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

[retroaviation]

See? Y'all are paying attention.

The area above the door is indeed where the left waist gunner's position is located.

Gary

[Shay]

Gary

How come you are not put the door back to it's original configuration, as in not there at all? Or was there a door, similar to what you're making, there to begin with on the "A" models?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[retroaviation]

There was a door on the left side of the fuselage, just aft of the rear bomb bay for crew entry (see photo below). However, as you can tell, it was quite small and the crew had to duck under the longeron that goes down the side of the airplane. I wanted to build the original door (and still may at some point), but for how we operate the aircraft by generating income via people touring through it, I had to make some changes to our original plan.

There is simply no way that the majority of people, particular elderly or overweight, would be able to make their way through that door for tours. I was going to incorporate our current escape hatch that's on the airplane as an upper door, but would have to cut through the longeron to make it work. So that ain't gonna happen.

My only option that I could come up with to get this done this winter was to modify the existing door to accomodate the tourists, while at the same time, trying to hide the old "transport look" that it had. I'm not crazy about this particular mod to be quite honest, but we have to do what we have to do sometimes. I know that nearly every bomber out there is difficult to get in and out of, but Consolidated got rid of that little door on the side right away for a reason. It was simply too tight and uncomfortable for the crew members to enter and exit the aircraft, along with being too close to the ground. Maybe I should say that it's geometry just isn't right.

Just a reminder to everyone who keeps up with this thread...I will not be doing everything to convert this airplane over to 100% B-24A this winter. It's just physically not possible. At least not for me. I will try to make it as believable as possible, such as hiding doors, putting gun positions in, etc., but we still must operate the aircraft to generate income and I must get it flying next spring, or I will disappoint even more folks than I have with the FIFI debaccle. We'll get this done, but it's just going to take some time.

Gary

[TimAPNY]

Stupid question time Gary.

It seems a bit easy for the door to open in flight? Am I missing something?

And is there going to be a ladder type system to get up into the a/c, I assume that door would hold up to a bunch of 200# people on it day in and out.

Tim

[jspott]

does anyone have photos or info on the other lb-30 al557?

[retroaviation]

Tim, I'm just using the same door handle that's been in the airplane for around 65 years now. Seemed to work pretty good for that period of time, thought it would still work now. It has a pretty nice over-center feature and the spring loaded handle keeps the mechanism from doing any creeping. I was going to reinvent the wheel with the door latches (something I'm bad about doing frequently), but after looking at what was there, I liked it.

Sasnak, your question about the windows down the side is probably one of the most asked questions I get. The first being a tie between, "What about the bomb bay doors? and What color are you going to paint it?" And another being, "What about the greenhouse cockpit windows?" Sure, sometimes I might roll my eyes when I get those questions, but people ask because they don't know. I don't mind hearing them. So, on that note, here's the answer to your question.....I will be eliminating the windows down the side of the airplane. As a matter of fact, they have all been removed by our hard working volunteers last weekend. As far as reskinning that area, I don't know yet. I would really, really like to, but I'm falling behind on my schedule already. That may be left for next year. The lower skins, where the bomb bay doors used to be, have been wrinkled up pretty good over the years. And although they are fine structurally, they just look bad. I'd love to replace them as well, but just can't right now.

Deadlines suck.

Gary

[Broken-Wrench]

I would have the tweaks put in a prox switch that would work in conjunction with the doors bayonet. It would give a warning light on the Pilots panel. Easy modification. Just an Idea.

[paulk]

I can say, however, that I will happily accept anyone who is willing to pitch in and help with these airplanes.

Gary ... The CAF First Observation Detachment is sending you a case of CAF Airsho DVDs for you to pass out to volunteers who help with Diamond Lil for a day. It's just a small token offer of help, but something we can do even though we're almost 2500 driving miles away.

What would it cost to sponsor a replica machine gun? How many do you need to make Diamond Lil a "real" B-24A bomber??

[retroaviation]

I would have the tweaks put in a prox switch that would work in conjunction with the doors bayonet. It would give a warning light on the Pilots panel. Easy modification. Just an Idea.

There is already a "door open" light on the panel and switch on the door. I'll just reuse that set up. Works pretty well.

Gary

[retroaviation]

What would it cost to sponsor a replica machine gun? How many do you need to make Diamond Lil a "real" B-24A bomber??

The guns were something like $600+ a piece (can't remember off the top of my head). There are 5 guns total.....nose gun, left waist, right waist, tunnel gun, tail gunner.

Gary

[retroaviation]

Since I'm sure y'all are starting to get tired of seeing that stinkin' door that seems to be taking me forever to finish, I thought I'd let y'all see the inside of the cockpit after our volunteers gutted it.

See? This could've been you that had all of that fun.

Gary





This was a neat thing to see when we took the floorboards out. It is the brushed on primer from someone at the factory when they were building this nose section......

[David_Aiken]

Diamond Lil... the plane was an LB-30 at one time... when I first viewed her in 1965, she had a unique nose which I had presumed was 'the LB-30'... as I studied more, I had found the B-24A short nose like in this photo:
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m170 ... 579-Oa.jpg

What nose did the LB-30 have? Did Diamond Lil have that 1965 nose in 1941? OR did she have a B-24A nose?

Was Diamond Lil the sole Consairways "B-24" in 1941?
TIA,
David Aiken

Thanks, Retro!
Tis nice to understand more about Diamond Lil's history. I am on the search to determine the serial of the Consairways LB-30 which landed at Hickam in late November 1941 to pickup some Consolidated PBY 'delivery' pilots.

Did you know CAF Col Jim Thixton? He gave me a taxi ride across Carswell in Diamond Lil some 20 years ago. I miss Jim...he was qualified on a HOST of planes and his CAF uniform shirt sleeves were embroidered with over 200 aircraft which he could fly.
Cheers,
David Aiken

[OZFURYFAN]

Hi Gary,great work considering you are mostly there by yourself.Hope you can catch up to your program by spring!!Could you please tell me the brand name of the Jenny/flanging wheel you used to make the frame for the window in the rear fuse.I have been searching everywhere incl on the net for a used or new one and have not had any luck.BTW,Idon't think FIFI was a bebacle as you put it and the end result will be a safe & mechanically sound aircraft that you won't have to keep changing engines on!Best Regards,Pete

[retroaviation]

Ozfuryfan, the bead roller I used was an old Niagara No. 192. It looks like it was made in the 40's or 50's, but hard to say with this old equipment. You might want to ask the guys on www.metalmeet.com for the whereabouts of such an item. Those guys are really into that stuff, kind of like we are with these old airplanes.

David_Aiken, I'm sorry, but I didn't know Mr. Thixton. Sounds like a pretty experienced Warbird guy.

For everyone else, I'm struggling with ideas, stress, and forward progress with the project here lately. Just in a slump. I will try to have a photo update posted later today or tomorrow.

Gary

[lmritger]

Gary, I wish I could be down there to help you, I honestly do... but Virginia is a bit far.

However, I have an idea that might get a few more people down your way... stay tuned for more info, I'm concocting something.

Lynn