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This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
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Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Tue Aug 12, 2014 4:35 pm

and so for the first time in 68 years (give or take a couple) the Rear and the Forward Fuselage are alligned

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Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Tue Aug 12, 2014 7:22 pm

Awesome!

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Mon Aug 18, 2014 8:37 am

Fantastic. Amazing that the airworthy B-17 population will be growing soon.


Chappie

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Mon Aug 18, 2014 3:02 pm

She is rapidly outgrowing her present home.. great job!!

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Wed Aug 27, 2014 10:42 am

There's a nice 8-page article on this airplane and its restoration in the new issue of Air Classics (just got it in the mail). Lots of good pictures too.

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Sat Nov 22, 2014 8:43 pm

hi everyone sorry for the extreme delay in posting anything. (getting married will do that hehe) was out at the shop today and a lot has been going on! We are removing the last remnants of the XC-108 conversion from the radio room along with working on the bomb bay and the front entry hatch. Also we have removed the lower forward fairings from the radio room area as well and have started the rehab process on them as well. The rudder has been fabric covered and is going into storage for the time being. Here are some photos.

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cockpit entry door (this will give you an idea of what size the doorways should be)

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radio room door frame removed to restore to proper width

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right forward lower fairing removed and prepping for repair

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forward entry hatch repaired and replaced (it swings great!)

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hatch itself

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xc-108 floor being removed

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rudder re-frabriced and sealed

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both name's temporarily clecoed onto the plane's nose for a tour group. That was the location they were originally and Tangerine was first followed by Desert Rat. Though Tangerine was found much more recently

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:46 pm

Thanks, Jim! I'd been wondering where the names were on the nose. Right side only?

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Thu Dec 04, 2014 7:09 pm

As far as we know they were only on the right side. there has been some sanding done on the right side but no yellow lettering has appeared.

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Thu Dec 04, 2014 8:45 pm

To avoid any confusion between names, you could just paint it as "Memphis Belle" :D

O.K., just so no internet confusion arises from this comment, IT IS JUST A LITTLE JOKE. :axe:

(No B-17's have been harmed in the making of this joke.)

Love the updates Jim.
Thanks.

Andy

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Thu Dec 11, 2014 7:51 pm

haha Andy i'll be sure to pass that onto Mike :wink: I will say though that years ago before the Desert Rat name was found there was serious talk amongst Mike and the group at the time of naming it Black Jack after a Pacific theater E model. Thankfully the names were found though. Just one more little bit of uniqueness for this rare bird

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Fri Dec 26, 2014 10:12 am

DH82EH wrote:To avoid any confusion between names, you could just paint it as "Memphis Belle" :D

O.K., just so no internet confusion arises from this comment, IT IS JUST A LITTLE JOKE. :axe:

(No B-17's have been harmed in the making of this joke.)

Love the updates Jim.
Thanks.

Andy


To reduce further confusion I say they name her "HELLS ANGELS" :)

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Fri Dec 26, 2014 7:07 pm

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Sat Feb 21, 2015 12:17 pm

Hi everyone. Time for some more updates!

Work has been moving steadily on the radio room floor/camera bay rebuild and with removal of parts from the wing and nacelles.

here are some photos.

seat mount for left side of radio room
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two seat mounts for right side of radio room
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camera bay rebuild in progress (ours was removed and faired over for the cargo floor)
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radio room floor channel fitted (shiny metal part near top of photo)
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original parts left from camera bay
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writing found on fuselage inside the left wing root fairing
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parts removed recently from right wing
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oil separator from engine nacelle 3 still with oil inside from 1945!
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Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Tue Feb 24, 2015 2:28 pm

actually the reefer cars are down the road! (we are pretty close to the Illinois Railway Museum)

I got a photo from Mke and Chris today The center truss aka bomb bay walkway was removed today for repair and replacement. Here is a photo of it out of its natural element.
the greenish color that you see in the photo is original paint from 1941. Gives you an idea of what the elusive "Bronze Green" color actually is. Most of the assembly is usable but the spar tube needs replacement as does some of the sheet metal and angle iron.

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Re: Official Build Thread for B-17E 41-2595 Desert Rat/Tange

Wed Feb 25, 2015 6:49 pm

I also immediately thought of Ray Moore.
He posted photos of five ship sets of this exact section. Nice work too.

Really appreciate the updates. Please give my best to the whole crew.
You folks are doing some amazing work on this monumental project.

The Rat will be one special Flying Fortress :drink3:

Andy
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