Douglas A-26B Invader - Project Visit - June 2024
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- OK, Gang, here’s a recent update on the Douglas A-26B with Tucker Yamada out at the Chino Airport in California. I had the airplane paint stripped because I was unhappy with a few issues, so my main focus was to decide on a final external finish and check up on any progress. Tucker provides a lot of great information here, so grab yourself a beverage, sit back, and enjoy!
Kermit Weeks
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe with link above for notification of future Kermit Weeks videos.
Follow Kermit on Facebook...
/ kermitweeks
Watch all the other Kermit Weeks videos and Kermie Cam's here...
/ kermitweeks444
--------------------------------------------------------------------
We welcome and appreciate the comments of our viewers. Voice your opinion freely and have fun, but please keep the comments civil. We won't allow name calling, bullying or foul language.
Thanks for watching and supporting our channel.
Kermit Weeks
I have a ton of respect for Kermit and what he has committed his life and family fortune to doing. Really without his commitment to this hobby, so many examples would be lost. However, wow...what a time consuming money pit this hobby is. I'd love to see a video where Kermit just talks about the number of restorations he has going across the globe and their progress.
Having just seen the before and now seeing the after, there is no way you could paint that body! Well done Kermit for going with the acid etch, it looks like the models I used to make in the sixties. I always went for the natural look. By the time Tucker gets everything done she will be gorgeous. Thanks for your foresight. From UK.
I love patina, its like us older guys, a lived life !
As a truck driver for 40 years we used to polish our aluminum wheels with MOTHER'S polish to make them look like chrome wheels.
I like it in natural aluminum instead of the silver paint.
We all do. Harder to maintain, though.
Thanks for showing us the 26 aircraft again.
Hopefully you soon can have it ready to go.
Please show us the progress.
Thanks Kermit.
Retired Air Force veteran.
Jeez, how do you keep track of all the decisions you take, instructions you gave? And that’s just one of a zillion projects you are running simultaneously. You have all my respect for not drowning in that mountain of data and information… this is a project managers worst nightmare… unless you have a system…
So is this the same plane that you flew a few months ago ?? i thought it was mostly done ?? Now its down again for major inspections and extensive oil leaks ? If so why was this not addressed previous to now ?
Kudos to you Kermit and your maintenance guys and subcontractors, you folks that fix stuff are preserving history
Has the best mechanic on the job.
Amazing work Kermit.
acid etch the whole thing and then paint it. For the aluminum look match some silver paint, dull finish if desired. They can match paint pretty well. I pity anyone who has to polish that stuff. Black mess everywhere. I've got a polished aluminum spinner on my plane and dread even polishing that.
She's a beauty Kermit! Thanks for sharing!
@KermitWeeks444 this is the same a26b that i remembered seeing when you used to be at Tamiami airport? Omg i always wondered whatever happened to this bird. I thought it was totally lost to damage after andrew.
When you have it painted, please don’t put invasion stripes. IMO they are so overdone. Most stripes on modern restored aircraft are too neat. When the original ones were done they were slapped on the night before and done as quickly as possible. If you do decide to put them on, please check out original photos and do it like they did back in the day. Check out the scene in “Band of Brothers “ episode where they’re loading before the invasion. The C-47’s have stripes that look like they were put on with a broom.
Some invasion stripes were put on with mops.
Was the A-26B in theatre in Europe in June of ‘44?
Yes, omitting invasion stripes would be nice indeed.
Yes I absolutely agree!
Is not going to be painted, is going to have a silver look.
Thanks for another great insight into the world of vintage aircraft restoration.
I remember going up to Oklahoma City in 1999 to Federal Exams and across the street (Wiley Post Airport) there was a small airport and sitting outside of one of the hangars was one of the A-26’s that had been converted for the Vietnam War. I used to just stare at it and admire its warplane beauty. Now I want to go to the Air and Space Museum to see the B-26 “Flack Bait” now that she’s all put together. She was at the downtown museum as only the forward fuselage on display.
' I've worked on some tail before, took me a lot longer than 3 weeks' Legend 🙂 Keep up the good work sir. Inspiring as always.
I could listen to Tucker all day long. Shes getting there slowly but surely. And going to be stunning 🤙
Man what an absolutely stunning project to get to do. Tucker seems extremely knowledgeable for such a young man. So great to see his generation loving these planes! Awesome as usual Kermit
YOU and I are about the same age- you July 14, 1953
Me - Sept 03, 1952
You are amazingly active, like a 50 year old !
Your projects are MIND BOGGLING in detail
70 is the new 50, but 9:30 is the new midnight. 🙂
@@LightAndSportyGuy I think so but I have always been a night person, get up at noon and go to bed at 0100
Got offered a nice mechanic job starting at 0600 but had to refuse it, NO WAY I am getting up at 0500 , not going to happen
I can remember when I was 55, funny thing I don't feel any different today at 71, how time flies
Got married the 2nd time at 55, is 15 years later, seems like yesterday !
