Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:33 pm
Broken-Wrench,
Most of us have been staying at the Airport Plaza a little less than two miles from the CAF hangar. It's not a bad place to sleep for the short time any of us actually close our eyes when we are here--Shorty and I both woke up a little after one A.M. thinking about our projects and I for one just catnapped for a couple of hours! The staff are friendly and the price is reasonable.
The typical workday for most of us is somewhere between ten and twelve hours, and the time seems to go by way too fast for the amount of progress that I actually make. The first seven days here I logged 82.5 hours, all of it worth it from where I stand. It does get under your skin, enough so that Ellen (my wife) wanted to come down and see for herself. She really pitched in with the bomb rack project and kept me awake on the trip home to boot.
The old beast is starting to come together, but any help will be greatly appreciated by Gary, Andy, and the whole Squadron.
Scott
Most of us have been staying at the Airport Plaza a little less than two miles from the CAF hangar. It's not a bad place to sleep for the short time any of us actually close our eyes when we are here--Shorty and I both woke up a little after one A.M. thinking about our projects and I for one just catnapped for a couple of hours! The staff are friendly and the price is reasonable.
The typical workday for most of us is somewhere between ten and twelve hours, and the time seems to go by way too fast for the amount of progress that I actually make. The first seven days here I logged 82.5 hours, all of it worth it from where I stand. It does get under your skin, enough so that Ellen (my wife) wanted to come down and see for herself. She really pitched in with the bomb rack project and kept me awake on the trip home to boot.
The old beast is starting to come together, but any help will be greatly appreciated by Gary, Andy, and the whole Squadron.
Scott
Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:09 pm
Hello, I was there later this afternoon. The plane is looking great and progress is really showing. I didn't have time to do much. Just replacing some damaged "cigarettes" on some of the spark plug leads. Looks great though. I may be strapped for time on this one, but I get a paid vacation in the near future and would like to spend every minute of it at the hanger. Maybe FiFi by then.
Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:59 am
i just thought this was an interesting comparison...
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... &start=105
scroll down about 2/3's down the page and compare to gary's last photo. she is now a long way from the LB30 she used to be.
(i would post the img but don't know how to find the link for the pic).
nice work gary and two thumbs up to all those who have volunteered thier time or donated to "lil" (well the aircraft formerly known as lil)
http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... &start=105
scroll down about 2/3's down the page and compare to gary's last photo. she is now a long way from the LB30 she used to be.
(i would post the img but don't know how to find the link for the pic).
nice work gary and two thumbs up to all those who have volunteered thier time or donated to "lil" (well the aircraft formerly known as lil)
Mon Mar 19, 2007 1:01 pm
I'd just like to see one picture of the new paint on one wing tip showing the national insignia 
Mon Mar 19, 2007 2:54 pm
Connery wrote:I'd just like to see one picture of the new paint on one wing tip showing the national insignia
Stand by on the paint. No insignias yet.
Gary
Mon Mar 19, 2007 3:14 pm
I was out there a couple weeks ago and stayed at the Plaza. I won't do that again. I needed a hotel with an internet connection (needed to do stuff for work). I called when searching for a hotel and was told that the Plaza had wireless in ALL the rooms, plus a business center with computer.Broken-Wrench wrote:Gary, If people come down there to work , Where do they stay? Does the CAF have a bunk house?
Well guess what, The wireless didn't work in my room for the 3 nights I was there and the business center computer wouldn't run the necessary program.
I told the front desk staff and they said it was the cable company's problem and would be out the following day (Monday) to fix it. Well it never got fixed and I recently found out from someone who was there 2 weeks before me that the internet didn't work then either.
So I tried following up with the manager and after 5 calls and never receiving a reply, I am done and hope the CAF will look for a new hotel to offer us a discount.
The only thing that I got from the manager, THROUGH a front desk person: The interent was working in the other rooms.
I also asked about talking to the owner. Well it turns out that he is the manager's brother.
Besides that the rooms are dirty with old bedding. Very poor quality.
RANT OFF......
