B-17 Flying Fortress/44-83735 ~ the Duxford resto thread

[Fouga23]

I'm a bit nervous about showing you the next shot ~ because the condition of the air intakes is less than perfect ......

You should see the ones on Sally B! These look almost new compared.

[CrewDawg]

Peter,
No reason to be afraid, those look pristine compared to the ones on most flying B-17's!! The issue is that they are made out of aluminum and they have many complex curves and bends, so they are extremely difficult to make new ones. Some B-17's have fiberglass replacements, typically those that don't have operational turbos anymore. Chuckie's have been repaired many times over.

[The Inspector]

Ain't that why Lincoln makes TIG welders? Weld it up, passivate it, reheat treat it and should be good to go for ever.

[CrewDawg]

That's the problem with Chuckie's scoops, they've been welded several times. The large area washers chafe through, they're repaired and repeat. After a few times, it's hard to keep repairing the repairs.

[bomberflight]

Ahhhh ~ thanks Bill !

I love the fact that every day is a school day and there's so much to learn

[bomberflight]

Update time from the Conservation Hangar at Duxford

Let's pick up where we left off last time ~ cleaning the horizontal stabilizer .....



There's corrosion lurking in the lower stringers



With the stabilizer flipped over and the stringers can come off for thorough treatment and several quarts of elbow grease



Meanwhile in other corners of Hangar 5 .....

There's some chin turret TLC going on







Undercarriage components are being cleaned and repainted





Smaller parts are not being neglected either



The stress crack in this air intake awaits its turn for treatment



The lift raft hatches are ready to go back on the fuselage .....



let's stroll over there and take a look at progress now that corrosion treatment in the upper decking is nearing completion









Oh good ~ another little door to open !



This one's for a fuel filler cap for when there's a ferry tank in the bomb bay



Did Boeing print instructions in French ? Hmm ~ it may not be part of the original fittings ~ but it is part of the history of this airplane



And finally for today ~ a couple of shots of final cleaning of the inner wing skins .....





Another update soon

[peter]

Another excellent update Sir thank you very much! Looks like there have been no major corrosion issues so far well done!

[CrewDawg]

Peter,
No the filler cap on the LH side forward of the life raft door is not standard B-17. My guess is that the IGN may have installed thier own tank in the bomb bay to give them more range and endurance. If you notice the patch of skin around the filler cap is newer than the surrounding skin.

I would kill to have that chin turret enclosure for Chuckie, American Aero put a fiberglass reproduction on Chuckie and while it looks ok, grey fiberglass just doesn't match the rest of the polished skin. If you guys want a little revenue stream, find someone that can make aluminum chin turret enclosures. Also, if by some miracle, your brake expander tubes don't leak, you might consider offering them in trade to one of the flying B-17's (Sally B obvious first choice). Brake expander tubes that don't leak are hard to come by.

Keep the great updates coming!!

[Fouga23]

The filler cap is a French one as used on many early French jets. I know the Fouga has the exact ones.

[ZRX61]

If you guys want a little revenue stream, find someone that can make aluminum chin turret enclosures.

I know a couple of tin bashers who can do that, both located in Los Angeles & can think of 2 or 3 others in California that could do it.

[CrewDawg]

I'm sure it's just a matter of money, and someone who is really good with an English wheel to make the domed bottom portion. The other issue is the limited market. I have no idea how many G's out there have a real turret enclosure and how many have a fiberglass replacement...but I could probably find out.

[the330thbg]

Is this little 'doohickey' still in there somewhere?

Attachments

[RAMC181]

She has the usual "washing line" antenna that I'd coloured red in the first image (see upthread for a pic of the damaged aft support post), but doesn't have the rigid "towel rail" antenna from the other two.

We are unsure whether or not the original B-17G-35-BO 42-31983 "Mary Alice" had the rigid antenna as yet, mainly due to a lack of photo evidence from this area of the aircraft.

Hope that helps,
PB

[ZRX61]

I'm sure it's just a matter of money, and someone who is really good with an English wheel to make the domed bottom portion.

There's another way...Flow forming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6c3_DMXjQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUNrxB7Vypk

[The Inspector]

That's very cool and lots easier and quiteter than bashing around with a big old mallet!!