Official B-29 Doc Restoration Thread

[Zac Yates]

What Chris said is, obviously, what I meant

[ryguy135]

Been a week - btw those are some great shots DuxfordThunderbolt!!

Finally have some bigger news. The third engine showed up this week for one thing. Final preparations are complete and the outboard engine nacelles will be raised and installed this Saturday, followed hopefully not too long after by the engines themselves. All of the lower skin panels have been removed and the fuel cells are starting to be installed as they arrive. Also, the first two propellers will be loaded on to a truck and headed this way tomorrow from Texas. One of the propellers is in questionable condition though and it's not clear at this point if it can be fully restored. Anyone have any spares? If we could avoid a trip to visit Kee Bird in Greenland that would be great!!

Work continues on reskinning the aft RH bomb bay door and the belly pan. The tail surfaces are prepped and ready to be installed but we're waiting until we get the tail polished a little cleaner before we install them.

Lastly, I will be taking over the Facebook page most likely, that should mean more pictures coming soon. The volunteers that had been handling it were laid off from Spirit recently which is the reason for the lack of info. Please understand it's a lack of updates, rather than a lack of progress!

[Old SAR pilot]

Final preparations are complete and the outboard engine nacelles will be raised and installed this Saturday, followed hopefully not too long after by the engines themselves. All of the lower skin panels have been removed and the fuel cells are starting to be installed as they arrive.

Um, ryguy...It was my understanding that the lower skin panels were stressed members, which was why engines, nacelles, and fittings were removed on FiFi before the wing tanks could be removed/installed. Perhaps I'm wrong (have been many times before), but shouldn't the nacelle installation wait until the tanks and lower panels are installed?

Other'n that you folks are doing super work on Doc!

[ryguy135]

Good call Old SAR pilot. The outboard wings have jacking positions that are used to support the wing when removing the skin panels.

[B-29 Watcher]

I really hope there are some videos of the placing of the nacelles and of the placing of the engines. I think that would make for some interesting videos!


______________

B-29 Watcher

[ryguy135]

Spirit Creative Services shot a time lapse video of the wings being attached, but we haven't heard anything about what they did with it since...hopefully they'll do something good with it.

[B-29 Watcher]

Spirit Creative Services shot a time lapse video of the wings being attached

Sure hope they put it on the home site, on facebook, this thread or u tube. I have Been watching doc for years when I could. It has been hard to find info about him finally my wife found out WIX had a thread about him. I'm glad she did it is great to have a place to go and find out what is going on close to when it happens and some insites in to the future. More pictures would be nice but, we appeciate all you have put in to this thread. Love to see the progress!

THANKS

[markboss]

Nacelle install pics..



https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 614&type=1

[B-29 Watcher]

Nacelle install pics..



https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set ... 614&type=1

i just saw the pics look real good. He hasen't had nacelles for 13 or 15 years they look good back in place. The facebook page said the first of four, but the pics look to be both outside nacelles Correct me if I am wrong. Anyway I like the pics Keep them coming.

THANKS markboss

Last edited by B-29 Watcher on Sat Nov 09, 2013 7:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[ryguy135]

Hey guys you're right that both nacelles were hung Saturday. I'm gonna do a write up tonight to send to our Facebook guy to get some more info out, along with more pics. Both outboard nacelles went on, and the inboard nacelles are scheduled to go on in 2 weeks. Also, the first two props showed up, and we got word that the one that was questionable is restorable, so no trip to Greenland yet. Work continues on other parts of the plane as well. In addition to the belly pan and bomb bay door work, the wing-fuse fairings are being finished up and installed so the flaps can be installed. Also, the hand crank mechanism for the main landing gear is finishing installation.

[B-29 Watcher]

Is ther any way to buy any of the "DOC" T-shirts. I can't come to Witchita to get one although I would love to come & help get him BACK IN THE AIR . You should allow online purchases of your promotional products so we can show our support & contribute to the cause

[B-29 Watcher]

Hey I was thinking it would be nice to have a B-29 shadow similar to this only a B-29 we have DOC & FIFI threads. How do you go about getting something like that added?

[ryguy135]

B-29 Watcher - we would like to have shirts available for sale online but don't believe there are any plans in the near future to do that. You might try shooting an email though via the "contact us" section on the website and see if they can help you out.

No big news this week, just continued progress on the existing projects. Our fearless leader TJ is down in Midland for a few days to meet with the CAF Fifi guys about a few questions regarding the engines and other items. The inboard nacelles won't be going on this Saturday as there are still a few open items that need completed first, but next Saturday is almost certain.

It's amazing, everytime I crawl up in the bomb bay there are a few more cables, wires, and hydraulic and fuel lines installed!

[Chappie]

Fantastic. Even a little progress is huge when the end result is another flying B-29.

Chappie

[B-29 Watcher]

Here is a link to an article about the air show in Punta Gorda, Florida coming up on March 29,30 2014. http://www.floridaairshow.com/media/pdf ... dTop10.pdf

I am hoping Doc will be ready to be there.
I read the Blue Angels will be performing again in 2014.