Dougl=
as
A-26 Preservation Progress Report – July 2008
Prepared by=
:
Fuselage
Cockpit
The cockpit area was the in the worst condition of all=
the
aircraft. The cockpit was completely stripped of important parts while it w=
as
at Rear cockpit area before starting work Rear area after removing components, plumbing and cables
Current state of preservation in rear cockpit area Bill
Stevens cleaning up a pile of tubing and parts Rear Fuselage The rear fuselage, aft of the gunner compartment, was
removed. The inside was relatively clean. The rear control surfaces (rudder and elevators) are
controlled through a control assembly. The assembly was removed from the
aircraft and completely broken down. All parts were cleaned, lubricated and=
the
unit was re-assembled. The external surfaces were painted with
corrosion-inhibiting paint. Two small Plexiglass windows located on either =
side
of the rear fuselage were broken. The windows were held in place with screw
into nut plates which were corroded and they had to be drilled out. The nut
plates were replaced and two new Plexiglass windows were re-installed. The
external sheet metal was wet-sanded to remove excessive oxides and then
polished. Next, the inside will be tackled where all the control cables pas=
s to
the rudder and elevator control assembly. The inside will be power-washed a=
nd
spray painted with corrosion-inhibiting paint. The formation light will nee=
d to
be replaced on the bottom of the rear fuselage. As with everything else, the
screws are corroded in place and will need to be drilled out and new nut pl=
ates
installed. The vertical stabilizer was removed and the internal a=
reas
cleaned of birds’ nests and debris left by small animals. <=
!--[if gte vml 1]> Birds’ =
nests
and Tom Palshaw and A corroded rib was found on the base of the tail, prob=
ably
the result of all the animal debris that fell on it. A template was made to
replicate the holes and strengthening ridges for the rib. The rib was
fabricated and re-riveted in place. Two of the hinge supports for the rudder
were extensively corroded. They were fabricated using a third hinge support
that was in good condition as a template. The pitot tube located on the top=
of
the vertical stabilizer was missing. A pitot tube was located and installed=
. A
hole on the top of the vertical stabilizer that held modern radio equipment=
was
covered with sheet metal. All the external surfaces of the vertical stabili=
zer
were wet-sanded to remove excessive oxides and then polished with weather
protecting waxes. The internal areas will be corrosion protected with AC-50
before re-assembly. The horizontal stabilizers were removed and the intern=
al
areas cleaned of birds’ nests and debris left by small animals. No
significant corrosion was found. All the external surfaces of the horizontal
stabilizers were wet-sanded to remove excessive oxides and then polished wi=
th
weather protecting waxes. The internal areas will be corrosion protected wi=
th
AC-50 before re-assembly. Nose Wheel Well Work was initiated in the nose wheel well. The rear bu=
lkhead
area where the hydraulic cylinders that raise and lower the bomb bay spoile=
rs
was cleaned of animal debris and surfaces were wet-sanded, corrosion inhibi=
ted
and painted black. Hydraulic tubing was removed, wire brushed and re-instal=
led.
Work continues in the wheel well. =
Rear bulkhead of nose wheel well area before removing components Gun Turret We have two upper GE Turret assemblies with ammo cans.=
Both
units are in very bad condition. We are using both units to try to re-assem=
ble
one good one. The units are heavily corroded and some of the ammo cans are
corroded out. The best turret was used as the starting point and it was
completely torn down. All the bearings and rollers were cleaned, lubricated=
and
re-installed. All the existing cabling was refurbished and re-installed. All
parts were cleaned, corrosion-inhibited and re-installed. Work is current
centered on the ammo cans. Instrument Panel The pilot’s instrument panel and the main electr=
ical
panel are in the process of being restored. We have all the instruments and
switches. The instruments were cleaned up and cosmetically repaired where
needed. We are purchasing or fabricating parts that are missing. Mark 33 Sighting Station The periscope sighting station was in fairly good cond=
ition
but still needed some work. The sighting station was restored. A mounting s=
tand
was fabricated and the sighting station will be put on floor display in the
military hanger. Bomb Bay Two of the bomb racks were disassembled and all parts =
were
cleaned, corrosion-inhibited and the racks were re-assembled. Four more rac=
ks
need work. The bomb bay doors hydraulic actuating system on the f=
orward
bulkhead was removed and all parts cleaned, corrosion-inhibited, painted wh=
ere
appropriate and re-installed at this time. Part=
ial preservation
on forward bomb bay door hydraulic system =
Completed forward bomb bay hydraulic system Wing Fillets The wing fillets provide streamlining between the wing=
and
fuselage. When we got the aircraft, they were loosely attached in some areas
but most areas were not attached. All the nut plates were corroded and had =
to
be drilled out. New nut plates were installed. The fillets will be put in
storage until the aircraft is ready for display. Right Engine =
Nacelle
New longerons were fabricated for the outboard side of=
the
right engine nacelle. They were installed and a new stress panel was fabric=
ated
and riveted in place. Some of the inboard longerons were also corroded, so =
they
were removed and new longerons installed. The stress panel was re-riveted. =
All
exposed metal, including the fuel tank well, were painted with
corrosion-inhibiting paint. The fuel tank, which was removed in order to do=
the
sheet metal work, was dropped back into the fuel tank well in the nacelle in
July and the connections will be made in the coming weeks.![](3D"Report6_files/image002.jpg")
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