Acid etch all the way.
I have something I want you to have. My great uncle was tasked to go behind the lines and disable aircraft. He was an aircraft mechanic during WWII. My dad hung on to his souvenir and past it on to me as I'm in aviation. I was told it is a prop gov. from an ME. aircraft.
Great! Contact pzizza@fantasyofflight.com
I’m 70 now, will I live to see this aircraft ever be fully restored, I have my doubts considering how long this restoration has taken so far, unbelievable 😮
Back in the day before Kermit owned it this came to our airshows a chino. It was a stone stock A-26 that was never a fire bomber or converted to an executive transport. Would love to see it finished.
WW-II Radio History
I wish there was one aviation Museum that would take it upon themselves to restore World War II communications equipment to operational status, Kermit, perhaps with the help of local amateur radio group “HAM” you could designate an area to show working World War II avionics. Following the example of some maritime museums, allow licensed amateur radio operators to contact fellow hams and promote your facilities.
Beautiful airplane. I wonder why it was such a leap in performance--though your early Marauder might have somethig to say about that.
Fantastic video Kermit! 😁🤙🏼
she is a beauty indeed! cant wait to see her in her final form!
Nothing beats the polish look. FYI, there is an amazing ceramic coating called John’s 360 that you can put on the mirror polish that will keep that look without the major continuous polishing. Check out what the Mid American Flight a museum has done with it. ITS A GAME CHANGER.
23:48 But new plexiglass can be easily cut for it. Shouldn't be hard
Great overview. A-26 is a great aircraft to fly if you can keep the engines airworthy. Who overhauls the 2800's these days?
If your going to keep the dents and patches the you should also just use zinc chromate to do touch ups and maybe some color matching pouch up paint put on by acid or small paint brushes, a real looking outside should also have a real looking inside ! Factory new vs restored vs as flown ! I like the as flown myself !
Amazing attention to detail. Very surprised that all that gear is still around after all these years.
That’s one of my Favorite WW2 Airplane! Make it Perfect! Nice 👍
"That was always my dating MO", seems fitting 😉👍
its like your out talking with one of your kids kermit haha sure this guy isnt one of yours ?
That's a honey of an aeroplane!
Acid etched aluminum looks so nice and polished aluminum is a lot of up keep. That A-26 will be gorgeous acid etched....all natural
are you going to polish it out for the shiny look or go for dark blue? tough choice my vote 🗳️ dark blue??
I didn't know the history of the plane but I was impressed plus all the equipment they have been able to find for it. Good Job it will be Awesome
I like that natural weathered aluminum look, one thing I do know is, that you can’t rush perfection.
If I may…. I looked at an A-26 a while ago that was available via auction. When and where did you purchase it? I am curious if it is the same one as there are many similarities.
Hes had this plane over 30 years.
Not this one. It is mine and has been in restoration since being crushed at the Weeks Air Museum during Hurricane Andrew over 30 years ago.
That's going to look Great 👍
Can't believe it was up flying and now it's not flyable again. Sounds like the A-26 is a maintenance nightmare
To my very limited understanding, they can still “fly” them under certain circumstances, within certain conditions with special permits. But when they are “airworthy” they can be flown unrestricted.
Awesome and educational. This stuff is gold.
love that RB-51 shirt!
My uncle died in one of those in 1946 after the war. They flew into a thunderstorm that they were not warned about. Crashed near Wink Texas.
Sorry for your loss.
Very cool 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Great video!
hello to you. I wonder if you know of a good example of a Convair C-131 or a CV 440 metropolitan for sale. Sincerely, Gjert-olav Helland Greåkerveien 2 1718 Greåker Norway
Always interesting!!
This was just wonderful, start to finish, word for word. So appreciated! Thank you!
A fine looking airplane.
One of the most beautiful aircraft ever designed.
All natural!!!!
Nice
My dad flew in these late in WW2, training to be a radar pathfinder over Japan. The Bomb ended the war and his orders to the Pacific were cancelled, so he ended up the war in Lake Charles, LA and never left the USA.
👍
Great looking machine 😎👍.
So... another 3-5 years before it flies again?
🛫
Reflective polished might be a bit too sun bright in Florida, reflecting the sun too much. Or just remember to have your sunglasses with you at all times.
That's why the upper nose and insides on the engine naselles and cowlings are painted in a mat drab or black
@@scotttait2197 Yeah but you'll be blinded walking up to it. 😁
Basically…. Oh my gaard…
Etch looks like crap
Amazing restoration! 👍❤, I’d take over a Tesla Truck with 8’ bed? I’m sending my love and don’t buy the Tesla terms! 🫡💪❤️, I wish we can Airshows again In California, I’m from Oakland and yeah I’m still respectfully a good friend of the family that built ships and subs in the Bay, My Grandmother worked at the Shipyards in Richmond,Ca., Roses and the Rivets! It Plural with Mothers of Sons in the War of W2! I’m respectful of your Good and Thank You! 🫡💪🇺🇸❤️👍