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

[Connery]

[bomberflight]

Gary, its 7:15 pm Monday evening here in the UK. I've just spent another dull ( groundhog ) day in the office followed by the 90 minute ( walk / train / drive ) home.

You've no idea how much it lifts the spirits to be transported 3000 miles to visit the hanger for a little while to catch up on how your doing.

Godspeed your efforts and ..... thanks

[retroaviation]

Thanks Peter! You have no idea of how your comments make me feel better. It's been one of those days where non-work-related issues seem to have taken over my thoughts and have made me grumpier and grumpier. I'm glad to hear that you still like what you're reading here.

So, have I answered your original question yet that started this whole thread?

Gary

[coldflyer]

During the Christmas break I visited West Texas and had a chance to spend some time in Midland. While there we were able to spend a few days over at the hangar with Gary. What a great experience. Gary was able to find work for a couple of non-skilled volunteers and really made us feel welcomed. In addition being able to see in person the work he has done so far increases your appreciation for his skills. Also spent an evening over at the High Sky Wing hangar attending a stripping party. The LIL parts we stripped must have had a minimum of 3 or 4 layers of paint on them including a sexy purple. If any of you get a chance to spend some time helping Gary out I assure you it is very much worth the time and effort to get there even if it means spending two days of travel for one days worth of work. I know Gary appreciates the volunteer help and a chance to bond with LIL is tremendous. A word of caution though. Have you noticed in all of Gary's pictures he has gloves on? There is a reason, LIL does like to award you with little Love Nips every once in a while so a pair of good work gloves is a valulable asset.

Keep up the GREAT work Gary.

[retroaviation]

And I go through a pair of gloves every month or two. These are just about 5 weeks old.......



Gary

[Tim Landers]

Maybe we should start a "glove fund"

[marine air]

Hey Gary,
I don't know if this will help, but there seems to be some commonality between the sliding doors on the rear gunners position of the B-24A, the sliding doors of the bombay on the B-24's and the small sliding door on the front of the nose of the PBY.
Someone at COnsolidated really loved that design. Maybe if you could get some drawings or photos of the PBY door and it's tracks, it might be similar to how they made that on the B-24A. (Both aircraft being limited production pre-war types)
Your work looks great so far.

[retroaviation]

Hey Gary,
I don't know if this will help, but there seems to be some commonality between the sliding doors on the rear gunners position of the B-24A, the sliding doors of the bombay on the B-24's and the small sliding door on the front of the nose of the PBY.
Someone at COnsolidated really loved that design. Maybe if you could get some drawings or photos of the PBY door and it's tracks, it might be similar to how they made that on the B-24A. (Both aircraft being limited production pre-war types)
Your work looks great so far.

Thanks for the tip on the doors. I'll just mosey on out to my back yard when I leave work in a few minutes and see if the one on the PBY is the same design.

Gary

[bomberflight]

So, have I answered your original question yet that started this whole thread?

Gary ~ I'd have to say a big resounding YES !!!!!

Peter

[smclinton]

Gary, thanks for the play-by-play on the control surface fix, I was curious of how you would go about repatching it. My work gloves are beginning to look a little rough from the work we have done on Lil's control surfaces out at the EAA Chapter 123 clubhouse. Gary, I just want to say that what you are able to accomplish mostly on your own with this project is absolutely inspiring. I have about 18 hours, our President (my Dad) has over 40 hours, and several other members have pitched in few more hours on this project, and it has been a lot of work, but a whole lot more fun. I am honored that we are getting to contribute to such a significant bird and more importantly, helping an A+++ guy. Thanks to the WIX and all the WIXers out there for supporting Gary and motivating me to get involved in this project.

[Dan K]

Michael, it's great that the EAA involvement is working out.

Maybe this increased interest suggests that Chapter 123 is about ready for a Warbirds of America squadron.

[Alan Brooks]

Gary, any better luck with finding a PAINT stripper that works? New clues on the sliding door and roller combo from the PBY? I also want to thank the Clinton's and EAA Chapter 123 for all they do. In addition to recovering the control surfaces, over the last few years, EAA Chapter 123 provides the judges and judging for the all aircraft attending Airsho'. I know "Old Shep" has appreciated their participation a great deal..... glad to see this continueing beyond Airsho'. Alan

[retroaviation]

Gary, any better luck with finding a PAINT stripper that works? New clues on the sliding door and roller combo from the PBY? I also want to thank the Clinton's and EAA Chapter 123 for all they do. In addition to recovering the control surfaces, over the last few years, EAA Chapter 123 provides the judges and judging for the all aircraft attending Airsho'. I know "Old Shep" has appreciated their participation a great deal..... glad to see this continueing beyond Airsho'. Alan

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with the paint stripper issue. We're going to send back the barrels that we bought, due to the little "mishap" that occurred while you were here, Alan, and due to the fact that it took 14 hours to strip most of the paint off of one single part. And like I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm simply running out of time for the paint stripping process for the major portion of the airplane to go as planned this winter. I'll probably just start a "scuff and paint" project very soon. Stay tuned.

And Mark's PBY that I'm storing right now had no doors whatsoever that slid on the style of track that I'm dealing with. As a matter of fact, the only sliding door on this particular PBY is the hatch above the co-pilot's head, and it has no rollers. The metal frame on it just slides in a groove. So the PBY wasn't any help to me there. It was worth a shot though.

There is no doubt that the EAA crew has been a wonderful help to us. There have also been other volunteers that come in and work a few hours at a time that help tremendously. We've had several different folks working on prepping the cockpit for painting over the last month and I just shot paint on it yesterday morning. So now, they can put it all back together.

Gary

[Bruce]

There is a new stripper recently available in the UK.

The Brand name is Ardrox 2814. It is bright pink, and much less 'nasty' than the usual suspects when it comes to stripping paint. You can be splashed with it, and it will wipe off without burning.

It isnt quite as fast as some, but if sprayed on, and left for up to eight hours (or overnight), it will take the paint right off to bare metal. No reapplication necessary as the paint eats through the layers!

Apaprt from the issue with cleaning the airframe afterwards, it may well be quicker to use this than just scuff the aircraft, albeit that you will need to reprime.

Dont know if its available in the US, but something similar will be!


Bruce

[retroaviation]

Thanks Bruce. I'll look into it.

Gary