Warbird Information Exchange

Plenishing hammers, an 8' shear, bead roller (that I don't have to make my own dies for), etc., etc. I could basically just send you a link to any reputable aviation or custom sheet metal supply place and you could pick out just dang near anything. But I'll make due with what I personally own for now.

I have been spending a lot of money here lately though.......
http://www.fournierenterprises.com/

Gary

Gary - sweet work! I helped restore a 1965 AC Cobra and I can attest to the challange of tweeking aluminum to make it "juuuusssst right" In fact I am in awe of your skills - very impressive. If I knew someone who did heliarc welding in Texas I'd recommend to them to come help. But the only guy I know is in Illinois and rarely comes out of his backwoods garage - the projects come to him or nothing - sorry I'm no help there!

Thanks for your efforts!

Tom P.

Kent White, the Tin Man, at www.tinmantech.com is someone who is just an incredible artiste with metal. He did some tin bangin for the Hughes Racer replica, as well as a buncha other projects. Neat guy.

Gary's work is in that same league, whether or not he wants to admit it. Beauteous stuff!!

Me, on the other hand? Well, I'm good sweepin' up the shavings on the floor.....

_________________
Regards,

Jase
www.b26marauder.com
"I'm having a BLAST!!" 2007 CAF Wing Staff Conference

RIP Gary Austin..always in our hearts

Guys, I appreciate the good comments on the metal work, but those pictures must mask what it really looks like. After sleeping (only a few hours), I am thinking that I may start over on it. I'm just not too happy with the results so far. I'll get back out there in a few minutes to make a decision. I may make the other pieces and then come back to the one I just made. We'll see.

Gary

I wish I did hammer out Gerry's lower cowl, I thank you for the credit but I believe Gerry's guys did all that work on their own. When it comes to fabing the cowling for our A-36 Gerry or Bill Yoke will fabricate it for us.

Again thanks for the credit but it goes to someone else.

Gary Norville
http://www.AmericanAeroServices.com

I hate to hear that Gary. I was hoping to try to get you to take a few days off and come down here to "the dark side" and give me some pointers on this little project.

Gary Austin

Gary N,

Sorry about that! The first time I laid eyes on those cowling pieces Gerry saw me giving them the "Fisheye" and came over with a big smile, "Pretty nice, huh?" At that point I knew they had not finished the form blocks for them yet and when I asked who made them he was quick to point out that one of his friends in the business made them for him...I would swear he said it was you but obviously my memory is playing games with me! Maybe it was Bill Yoke?!?! Gerry said he hammered them out with a plenishing hammer. The truly amazing part is there isn't a single dimple, dent or mark that would indicate they were made by hand. I stand in awe of tin benders like that! Gifted.

Gary A,

Don't be so hard on your work! Absolute perfection is the enemy. They knew that back in the 40's when these things were originally built and that's proven every time one of these airplanes get taken apart for rebuild! Multitudes of little sins exist all over them that in the end make no difference what so ever.

John

Wasn't going to post this update until I had some real news to add, but here it is anyway.

Started on the second piece of the puzzle today. Same song, second verse...


This piece was somewhat easier to get moving in the direction I wanted. The third piece I build should be similar to this one. This photo shows about the halfway point...


I had mentioned earlier that I may throw that first piece away and start over. Well, even though that is still an option, if I do it now, it'll include the second piece as well. I think I was premature in doing this, but I had the two pieces welded together. I was concerned about the way the second piece was meeting the first piece and I am hopeful that with the two pieces now as one, I will be able to work out the remaining imperfections as a whole. And no, I didn't weld it. I can weld aluminum, but am still learning to do it well enough for a project like this. Sometimes you just have to know your limits. I enlisted the help of an instructor at the local A&P school to do this part for me. In these photos, only the inside was done, but he's welding the rest on Friday.........



Gary

Great work Gary! Now take a well deserved day off (or at least part of one). Gary, from my house to yours, be blessed, and have a happy Thanksgiving, and to everyone else, also a happy Thanksgiving! Also the other day, I was rumaging through a backup disk and found this photo sent to me from Chuck Gardner. If I remember correctly, Chuck is peeking from behind the pilot on the "Lil", with camera in hand..... Blessings to all, Alan Brooks.

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Just call me Al.

That's a great shot.

Thanks for sharing

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Some constructive criticism if I may. 2024 isn't generally considered weldable in a structural sense. 5052 or 6061 might have been better choices. Hopefully with the limited forming you'll be doing you won't get cracking along the weld.

Of course I don't do much metal forming or any welding, so take that for what it is worth!

That is true about the 2024. However, I am not allowed to spend any more money than necessary as we simply do not have much to spend, and I did some checking with some metal "experts" who said basically what you did. It should be just fine since there is very little forming to go around it and it is only a fairing and not a structural part that is being welded. I will have the structure on the inside of this piece and they will both be riveted together.

Thanks for the input,
Gary

It's good that you did most of the forming first! Understand the constraints and the fact that it is non-structural.

I assume since your forming it it is 2024-0. It's a little better than 2024-T3 to weld, but keep an eye on the welds. They very well may get microscopic cracks.

Thanks for the input, information, and concern guys. I will definitely have my eyes on this as I continue. Who knows, I'm liable to scrap it out with one too many strokes on the English wheel anyhow.

Gary