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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

Sat Dec 24, 2016 10:01 pm

Hey Guys, Merry Christmas from the Desert Rat and her crew.

There have been some recent photos posted showing the completed Bulkhead 6, and the ongoing restore of the camera bay. I haven't been following the Rat build as close as I used to since I got a new job 2 years ago, not enough time to spend there, but I will see if I can get an update on everything before the year is out.

Work is still progressing at a steady pace, an oven was built to heat treat small parts, and hopefully soon the two fuse halves will be joined as one. It will be done on a Thursday as promised.

Image

Image

Image

https://www.facebook.com/12595DesertRat/?ref=bookmarks

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

Sun Dec 25, 2016 2:41 pm

Wow, great work! Thanks for the update and Merry X Mas!

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

Sun Dec 25, 2016 6:55 pm

Wendover Tom have you been in contact with the Vintage Aviation Museum?

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

Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:18 pm

warbirdcrazy wrote:Wendover Tom have you been in contact with the Vintage Aviation Museum?


I have not - but they are just up at the Bountiful Skypark which is fairly accessible so I will be in touch and maybe we can help out!

Tom P.

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

Thu Oct 25, 2018 9:10 pm

Any updates?

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

Fri Oct 26, 2018 12:14 am

PeteM wrote:Any updates?


Most of the updates now a days can be seen on the B-17E Desert Rat Project Facebook page, and the Vintage Aviation Museum Page (https://www.facebook.com/12595DesertRat), sad no one has updated this page in awhile but i can give updates on some of the stuff we are doing currently, and will be in the future. As of right now we are continuing with the Nose section which has been our big focus this year, we hope to have it done at least structurally by the end of the year. Our winter project will be the Tail gunners position and the recently acquired Top turret.

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

Mon Dec 17, 2018 8:51 pm

I have to ask as I've always been curious, did you guys receive the cargo door or its frame with the project? Any chance we could see some pictures of it?

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

Wed Dec 19, 2018 10:01 am

Thanks for the updates, the Facebook page is actually quite slow and I guess that you guys spend more time working on that beautiful beast more than writing stuff on social networks.

Anyways, thanks for that thread, I've spent the last hour just reading it like I'd read a great novel. I don't see myself coming to an event involving Desert Rat any time soon because I'm an ocean and a continent away from Illinois or Salt Lake City, but it's heartwarming to see the old girl slowly coming back to life online.

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

Sat Jan 26, 2019 7:46 pm

I spotted this update on youtube.
It's from April of 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM38p2q-srQ

Andy

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

Sun Aug 11, 2019 5:30 pm

The tail turret has been installed.
Attachments
rat tail installed.jpg
rat tail installed.jpg (8.05 KiB) Viewed 12743 times

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

Mon Dec 16, 2019 12:41 pm

The restoration team has been working on the wings. These are the wing attachment channels.
Attachments
Webp.net-resizeimage (1).jpg
Webp.net-resizeimage (2).jpg
Webp.net-resizeimage (3).jpg

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

Tue Dec 17, 2019 9:48 am

warbirdcrazy wrote:The restoration team has been working on the wings. These are the wing attachment channels.


Nice work! Looks like there is some original material in this piece

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

Thu Apr 30, 2020 5:46 pm

The restoration team has also been working on the bomb bay doors, and recently they test fitted one of them.
Attachments
Rat bomb bay door 2.jpg

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

Wed May 13, 2020 2:48 pm

Looks good!

Tom P

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

Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:44 pm

Restoration update.

http://warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restora ... QDvr_CKca0
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