special K]

T'was the Night Before Christmas at VFM by Jim S.

T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the museum
Not even a mosquito was stirring, although you can
never see 'em.

The flight controls, propellers and engines all hung
from the Counter-Invader with care
In hopes that Special Kay would soon take to the air.

The volunteers all snug in their beds
While visions of low passes at Oshkosh danced in
their heads

Chuckie in her kerchief and Crazy Sally in her cap
But JR went to bed early-he was in no mood for
crap.

While out on 38th street, there arose such a clatter,
Chuck sprang from his sleeping pallet to see what
was the matter.

Away to the window he flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

When what to his wondering mechanic's eyes did
appear,
but a big Deuce and a Half filled with ordnance, guns
and beer!

With a profile commanding an impressive display,
Chuck knew in a moment the truck was driven by the
spirit of General Curtis E. LeMay!

More rapid than commandos, Chuck's mechanic brothers
they came
Old Iron A$$ whistled and shouted and called them
by name

"Now Arnold, now Inu, now Manning, Shimko and
Dave. On Lefty, on Arber, on Cayla, Caleb and Ray"
Head over with these weapons and hang 'em on Kay!

Larry texted Stan on a hunch,
But alas Stan wouldn't be there to help until lunch

"Load up the .50's, napalm, iron bombs, rockets
and more!
Now dash away, dash away, its cold in here so close
that d____ hangar door!"

As Jim sat in the cockpit and Rand turned around
Up the rickety maintenance stand came Old Iron A$$
with a bound

He had an intense face and a little round belly
That shook when he yelled " Slap on that f-ing air
scoop-use more petroleum jelly!"

He eyed the crew with a wary smile and a waive of his
smoldering stogie,
"You boys are no spring chickens,
But a pretty capable looking bunch of old fogies."

His butt was chubby and plump, a right jovial old elf
and I had to Laugh when I saw him in spite of
myself!

The volunteers spoke not a word but went straight
About the task
They hung the guns and ordnance and no one sat on
their a$$.

And laying a finger aside of his nose and giving a
nod, up the rickety old step ladder he rose.

Curtis spoke not a word, but went straight to work
Loading the gun bays with belts of .50 caliber bullets,
then he turned with a jerk

As the hydraulic mule sprang into life with a roar,
away flew Chuck and Tim to rig the left main gear
doors.

Finally, I heard LeMay exclaim as his Deuce rumbled
out of sight-
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!"

[avenger2504]

That was brilliant! Merry Christmas guys!

[Zac Yates]

That gave me a massive smile! Merry Christmas and happy holidays to Team Kay!

[A26 Special K]

Tonight, word is spreading to the wild hogs out at the ranch that something is up at the hangar and to start getting worried! Happy New Year!! JR

[fwnelson]

The gun installation is awesome!! Where does one find things like these?

Frank Nelson

[peter]

Be even better if they were operational firing blanks like the p51 and p4 not too long ago.

[rdennard]

Great pic of the guns in place. You can tell "the day" is getting a lot closer because you are working things like the guns instead of removing engines and the like.

[A26 Special K]

Frank, Bob, yes, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel and hope to fly in March or April. We worked with Matt Hurd at Bombs Away, LLC to build the guns and we are very pleased with them. He is also building the two low drag Mk 82's for the pylons. Then tonight, I am pleased to say that we located a napalm canister that we might be able to use for casting new ones. Wouldn't those look cool on the pylons. All we need now is a flare dispenser and a rocket launcher!! We would be sitting pretty! Randy R is coming tomorrow to have a look at the guns!! Be good to se him again! Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

We had two special visitors this past weekend. Randy and Janet Ryman came to town to see a football game... they won!!! But they didn't have much problem being convinced to come to Ft Worth to stop by and see Kay too. It is always nice to have an A-26 vet drop by to see his old airplane. Randy was part of the Big Eagle Project (603rd Air Commando Squadron) to test out the combat effectiveness of the K models at NKP over the trails in Laos that the NVA was using to supply the war in the south. He has a picture of his young self in just about this same pose... only now nearly 50 years later. We were in the middle of gear and bomb bay door tests when they came back on Sunday. Saturday's work day was called on account of 16 deg weather. Too danged cold to touch bare metal. Sunday was much improved. Anyway, Larry got the gear indicator system all figured out and working while JR and Chuck installed and ops checked the new hydraulic accumulator. We have the engine fire extinguisher system with two lines to finish and the emergency air brake system to complete. When the B-29 leaves in about a month, we should be about ready for a taxi test. All we lack is finishing up!! JR

[The Ripper]

I've been a long time lurker on this forum and have followed this restoration for quite some time. What an excellent job you guys have done and are doing. I hope you will be at Oshkosh in July!