Proposed Shedule Is Out To The Team

The proposed schedule for consideration and discussion has been emailed to the team.

FIRST...

Nose gear:
Gather Parts and reassemble
(Do this near the H-21. It's very heavy when assembled)

NEXT...
Forward Fuselage...

Untarp

Roll on the pilot's side
(as we get closer to reattaching the nose gear)

Move 5' north and then turn in a general line up for reassembly.

Attach nose gear

NEXT...
Rear Fuselage
Set Up Of The Rear Fuselage Is Key To The Reassembly.

Remove tail cone
(one person side project that is best done before the raising the tail)

Tarp rear tail cone area
(side project that can be done before the raising of the tail. This will be sticking in the air the highest and will not be worked on in the near future. Should look as good as possible...)

Move into reassembly position
(I've put it where is is with jacks, a come along, 4x4's and plastic slides. The reverse will be just as easy.)

Raise tail to reassembly configuration and tie down.
(Do this last as the back end of the tail will stay in place or we may have to push it straight back a little and it is easier to work with close to the ground. )

Next...

Re-connection
Build forward fuselage cradles to match the tail position as close as possible

Stand up forward fuselage

Slide into position 

Tie down until the day of attachment.

Reassemble

Tie Down

NEXT?

2016 Team Reassembly of 51-15892

With the great weather we had a team get together at the H-21.

A lot of discussion, ideas and considerations.  It is agreed that we will:

Raise the tail to flight configuration.
Reassemble the nose gear and install on the airframe.
Position and rejoin the two halves.

We now have a realistic plan and know what we are going to do.

I'll make notes on how to do it and it looks like we can start in mid April.

Can You Donate Parts, Tools & Equipment To Me?

Some projects ask for money.  I'm not going to do that because I'm not set up for that yet.

But I need parts, tools and equipment.  Any donations in this area are welcome and do become the property of the Quonset Air Museum.

Listed below are sections of the aircraft that are completely missing.  If you have any of these please send them along.

At this point I would also like to request Clecos and related tools.  I'll gladly use anything you have.  

Just contact me at scc158@gmail.com and we can talk about  this.

Cockpit Overhead Panel

As you may remember my brother is building the 1/48 scale FM H-21 kit.  As he went through the cockpit parts he noticed the kit does not contain the Overhead Panel.

He is going to scratch build it and add it to the model.  If anyone is interested in how he does it please let me know and we will send details on the scratch build.

I have decided to make this one of the indoor projects* this year.  It will fit in the indoor workroom so it's an all weather effort.

51-15892's Overhead Panel

The Overhead Panel as shown in the Illustrated Parts Breakdown

*Outdoor is something that won't fit in the garage or workroom.  For indoor work, only the workroom is heated.  The Mrs. has not given up the dining room, yet...

The Central Transmission

The process to account for every part is underway.

I have already listed the DASH4 sections that I know are completely missing.

Figure 26 (of the DASH4) is the Nose Alighting Gear and will be done first as part of the Nose Alighting Gear restoration and attachment to the fuselage.

Next will be identifying the loose parts some of which is already done.

Warm weather will be needed to do this so I will continue to digitize the DASH4 figures and re-organize my H-21/892 images by the DASH4 figures.

2015 The Year of Bad Health

No progress was made in 2015 due to general heath changes (got better).  Despite laser treatments and two surgeries I lost the use of my left eye. It stinks but I have yet to find something limiting about it.  So, Let's Get On With It!!!

Hands on work will resume on the Auxiliary Alighting Gear (aka the nose gear) when things warm back up in the spring.

Before then I am re-organizing my records for better use as a resource for my project and other H-21 inquires.

I also realize how limited my records are on the international users of the H-21.  Research!


I am here as an H-21 resource.  Send me an email (scc158@gmail.com) and if I can help I will.

2015 Outdoor Session Goals

So Much Has Already Been Done Since This Photo Was Taken

The hands on outdoor work has begun.

The goals for this fair weather session are...

1. Finish the Nose Alighting Gear.
2. Install the Nose Alighting Gear.
3. Reassemble the Fuselage Halves.

I now have a stable schedule I can follow and with a little help from my friends (crew) we will get this done.

Historic Preservation Terminology, TIGHAR's

The TIGHAR Guide to 

Aviation Historic Preservation Terminology

http://tighar.org/Projects/Histpres/guide.html

After reviewing several sites on terminology I have adopted TIGHAR's for the project.  I have one slight difference with one word they use, FABRIC.

Where I see the word "fabric" I use the word "material."