Mon Mar 19, 2007 4:02 pm
I'm sorry that the accomodations were so deplorable, John. I know for a fact that the Squadron Leader has been talking with other hotels in the area to try to get us better rooms and discounts, but frankly, all of the different hotels in the area seem to be in cahoots. The oil industry brings mobs of people in to Midland and money is no object to them (seemingly). So, that means that the hotels could care less about a museum that is struggling to keep their heads above water.
We're trying to make things better for folks to come in and help. There are certainly other hotels in the area and nobody is forcing anyone to stay at the Airport Plaza Inn. It just happens to be who we've dealt with for years. That will hopefully be changing soon.
John, we very much appreciated you coming in to help with the B-24 project. I hope that the hotel experience doesn't deter you from coming out to be a part of the team that helps keep it flying for years to come.
Gary
We're trying to make things better for folks to come in and help. There are certainly other hotels in the area and nobody is forcing anyone to stay at the Airport Plaza Inn. It just happens to be who we've dealt with for years. That will hopefully be changing soon.
John, we very much appreciated you coming in to help with the B-24 project. I hope that the hotel experience doesn't deter you from coming out to be a part of the team that helps keep it flying for years to come.
Gary
Mon Mar 19, 2007 5:56 pm
retroaviation wrote:I'm sorry that the accomodations were so deplorable, John. I know for a fact that the Squadron Leader has been talking with other hotels in the area to try to get us better rooms and discounts, but frankly, all of the different hotels in the area seem to be in cahoots. The oil industry brings mobs of people in to Midland and money is no object to them (seemingly). So, that means that the hotels could care less about a museum that is struggling to keep their heads above water.
We're trying to make things better for folks to come in and help. There are certainly other hotels in the area and nobody is forcing anyone to stay at the Airport Plaza Inn. It just happens to be who we've dealt with for years. That will hopefully be changing soon.
John, we very much appreciated you coming in to help with the B-24 project. I hope that the hotel experience doesn't deter you from coming out to be a part of the team that helps keep it flying for years to come.
Gary
Nope Gary,
A crappy hotel won't keep me from coming out and helping in the future. I will just have to make my reservation at a different hotel. My biggest complaint was the lack of interest from the manager with my concern.
I really enjoyed working with you on the B24 and after I get my schedule for April, I will see if I can squeeze in another trip out.
Mon Mar 19, 2007 8:36 pm
Broken-Wrench wrote:Gary, If people come down there to work , Where do they stay? Does the CAF have a bunk house?
Doesn't FiFi have Racks in her? that would be cool! B-W there is even a few cats to keep you warm
Tim
Mon Mar 19, 2007 11:03 pm
They could always stay lakeside out at Austin Acres.... 
Lynn
Lynn
Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:33 am
Lynn Allen wrote:They could always stay lakeside out at Austin Acres....
Lynn
Hmmmm, now that's not a bad idea! I could put some sleeping bags in Mark's PBY or in the C-47 nose and I could rent those out for the night. The only thing is that the sign at the front of my property is starting to get wordy.....Austin Acres Wildlife Refuge, Petting Zoo, Aircraft Tours, Canoe Rental, and Bed & Breakfast.
Gary
Tue Mar 20, 2007 4:27 am
Connery wrote:I'd just like to see one picture of the new paint...
Well, this is the only peek y'all get for now.
And yes, I know there's still a crapload of work left to do.
Gary
Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:56 am
Thanks for the peek Gary...she's lookin beautiful!
John
John
B-24
Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:03 am
Holy Mackerel!!!!!!!!
She is looking darn fine Gary!
The new scheme is going to look sooooooooooooo good.
Mike
She is looking darn fine Gary!
The new scheme is going to look sooooooooooooo good.
Mike
Tue Mar 20, 2007 7:06 am
Very Cool Gary!!
What was the issue with the black underbelly?
I know in pictures of other Liberators in this same scheme you see the black carried up a little bigher on the fuselage. But I think you mentioned that there was some opposition to this. Can you elaborate on this Gary? Or am I all cattywampus?
Thanks and 927 looks like a million bucks.
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
What was the issue with the black underbelly?
I know in pictures of other Liberators in this same scheme you see the black carried up a little bigher on the fuselage. But I think you mentioned that there was some opposition to this. Can you elaborate on this Gary? Or am I all cattywampus?
Thanks and 927 looks like a million bucks.
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis