Warbird Information Exchange

Due to repeated requests, here are some pictures of "FIFI" as of December, 21, 2006, in the neighborhood of 4:00 a.m. CST.

I would like to apologize not only for the delay in taking these pictures sooner and posting them, but also for the poor quality of them. My little camera normally does a great job. Must've been operator error this morning.






Front bomb bay (500 pounders)......





Aft bomb bay (250 pounders)......



Bombardier's panel.....



Flight deck.......



Flight Engineer's panel (my seat ).......



Radio operator's position (the aluminum handrail is only placed there temporarily to assist with cockpit tours)......



Hydraulic tank and wooden cabinet......



Aft pressurized compartment (as viewed from the aft pressure bulkhead, looking forward).......



Right waist gunner's position.......



Central Fire Control Officer's position (with his "barber's chair)........



APU compartment........







Looking aft, towards the tailgunner's compartment......



Looking forward from the tailgunner's compartment........



Bomb assessment camera access doors and camera........





Tail skin assembly......





Tailgunner's business end.......



Sorry *@%#&#!!! engine..........



I am rather embarrassed to show some of these pictures as this is the dirtiest state the airplane has been in since we put it back together. Obviously, the B-24A has gotten pretty much all of my attention lately with it's current project. We will hopefully start getting some of our pledged money for FIFI in March or April of '07. So the re-engine program will start back up then.

And just in case some of you don't recall the amount of work that just took place on FIFI recently, here is a basic breakdown of the work accomplished......
19 months of labor (right at 15,000 man hours)
All fuselage structure above the wing center section replaced.
Approximately 90% of stringers in rear bomb bay replaced.
Primary stringer from front of front bomb bay to rear of rear bomb bay replaced.
Multiple fuselage skins replaced.
Left outer wing spar caps replaced.
All structure and skins aft of rear spar in left outer wing panel replaced.
All structure in the cockpit greenhouse replaced.
All cockpit glass replaced.
Flight engineer's panel given a facelift (not yet complete, however).
Radio operator's compartment given a facelift (not yet complete, however).
Nosegear assembly overhauled and refinished.
Front bomb bay refinished and new bombs added.
Rear bomb bay refinished and new bombs added.
Aft pressurized compartment refinished and new floorboards installed.
APU overhauled and new automatic fire suppression system installed.
Approximately 80% of structure and skins in tailgunner's section replaced.

And on, and on, and on.

If you have any questions or comments, I'll be happy to address them when able.

Gary

WOW! Fantastic photos. Thanks for sharing Gary. FIFI looks great!

Beautiful

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

I like what's been done around the tail guns...the green fabric...much better than the metal plate that use to be there.

What's up with the cat in the one picture?

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"Everyone wants to live here (New Jersey), evidenced by the fact that it has the highest population per capita in the U.S..."

Yeah, I noticed that after I posted the picture. That's Mosquito. He's one of the two hangar cats here. I'm not much of a cat person, but he's as close to a dog as any cat I've ever seen...so he's okay in my book. He has an issue with anyone being at a higher elevation than him, so when he saw me climb up the ladder to get in the B-29, naturally, he had to follow. I didn't even realize he was in there until I saw the picture.

Gary

By the way, if any of y'all have back issues of Warbird Digest and want some further info on FIFI, Tim wrote a great article on the airplane in the WD #7 (March/April) 2006 issue. Complete with pictures!

Gary

Gary: How is the re-engine project for FIFI coming along?

Just waiting on the money to hit our bank account right now.

She's beautiful Gary...thanks for posting the pics!

John

Gary

Do you think at some point we may see 44-62070 (FIFI) get repainted to represent a different B-29?

I'm glad to see the Tail turret return to it's proper configuration. Do you think we'll see the actual turret mechanisms get reinstalled?

I was last aboard FIFI in July of 97 and was told that taking the turrets out was considerable weight savings.

Thanks for the pictures

Shay
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Semper Fortis

The chances of FIFI being repainted as another airplane are about the same as me actually meeting a deadline on anything. The only change to the paint (other than some proper stenciling, and such) that might have a slight chance of being approved would be the black bottom, like was done to it for the filming of The Right Stuff. Man, I don't even want to start up that firestorm yet. I've got too many self induced problems already.

It is also quite unlikely that the actual turret mechanisms themselves will ever be installed. I do, however, have plans to fabricate the "cans" that the turrets fit in. That would give a more original look to the interior of the aircraft without having the weight penalty.

Gary

Gary, you are absolute, bonafide prince. As busy as you are with Lil, you take the time to go through and shoot a thorough and VERY useful interior walkaround of Fifi as well, at four o'farkingclock in the morning... you should be nominated for some kind of "Most Dedicated Warbird Guy" award or something.

We love you, man. Just please tell me you won't be grinding metal on December 25th... take some time to spend with your family, and have a very merry Christmas.

Lynn

Is he still up there?

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Well Imritger, I certainly appreciate the kind words. The pictures of FIFI were no big deal. I start my work day at 3 o'clock nearly every morning, so it's not like I made a special trip out to the hangar that early just for the pictures. It was the first time since April or May since I've really crawled around the airplane though. I had just been so sickened by the way things worked out with the ol' girl. After all of that work and to only be able to fly it for only 6.6 hours before we had to park it again, was just gut wrenching. But I'll get it back in the air eventually.

I will, indeed, be working on Christmas Day. It's sort of an old tradition with me to work on the Holidays since I had always been pretty much on my own. This year will be the same since I'm now "dis-engaged" from my former fiance'. But you know, I don't do many things well, but I can manage to work on airplanes without screwing too much up. Besides, you'd be amazed at how much work I can get accomplished on the Holidays with nobody around.

Thanks again,
Gary