We are 2 days into the hands on season.  Work is being done on a small scale for now.  The late Spring still has us finishing infrastructure projects.

Damaged & Vandalized

Backhoe Damage  - Can You Tell Where It Is On The Aircraft?

Dumped in a quary in MA it had rough treatment.

How To...

51-15892 Forward - Top

I would like to make a blog of restoration processes.  It seems each organization keeps their processes and procedures to themselves.

While there is logic to this I think, for myself and others, that a resource on How To Do It would be good for everyone.

How should we recondition or repair...
Plexiglas
Steel
Brass
Aluminum
Mag Alloy
Base Metals
Rubber
Fiberglass
Wiring
Glass

Paperwork

Lets keep it simple... Most people dislike paperwork.  I will handle all the paperwork so your time can be invested on the project.

H-21 Partial Manuals List

QAM had no manuals when I started the project.  Over time I have purchased or collected several manuals and have digitized many.

Partial List...

Notations:

(1)  Original

(2)  Copy

(3)  Available on CD-ROM  (Mostly in PDF Format)

(4)  Incomplete

(Unless Noted as Incomplete the manauls are consdered complete but this is not guaranteed)

H-21 FAMILIARIZATION MANUAL, SM-365A, August 1959, (1), (3)  (Vertol Publication)

Gift of the American Helicopter Museum and Education Center via Larry Barret

H-21 ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN, TM 1-1H-21(Y)-4, July 1957 (2 Originals, 1-Army, 1-Air Force) (1), (3)

Purchased from ebay

H-21 MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS WIRING DATA AND DIAGRAMS, 

TM 1-1H-21-2-9, November 1957 (2 Originals) (1), (3), (4)

Purchased from ebay

H-21 ROTOR BLADE SETS, T.O 1HA1-2-2-63, July 1959 (3 Originals) 

(1), (3)

Purchased from ebay

H-21 MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM,

TM 1-1H-21-2-8, May 1958, (1), (3), (4)

Purchased from ebay 

H-21 BUILD UP INSTRUCTIONS, AIRCRAFT POWER PACKAGE, TM 1-1H-21(Y) 10, January 1958, (1), (3), (4)

Purcahsed From ebay

H-21 ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN ROTOR TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY, 

TM 1-1HA2-2-3-14, May 1958, (1), (3)

Purchased From ebay

H-21 HANDBOOK MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS, T.O. 1H-21(Y)-2, February 1957

(1), (3), (4)

Purchased from ebay

H-21 FLIGHT HANDBOOK, TM 1-1H-21B-1, November 1957, (1), (3), (4)

HANDBOOK OVERHAUL INSRUCTIONS R-1820-103 AIRCRAFT ENGINE, May 1957, (1), (3)

Purchased from ebay

ILLUSTRATED PARTS BREAKDOWN R-1820-103 AIRCRAFT ENGINE, April 1957, (1), (3)

Purchased from ebay

YH-21 PRELIMINARY FLIGHT HANDBOOK, AN 01-250HDA-1, March 1953, (3)

Purchased from ebay

H-21 HANDBOOK MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS, GROUND HANDLING, SERVICING, LUBRICATION AND AIRFRAME INSTRUCTIONS, T.O. 1-H-21-2-2, August 1958, (1), (3)

Purchased from the Pima County Air and Space Museum

H-21 HANDBOOK MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS POWERPLANT AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS, T.O. 1-H21-2-4, November 1958, (1), (3)

Purchased from the Pima County Air and Space Museum

H-21 HANDBOOK MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ROTOR AND FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, T.O. 1-1H-21-2-5, September 1958, (1), (3)

Purchased from the Pima County Air and Space Museum

H-21 HANDBOOK MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS,

T.O. 1-H-21-2-7, September 1958, (1), (3)

Purchased from the Pima County Air and Space Museum

(Unless Noted as Incomplete the manuals are considered complete but this is not guaranteed)

We Are Getting Stuff Done!

While in storage at QAM, before the start of the project, the Auxiliary Alighting Gear (Nose Gear) snapped off.

The damage to the main strut has been repaired and work continues on the the assembly.

We plan on having the forward section of fuselage on it's gear by the middle of this season.

When we went to store the Main Alighting Gear we decided it would be best just put them back on the aft section of the fuselage.  Using only hand tools we put the gear back on the right side of the fuselage, stood the aft section back upright and installed the left gear.

It will be a busy restoration season this year.  Come join us even if you just want to watch.

Can You Help By Building This?

If you can build something like this we really need you.

To view this full size just right click on the image, <save image as> then view the saved file in a pic viewer.

