B-17E 41-2595 "Desert Rat"

[APG85]

Whats the current status of this project?

[DryMartini]

One of these days I'll find time to post pictures somewhere.

We've completed the re-skinning of the waist fuselage,
from BLK 6 to BLK 7. We've been working on getting
the nose reattached, which necessitated replacing about
50% of BLK 3's framing. Ribs have been made and fitted
beneath the cockpit. We just received our square aluminum
tube which will be used to replace a split and corroded
tube in the bombay catwalk - which is the last hurdle to
actually hanging the nose, since the nose keel bolts into
the end of that tube.

Goals for 2007 are to repair the catwalk, get the nose
hung and reskinned, getting BLK 7 fitted, finishing the
waist gun mounts, and working our way back to BLK 11.
Fitting out the tail gun enclosure may be a goal for 2008.

[Connery]

I don't remember, is this going to be a flyer or static?

[DryMartini]

Goal is factory fresh, as it rolled out of the
plant on Feb 14, 1942, and fully flyable.

[Former Member]

Keep up the good work Bill...you guys are doing an excellent job! My goal for 2007 is to try and find time in my schedule to cruise down there an check out your operation.

John

[chico]

Goal is factory fresh, as it rolled out of the
plant on Feb 14, 1942, and fully flyable.

Where is the restoration work being done?

[cmm]

The restoration is being done in Marengo, Illinois.

[retroaviation]

Any chance of putting semi-daily or semi-weekly updates up on WIX, similar to what I've gotten so involved with on the B-24A? I'd personally love to see the progress on your airplane as y'all work on it.

Gary

[DryMartini]

Gary,

That was the goal of my web page
www.B-17FlyingFortress.info
but after over a year, I *still*
have not had any time to devote
to the site. Been too busy trying
to make or get B-17 parts made, I guess.


It was a good year - BLK 3 extrusions were
made and stretch-formed, another batch of T-Shirts
were screened, and after a lot of searching and
begging, I got the square aluminum tubing made.

I'll make a resolution to get the restoration
update page going, so that y'all can see what
is going on.

[retroaviation]

Cool! Looking forward to it.

Gary

[hang the expense]

Yeah, come on Bill ! Im sure the hours between 2 and 4 am are free right? LOL. Night shift at the boeing plant.

[hang the expense]

Station 7 tooling underway starting monday.Should be pretty straight forward. Hang in there Mike