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

[Broken-Wrench]

Yep, It looks like you got alot gators nipping at your asz. I reflection do you think you would have started all of those projects at once.?

[retroaviation]

I reflection do you think you would have started all of those projects at once.?

Of course I think that. But I also think if I didn't do it, nobody would. They've been fighting over the configuration of this airplane for many, many years now. I'm sure there'll be plenty of "what if's" and "I told you so's" out there (already been catching some of it). I've been expecting that. All I'm trying to do is improve the airplane. The same goes with FIFI. I'll work hard to try to get them both done in a timely manner, but there are only so many hours in one day. I can't change that.

The projects that have been started, have been started. Not much I can do about that now either. I've lost plenty of sleep worrying over how deep I've gotten into this mess. I'm sure I'll lose plenty more.....probably even tonight. But I'm going to try to get it done as safely, and as quickly, and as cosmetically appealing as I can. That's all I can do at this point.

The one up-side to all of this has been the WIXers out there with their kind remarks, great questions, and wonderful help. I appreciate everyone's support so far and look forward to meeting all of you out on tour with the airplane someday.

Gary

[John Cotter]

Gary,

This thread is the one I most look forward to reading every day. Keep up the great work and hopefully I can get some time cleared in my schedule in the next few weeks to come out to MAF and offer my (unskilled) help.

[APG85]

Gary,
The important thing with this project is that you've gotten "the train rolling down the tracks" even if it takes a few years for the aircraft to reach it's final configuration. I think you are doing a fantastic job and I thoroughly enjoy reading the updates. The lessons in sheet metal work are awesome. Godd luck!

[tulsaboy]

Way to go Gary!!! It's your attention to the detail on the "unsexy" aspects of Lil that are going to make it possible for folks of all ages and sizes to enjoy your work. Keep it up!

kevin

[Stratofortressflyer]

Gary your doing great work, I am glad I was able to get out there and help, if only for 3 days. No matter if all the details are not exactly perfect the first time around, you have plenty of time over the next few years to make everything perfect.

I check this post numerous times a day while I am at home and at work hoping for updates, so keep them coming!

[wls3]

Gary,
Just thought I'd share this photo discovered by accident. Sorry if it is a known
photo and been posted on one of the many previous pages. I don't recall
ever seeing it anywhere before. It's a US Air Force photo found listed as
Douglas A-20s. Taken during military maneuvers in North Carolina a
month before Pearl Harbor it does show a bunch of A-20s, but on the left is
the nose of an early B-24. Unfortunately not more of the B-24 is in the
photo but still thought it was interesting.




Gary, enjoy watching you at work and look forward to seeing Lil when done.

Bill

[CWBuff]

Here's the full photo... click for a larger image...




Fade to Black...

[Cvairwerks]

Gary: Don't forget that safety wire or string tie can work wonders as extra hands. I have a few places on our aircraft where there are Adel clamp stacks, or they are in difficult places to to close up and insert the screws through. Safety wire or string tie works wonders in keeping them closed up. Just cut it free before you torque the screws down.....

[Bill Greenwood]

Gary, I see by the photos that it snowned there. I told you after you made fun of the Mighty Magic Merlin that you should atone and beg forgivness for that misdeed. Even being a magician in metal, may not save you, you may wake up and be smurf deep in hailstones mixed with the usual tumbleweeds.

[retroaviation]

Just a quickie update here since I'll not be doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

I started this morning with installing a cylinder for John, so I wouldn't have to be interrupted later on with it while I was in the middle of my next project. After that, I started making the pieces for a hand rail stabilizer of sorts that should keep the hand rails (i.e., cables) for the entry door from swaying from side to side. I basically swiped the idea from the B-23 door, but had to change it's design to fit this installation.

The first pieces I needed to make were the "loops" for this arrangement. I found some 1/4" square, steel rod and decided to use that. After measuring the lengths I needed, I cut out each section with the die grinder and cut-off wheel (I had obviously made one before these pictures were taken, so disregard it for now )......





In order to make the curve I needed, I took the pieces of steel over to the sheet metal roller. Normally, this machine is used for rolling flat pieces of sheet metal, but it does have grooves machined in one end of the rollers to accomodate tubing. I just got lucky in the fact that the size of this square tubing worked out to fit in the largest of the grooves....



How this works is when you rotate the hand crank, the metal gets fed in between the three rollers. The more tension you have, the more of a curve you will get. For this solid, square tubing though, I had to run each piece through several times, with more tension each time, in order to get the desired curve. In this picture, you can see how the first run through the rollers looks........



Once I got the first piece made, I needed to duplicate it three more times. This picture shows the second piece after about three passes through the roller.........



A few more passes, and we're getting there........



Now that's what I'm talkin' about! This matches up pretty dang close, so only two more to make.......



Okay, so this isn't a very flattering picture of me, but I had John snap one while I was rolling these things to show how difficult each pass was to make with this solid material. But I reckon if it was easy, we'd have women doing it. Wow, did I just say that outloud? Okay, okay, I'm just playing. I know women built these things, so you women WIXers out there don't beat me up too badly over that comment. ...................



And here are all four pieces..........



And even though I still have plenty more to build here, this picture might give you an idea of where I'm going with this.......



So, that's all I have for now. I'll get back to my clerical work today and get more work done on the airplane tomorrow morning.

Gary

[Beachy]

I'll get back to my clerical work today and get more work done on the airplane tomorrow morning.

Gary

Clerical work? Jeez, Gary, maybe you should hire a secretary for the "women's work" so you can go back to doing "men's work"..............

[retroaviation]

Clerical work? Jeez, Gary, maybe you should hire a secretary for the "women's work" so you can go back to doing "men's work"..............

Whew! I'm glad you said that, because even though I was thinking it, I wasn't about to post it after my previous comments.

Gary

[Beachy]

Whew! I'm glad you said that, because even though I was thinking it, I wasn't about to post it after my previous comments.

Gary

Ha! I was only being facetious.............Do your own danged secretarial work...........

[retroaviation]