Gary ~ What's The Plan For Diamond Lil ? 2006 and Beyond!

[retroaviation]

Thanks for the nice comments T33driver! I've never stayed at the Sierra Hotel, but I hear it's Sh*t Hot.

Shay, I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to speak English to me. I don't understand what you're asking me with the acronym. Oh, and type slower too, that way I can understand you better.

Gary

[Shay]

Situation Report (SITREP): origin: Military,: A report detailing the status of a unit's various activities.

I was just curious if you were getting a steady flow of volunteers into Midland to give you a helping hand?

If not we can continue to beat up the internet and get the word out to those who might be able volunteer.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[retroaviation]

Oooohhhhh. A SITREP. Why didn't you say so?

Currently, we are in a "code yellow." I have one volunteer that has been here for a couple of weeks and will likely be here for at least one more. The High Sky Wing (bless their hearts) has been hugely helpful with their volunteer labor and will continue to do so. I have had the occasional local volunteer show up to work for a few hours and then leave as well. I also have a couple of folks working hard outside of Midland, digging up research, drawings, and trying to find parts. All of that stuff is extremely helpful.The unfortunate part is that, other than stripping paint, I am just about out of the "unskilled labor" jobs.

The High Sky Wing and the Desert Squadron are both pitching in HUGE amounts of money in order for me to hire back Daniel Collier, who was one of my primary assistants on the FIFI project and who has already been a huge help with this project on AM927. They can see that I'm in desperate need of his sheet metal skills and have continually amazed me with their generosity and support. IF, I can get Daniel here in a timely manner, we might just get this project finished by our deadline.

I could always use volunteer help. Sometimes it's difficult for me to come up with a job for everyone to do. I'm not as organized as I should be, nor do I have the memory necessary to remember those little projects that I think about for the volunteers when I'm here alone. I'm really better as a Crew than a Crew Chief. But I usually do end up finding something for everyone to do.

Hope that SITREP was sufficient.

Gary

[John Beyl]

I could always use volunteer help. Sometimes it's difficult for me to come up with a job for everyone to do. I'm not as organized as I should be, nor do I have the memory necessary to remember those little projects that I think about for the volunteers when I'm here alone. I'm really better as a Crew than a Crew Chief. But I usually do end up finding something for everyone to do.


Gary

Hi Gary,

As always, excelent work! RE: The above quote from you. Do what the rest of us bewildered Crew Cheif's do (Well at least me anyway!)...resort to pencil and paper and create a punch list. Prioritize the items in order of critical path (what is going to be the first thing you need done or the project comes to a stop), second, third and so on.

Match volunteer talent with the jobs at at hand. You'd be surprised at what a well instructed, unskilled but attentive person can accomplish when they apply themselves. If they need a little babysitting along the way so be it, it's still better than tackling a particular job by yourself. You could always mentor an unskilled volunteer by making them your assistant for the day...holding bucking bars, laying parts out deburing, etc.

I'm sure none of that is a revelation for you but its worked well for us on the C model so far.

Question for you on the large side door you've installed in Lil. Are the hinges and their attach points going to be strong enough to withstand the rigors of the door being used as a stair? Are you planning on using support chains from the upper door sill or a stand block under the door to support it when it's down?

Keep up the first class work Gary,

John

CC CAF P-51C
www.redtail.org

[Shay]

Hope that SITREP was sufficient.

Gary

"ROGER BALL"

Thanks

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[retroaviation]

To answer your question about the side door John, I do intend to use some sort of support from the top of the door jam to the end of the door. The thing is that I want everything as hidden as possible when in the closed position, as that stupid door isn't even supposed to be there. I was taught years ago, however, that "if it isn't original, trick people into thinking it is." Soooo, I've got a couple ideas I'm tossing around in my head on how to deal with hiding all of the mechanism and steps for the door. I just don't know if I'll be able to make it all work.

Shay, I've never met Roger Ball. Is he one of the volunteers you're gonna send here to help?

Gary

[Ztex]

Great stuff here Gary, thanks for letting us in on your fun.

Z

[Dennis7423]

Gary-

Silly question, but I was just curious, will that tunnel gun rig be strong enough to support a .50 caliber? I guess to me, it looks like a less study rig than that in the photographs, but please, prove me wrong! Can't wait to get there in the Spring, we're anxiously looking forward to it

-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

[retroaviation]

Gary-
Silly question, but I was just curious, will that tunnel gun rig be strong enough to support a .50 caliber? I guess to me, it looks like a less study rig than that in the photographs, but please, prove me wrong! Can't wait to get there in the Spring, we're anxiously looking forward to it
-Dennis S.
Greeley, CO

Good question Dennis. I have to tell you that I had the same thoughts early on in this project, but there are two things that "weigh in" here. One is that the .50 cal. that will be used is a very nice looking replica that has had a weight reduction plan put to it. It only weighs about 35 pounds vs. the 65+/- pounds that a real .50 cal. would weigh. The second thing is that this once flimsy tunnel gun door is getting quite sturdy with the continual addition of this structure. There will be more added, particularly to the aluminum components of the door and the structure of the airplane.

Remember, you are seeing the project as it's coming together and not as a finished piece, like you typically would. Doing these semi-daily reports has been kind of an experiment for me. For as long as I can remember, Warbird magazines, and more recently, Warbird internet sources have only shown the completed projects that folks have, with the occasional photo or two of the beginning or middle stages of completion. That's not necessarily a bad thing. Heck, I'm not real sure how a magazine would even be able to project the daily struggles that shops go through to keep these airplanes going. Warbird Digest and Classic Wings do probably the best job they can regarding that. But the WIX forum was the ideal place for me to try this "daily grind report" thing. I'm sure that often times (maybe like now) my reports are too wordy and boring, but judging by the reactions from folks on this thread, I'd say that the interest in what goes on during this type of project is certainly there.

So, with all of that jibberish being said, y'all just keep on my case about these questions that pop into your head. I'm dumb as a box of rocks, so I don't always see everything that I need to. All of you who have asked questions or have made suggestions have been helpful to this project, and I appreciate it!

Gary

[Ztex]

my reports are too wordy and boring,

HA! when you were gone to get the PBY, I could feel the heebie-jeebies coming through the computer when we didn't get our daily fix...

[Scott Rose]

Gary this is a brilliant thread, and all you have to do is look at the page views to see that, 40K and climbing. Keep it coming for as long as you want!

[retroaviation]

One thing I just found interesting...the guy who started this thread, bomberflight, has barely said a word after he started this mayhem. All I can think to tell him is......Ask a silly question, get a long, drawn out answer.

Gary

[Scott Rose]

One thing I just found interesting...the guy who started this thread, bomberflight, has barely said a word after he started this mayhem. All I can think to tell him is......Ask a silly question, get a long, drawn out answer.

Gary

even if he never talks again he's done a great thing by starting this amazing thread with one little question

[Jerry O'Neill]

One thing I just found interesting...the guy who started this thread, bomberflight, has barely said a word after he started this mayhem. All I can think to tell him is......Ask a silly question, get a long, drawn out answer.

Gary

There are no silly questions!
jerry

[mustangdriver]

Gary through watching your work on the airplane, you have convinced me to join the CAF here in Pittsburgh, PA.