Donald Leon Braman, KIA, January 2, 1963 - South Viet Nam

Specialist 4 Donald Leon Braman was born 1 August 1941 in Mystic, Conn and died 2 January 1963 while serving as a gunner on an CH-21 with the 93rd Transportation Company.

SP4 Donald Leon Braman of Mystic, Conn.

 On 2 January 1963, the 93rd Trans Co was tasked for an air assault by troops of the ARVN, 7th Infantry Division.  All ten CH-21 helicopters were used in the lift.

   On the fourth lift, the landing zone near Ap Bac was ambushed by an entrenched and reinforced VC battalion.  The first 4 CH-21s were able to take off again. The #5 helicopter was shot down, and the #6 CH-21 attempted to pick up the crew of the downed CH-21, but was shot down itself.  The landing zone was judged untenable due to enemy fire, and the remainder of the flight departed for the staging area at Tan Hiep.

   An hour later, ground troops in the area reported that VC firing had subsided and evacuation of the downed crews was possible.

   A CH-21 was dispatched to recover the downed crews and wounded, but the tempo of enemy fire increased and the pilot was wounded. The copilot immediately lifted off, leaving all behind.

   Eight hours later, the downed aircrews were picked up by ARVN armored personnel carriers and moved to an area where they could be evacuated by helicopter.

   By day's end, nine Americans had been wounded and one killed in action.  Of the ten helicopters on the mission, all had been hit by enemy fire, four were shot down and only three could fly back to base.

    SP4 Braman, gunner in the #6 CH-21 was killed.  He received a posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions to recover the downed #5 aircrew.

   The 93rd Trans Co eventually became the 121st Assault Helicopter Company.

         

Information From:

http://www.transchool.lee.army.mil/museum/transportation%20museum/NAMDIARIES.htm

101 Days

2014 Work Schedule...

As this is an outdoor restoration work on the helicopter is limited.  This year, 2014, the "Hands On" period is from May 24th to September 1st or 101 days.

Since there are only 15 weekends I will do my best to make myself available everyday to any volunteers who wish to work. Leave me your contact information in a comment and I will get back to you.

I will be adding schedule notes as they come up...

May 1st to May 23rd will be the period for getting the restoration site ready.  The main weekend for that will be the 17th and 18th.

September 6th & 7th, End of season picnic and secure site for Winter.

Project 892 Is Back

Restoration Area

We are back.  We have had "interesting times" here but we just landed on our feet and I can again post to the blog.

2013 was an off year for the project.  There was no action on the aircraft itself although a lot of work was done in the office

I see many pages views have been done but no comments.  Please remember that any comment/request will be addressed.

For the modelers out there, we too are building the Italeri 1/72 and the FM 1/48 scale kits as part of the educational portion of the project.  Remember, the first H-21 documentation I had to work with were the directions from the Hobby Craft kit.

As for the FM 1/48 kit, my Brother (the professional museum quality molder builder in the family) said the Illustrated Parts Breakdown manual, and a 1:1 scale model in the backyard are not required but are very helpful.  If you are building an H-21 model we will be glad to share what we know,  If we don't know it already we will do the research and get back to you, as it may help us as well.

So, join us in the project.

Take Care!!!

COMMENTS PLEASE

If you have tales of the H-21 (Any Branch - Any Time Period) post a comment.  The more we hear from YOU the more accurate our work will be.

Thanks & Take Care!

H-21 - Markings

My Latest And Most Expensive Manual

Correct markings are very important to the finished project

Although we have very good photos of the markings on 892, we needed the markings manual

It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This

Detailed instructions are being compared to the markings on 892 to see if they match

This Gives Us A Point By Point Reference

So far all of the 892 markings match

Look At Number 9

This was the only marking that was too broken up to identify

Using the manual we finally saw what it said

We never would have guessed it

892 Parts Organization

Most Important Parts Control Manual - The Dash 4

The Dash 4 breaks down the entire aircraft to the nut & bolt level

It is best to use this as all of the part breakdown work is done

Also, by using this information you will be acting, using the same terminology, the way people did when the aircraft was in service

This Index Provides Clarity To A Large Aircraft

There are two far more detailed indexes but this one page summary covers the entire aircraft

Finally, The Figure (In This Case No. 5) And All Included Parts

With this you get to see where the part is on the helicopter, what the part looks like and all the components that make up a usable part

Fig. 5 is the Rainshield (This is missing, if you have one a donation of the part would be appreciated)

I used this example as all the information for this part is on one page

Most parts have one or two pages for the diagram and four to six pages for the parts listing 

All of the parts control can be done on paper, however, an MS Access or Open Office database is more project friendly