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

[A26 Special K]

Well, for those who can't wait to see the answer, the Texas flag (hand over heart) in the picture earlier is facing left toward the US flag. How do we know? The point of the star is to the top and it is pointing at the US flag. Another way to know is that the white panel is on top of the blue panel. So there you go. Everything you ever wanted to know about the flag of the Lone Star Republic. We will be working on K in great ernest tomorrow so stop by and see how it is going. We always welcome visitors and be glad to show you an up close view of the airplane. We are proud of our team and what they are doing to return the airplane to flight. Meacham Field in Ft Worth is where we are located. Drop on by and say howdy! JR

[A26 Special K]

This is one of our long sought after items. It is a thermostat that works in the auto mode of the oil cooler door actuation system. This system is up and running now on both sides in auto and manual modes. Just need to replace some hoses on the right side to the oil cooler and install the newly overhauled oil cooler in the left side. JOY!! BTW, on Saturday, David Horn is dropping by the hangar and presenting his newly finished model of our K. Can't wait to see it. Yall come by and see if you get the chance. Will be great to show what the finished product will look like when we are done with the restoration... only bigger...!! Thanks, David. JR

[A26 Special K]

Here is another view of the thermostat. Arnold spent a lot of today working on this system to get it all going again. Sure was hot in the hangar!! Many thanks, Arnold! JR

[A26 Special K]

Notice anything different about the Southern Cross DC-3? Yeah, her left engine has been replaced, test run, test flown and now is back on the line ready to give rides again!! Yay!! Finally after 12 days of the replacement engine fighting us on every turn it is on and running good. It has all new hoses, overhauled cowl flap system, different carb, new spark plugs, exhaust switched over to the other side and the list goes on forever. It was not a QEC by any means, but wow, what an effort by all the gang to get her going. There were at least 7 or 8 people banging it on it or hunting parts etc. Good job, guys and gals. BTW, that is our fuel truck, "Fuelzilla", that we built up and painted a few years ago. It even has a genuine "Kilroy was here" logo on the side below the number on the hood. Anyway, the 3 was fueled and ready to go flying this evening. There were many smiling faces at the hangar when she came back on flying status. Thanks gang! Now maybe we can get back to work on the A26!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Our special guest today was David Horn. David brought us a B-26K model that he built, painted and marked as our airplane complete with the correct camo pattern. It really excited our team members to see just how K will look when finished. He also brought us some hardware and fasteners that we can use on the airplane. Many thanks to David. Also pictured with him is our own hometown Nimrod, Joe Maynard who comes out faithfully to work on his old airplane. Yep, he flew K back in the day at Eglin. David's dad was a C-123 crewman about the same time that Joe was there so they might have known each other since Joe also did a tour in that airplane. It was a very hot and humid day in the hangar, but we still accomplished quite a few things on the airplane. Several folks came by to see. We are always up for visitors who are interested in the restoration. JR

[A26 Special K]

JR got the new gear switches installed and ready to rig whenever our last part comes from plating for the left main. These switches are not all that easy to find, but we lucked out again with two companies that had a few left. Ta dah!! Another step in the right direction. The other JR

[A26 Special K]

Since the A-26A (B-26K) did not have ejection seats in the VN war, bailing out was very problematical at anything above say 120 knots airspeed. The tail and/or the wing could get in the way very quickly at higher speeds. There were only a few successful bail outs and this video has one of the Air Commandos who accomplished the feat telling the story in his own words. Lee McClesky and George Matthews were interviewed by our own Hawkeye Poole at the Air Commando Association Reunion held in Oct 2011 at Eglin AFB, FL. Check this out and if it doesn't raise the hair on the back of your neck, you are not following the story. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dQOdOWxF7A
Our plan for K is to be at the reunion next year and make the honor flyover at the Memorial Service held at the Airpark entrance to the gate. One of the few other airframes left is stationed there. 666 will no doubt look up when sistership 679 comes over in salute. A Nimrod crew will be flying her to make the circle complete. JR

[Obergrafeter]

Just wondering from back a few posts, just what part of the airplane do you fix with that container of water putty you have behind the cooler thermostat?

[A26 Special K]

Just wondering from back a few posts, just what part of the airplane do you fix with that container of water putty you have behind the cooler thermostat?

Oh that is what we use to glue the wings and tail feathers on. Actually, one of our composite guys is making a mold for the tail cone lens using the old one to get the shape. Then he will get some plexi and form it around this. That's the plan anyway. Will see if it works and show the results... if they are good!! If not, well, back to the drawing board. JR

[Obergrafeter]

Molding the new lens should work if you have an understanding wife that will let you put it in her oven! That is if you don't have your own autoclave.

[A26 Special K]

Molding the new lens should work if you have an understanding wife that will let you put it in her oven! That is if you don't have your own autoclave.

Unfortunately, my wife lost a fight with cancer so that is the bad news. The good news is that I can use the oven for whatever I want, howsumever, our composite guy has an autoclave so I think we got it covered. JR

[A26 Special K]

Aw crud, now I wish I hadn't said that. Some entrerprising female will now think I don't have enough adult supervision and come try to ruin it all for me. Ladies, if you are reading this... I am now very happy playing with the A26 and not having to ask permission or schedule around all of your honey do lists. I am very sure there are far more deserving guys out there who would benefit from your intervention and guidance. Just think of me as an "airplane junkie" and "lost cause"!! Yours truly, JR

[NImrodA26]

JR, you don't need an oven as long as the road to the Ponder Steakhouse is open!! Man, that was some good food, Cactus included!
Randy

[A26 Special K]

JR, you don't need an oven as long as the road to the Ponder Steakhouse is open!! Man, that was some good food, Cactus included!
Randy

Hey Randy... been missing you on the forum here. Hope your trips went well. Yep, I do like going out to Ponder for steak and pie as you know. Good idea for tomorrow night! How hot is it? Well, we did unwrap the mold we had made for the tail cone lens and found that indeed it was moldy. Who woulda thunked it? Had to dispose of it and start over. Left it too long in the heat and humidity we have had here lately. Looks like we are in for a long haul of hot weather. Will be working this afternoon and tomorrow to see if we can make things a little easier in the hangar for the team. We are putting in a water cooler and rounding up more fans. One of the guys is fixing up a swamp cooler on rollers to help add a little cooler air where needed. Need bigger fans though. Yall come see us!! JR

[A26 Special K]

The tail cone is completely finished inside and out and ready for mounting. Many thanks to Dave and Ethan for getting this done. David A. got the lights all wired and working with a little help from his friends!! Great job guys! JR