Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids Display *Updated*

[EL1998P71]

I don't recall if this was said or not. But, For Jan 2010 thru July 2010 the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan is putting on a Cold War Exhibit. Part of this display will be Civil Defense Items, including a Thunderbolt head.
The museum originally asked Eric Green about one, but he was nice enough to point them in my direction. (thanks Eric)
Anyway, I've been redoing the head for the last few months.
This is not a full redo. The rotator is locked, gearbox and rotator motor are removed, and chopper motor is not there either.
They have the pipe mount, so they can fab up a mount for it.
And here are the pic's(I didn't take alot of pic's or the repainting, just the reassembly).
This head has some flaws, but it's come along nicely.

[SirenMadness]

Wow, it's comming along really nicely!

[Jpressman8]

Looks really good.

[ginbot86]

Looks great! Say, what flaws are you talking about?

[holler]

Oooh, that's purdy.

I had almost forgotten about mine thanks to all these ACA's that keep winding up in my shop.

[EL1998P71]

Looks great! Say, what flaws are you talking about?

The rotator cabinet on one side has alot of dents and wrinkles in the metal.
when displayed this side will be towards the wall.

[tachi88]

Nice!

That's a 1003 isn't it?

[SouthDakotaBoy2009]

That's a 1003 isn't it?

[/code]

Basicly it appears to just an empty shell of a Thunderbolt if I read the undertand the description right.

With no internal mechanics in it, it could be either a 1000/1000T or if he would like a 1003.
We'll just have to wait & see

[SirenMadness]

It looks as if it was a 1003 before, looking at the little cutouts in the cap underneath the motor-housing, where the wires to the solenoids would have went out of. I'm not a hundred percent sure, though, on how it was configured when he got it.

[Trey]

I can tell that it was a 1003 just by the "height" of the box. 1003 rotator boxes were bigger than standard 1000s/1000Ts.

No matter what model it was, that is one awesome paint job!