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

[A26 Special K]

SPECIAL NOTICE: Rumor has it that the Duck Driving Lady is mad as an old wet hen cause somebody moved her broom just as she was about to get it ready for the annual that is due next month. We are just serving notice that the Special K team had nothing to do with it or ... OR.. the Broom No Fly TFR that will be in effect for our Spring Fling on 31 March at Meacham from 9 am to 6 pm. Sorry about that, but the line has to be drawn somewhere on who we can invite to the Fling. Everybody else is welcome to fly or drive in and have great fun all day. Ck it out http://www.gga1.org and click on the Spring Fling link. Cheers, JR

[A26 Special K]

Here is some more of Rand's handiwork. This selector comes from the right side of the cockpit. Interesting Douglas data plate mounted on it, huh? Now if he can just make the rest of the instrument panel look this good!!! Joy!! JR

[A26 Special K]

Another view of the selector. Now all we have to do is make the rest of the airplane look this nice. Had some good luck this week finding some unique bolts at Alamo Aviation and others at Sam's Air Pack. If anybody needs some AN176C33 bolts, we will have some extra due to the minimum order requirement. So where do these go, you ask? Stay tuned as they will be involved in the next installment of "Mystery Part of the Week"!!!

[A26 Special K]

Aha... the Mystery Part of the Week has appeared. What is it and what does it do?? Anyone, anyone?? And no, it is not a part off the 02 Lady's airplane or her broom. Tell you that right now. Cheers and Good Luck!! JR

[NImrodA26]

Elevator or rudder torque tube, maybe?????????????????????????

[A26 Special K]

Elevator or rudder torque tube, maybe?????????????????????????

Wow, Randy, you are very close. Which is it?? Choose one and then tell us what a torgue tube does. BTW, if anybody peeked in the Illustrated Parts Manual for the B-26K, apparently there is an error in the bolt they call for at the end of the tube mount. We ordered what it called for and presto chango, was not long enough or big around enough to fit the hole. Don't you just hate it when that happens? But the nice lady at Sam's Airpack saved the day for us and found the right bolts. We got 'er filled now!! Important lesson learned was to always mic the existing bolt as compared to the spec chart for the AN bolts. Yes, size does matter .. in this case. PS you can see the Illustrated Parts Manual on the information page of our website. http://www.a26k.org Have a nice day!! JR

[carlisle1926]

I'm certain that I don't know the correct wording on this, but that part is on the bottom of the rudder, and it is the part that has the arms that attach to it that actually turn the rudder when you apply force from the cockpit. I know this because I have one in my junk pile in my back yard. You'll kick me for this one, but I cut off the torque tube part a few weeks ago and tossed it because it was in my way because I only wanted the neat rudder future table assembly. It still had the special bolt in it too! BAD BAD BAD. Now I'll crawl back down in my hole in the ground and get back to work on the bombs.

[A26 Special K]

I'm certain that I don't know the correct wording on this, but that part is on the bottom of the rudder, and it is the part that has the arms that attach to it that actually turn the rudder when you apply force from the cockpit. I know this because I have one in my junk pile in my back yard. You'll kick me for this one, but I cut off the torque tube part a few weeks ago and tossed it because it was in my way because I only wanted the neat rudder future table assembly. It still had the special bolt in it too! BAD BAD BAD. Now I'll crawl back down in my hole in the ground and get back to work on the bombs.

You are kidding, aren't you?? Was it a B-26K rudder?? And you did what with it?? And threw away what?? Somebody git a rope!! They ain't a tree tall enough in Houston to have a proper necktie party so where can we find a tree about 80 ft tall so when we cut the rope, it'll soften up the carcass for the vultures to make quick work of? I just hate having to hide bodies. If you are kiddin, then we are kiddin. Otherwise..... there will be no joy in Mudville tonight. JR

[NImrodA26]

Wow, Randy, you are very close. Which is it??

Got to admit Jim, I cheated!!! Since that's the area you have been working on, I surmised that it was a part from the tail section. So, I went to the parts manual and snooped around. They both looked similar to me!!

[A26 Special K]

Wow, Randy, you are very close. Which is it??

Got to admit Jim, I cheated!!! Since that's the area you have been working on, I surmised that it was a part from the tail section. So, I went to the parts manual and snooped around. They both looked similar to me!!

Well, that is what the IPC is for, so no worries!! Yep, it is the rudder torque tube and the 3 special bolts we mentioned can be seen going thru it. I think I have stopped hyperventilating over Jason's admission of cutting one up, but don't anybody remind me! Speakin of JR, the magician, he has come up with a Trammel bar that will greatly speed up the rigging of the rudder and other flight control surfaces especially the trim system. He also got a great new rivet gun. We need a lot of help now in sheet metal so if there are talented metal workers out there who want to get in on the ground floor of this warbird restoration, please come by to see us on Saturdays at the VFM hangar at Meacham Field, Ft Worth. Thanks, the other JR

[carlisle1926]

Here is the rudder that I have laying around. I bought it not knowing what it fit. I just knew that it was sad and it wanted to come home with me. The part that I cut off of the bottom(torque tube) was about 1.5ft long or so. If this is for an A26, it would have to be an older one because of the fabric covering right? It still has the little gear box in it for trim tab control. If y'all can use that gear box let me know.
Just as the crazy old cat lady at the end of the street hoards cats, I hoard plane parts.
Jason
I'm about six foot one, if that will help you figure out how long of a rope neck tie I wear.

[A26 Special K]

Instead of another Mystery Part of the Week, we now have two mystery guests. Who BESIDES Randy can identify these two Nimrods?? BTW, the Nimrods are tentatively planning a mini reunion at our hangar in May. They want to come see how their ol gal is shaping up for her coming out party. We will try really hard to have her ready to tow over to Spring Fling on 31 March, but if some of our landing gear parts don't get back in time, just come on over to the hangar and have a look for yourself! Guests are always welcome!! We love to tell people about the airplane and our plans. It really is about the guys who flew them, and all of the folks who did everything else to make them so effective in their secret missions in the dark over Laos. It's not all about the plane....even as important as this one is seeing as how it is the very last one of her kind that will ever fly again. JR

[RickH]

A-26 rudder.

Jason all of the A-26s had fabric covering on the control surfaces. Please don't ever cut anything until you've had a chance to run it by someone.

Now, just where did you find an A-26 rudder ? Were there any other parts ?

[A26 Special K]

A-26 rudder.

Jason all of the A-26s had fabric covering on the control surfaces. Please don't ever cut anything until you've had a chance to run it by someone.

Now, just where did you find an A-26 rudder ? Were there any other parts ?

One slight addition to the statement... all stock A26's had fabric covered rudders. The K's and some of the On Mark Executive conversions had metal rudders. There might have been a few air tankers that were converted to metal as well although I don't have hard data on this. And hey Rick, I got dibs already on the garage full of A26 parts that Jason has stashed in his garage. He traded them for the privilege of not being the main guest at our "necktie party" planned in his honor earlier today. JR
PS... Just kidding!! We weren't really going to hang em!!

[A26 Special K]

And where is Taigh R, the Harpoon Man, when we need him?? Hey TR, did you get a chance to look for that nose wheel bearing cap for us.. you mentioned awhile back. We are back to looking for one. If you stop by our thread here, drop me a note, purdy plez. Thanks... JR