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If it was bad....

Thu May 22, 2008 11:43 am


If it was bad, we are looking into making BLK 6 forward and aft.
We also will have those Tee attachments ready - just ordered
the extrusion for them. There are 4 different sizes of Tee attachments,
totaling 40 for the B-17E/F and somewhat less for the later B-17Gs.

Thu May 22, 2008 12:36 pm

SPANNERmkV wrote:That's the ticket... Since it is SO SIMPLE...
We can de-mate the back-half of TEXAS RAIDERS...
Strip it and make it that tribute to the 384th that I've always wanted.
That should get me the Col. of the Year Award.
:Hangman:

But the picture of the right side flange does show a little bit of bubble-up that might want some looking at. :roll:


I'll bring some Turco down next time and we'll get the aft fuselage and at least one wing stripped to bare metal! I'd like to see a patchwork B-17 scheme as a monument to the mechanics, engineering folks, and the Boeing design people for making such a versatile airframe and keeping 'em flying. (I didn't poke on that dirty spot when I took the photo--glad it wasn't white powder underneath :D )

Scott

Thu May 22, 2008 12:46 pm

Bill,
Thanks for the info on those parts.
I know BETTER than to say we don't need them at this point, because we may pull the radios and discover a "gotcha!"

ALONG those lines, we are re-visiting the extrusion issue for the Compression Strut Tie doomaflodgy(reference BAC1509-30858)
Rocky the DER is involved... 8)

So we may be back to going in on having a batch of that made IF Rocky breaks our hearts!
The Gentleman from S. Carolina would most likely be interested in getting in on that as well.

Gotta go take a work break. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Don't they know there is a Warbird going on?

Thu May 22, 2008 12:55 pm

(I didn't poke on that dirty spot when I took the photo--glad it wasn't white powder underneath :D )

Scott[/quote]

Scott... your job is to FIND THE CORROSION NOW!!! :shock:

If it is there, we want it found sooner rather than later!

Found some of my Dad's stateside photos. Lot's of good airplane stuff, and some pretty wild OClub parties. woohoo!

Thu May 22, 2008 1:21 pm

Don,

You forget, I was trying to keep from getting tossed out the back door of the hangar this trip. Self-preservation is a strong motivator. Next visit I'll get my magnifier out.
Last edited by Second Air Force on Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Thu May 22, 2008 1:32 pm

Image
Image

Bring yer good eye!
AND your better half!

:lol:

Sat May 24, 2008 11:52 am

Don,

STOP CLEANING THE AIRPLANE!!!! I just found the perfect paint scheme for TR:
Image
Princess Pat, salvaged 3/25/45. Courtesy of the 381st Bombardment Group (Heavy) website.

In fact, you need to ADD gunk for an accurate paint scheme, but that should be easier than doing this:
Image
(Spanner cleaning, his human Q-tip description is accurate.)

Scott

Sat May 24, 2008 12:33 pm

Stupid me, I just realized that TR IS painted in Princess Pat's paint scheme already, just not weathered enough. :shock:

Sat May 24, 2008 2:44 pm

Notice the 1943 red surround on the original photo. T.R. never carried that.

Sun May 25, 2008 12:14 am

Rick,

Don't take me so darned seriously! :) I know where you're coming from, but if we carry it to a logical conclusion TR never had paint period. I was poking a little fun at Don and the rest of the folks at the GCW for the elbow grease they have been putting into the cleaning project. I do love to study photos of Fortresses with parts from several different hangar queens though--a tribute to both mass-production and hard work in the combat zones.

Scott

Sun May 25, 2008 7:00 am

No,no, you misunderstand, It was a random thought that had nothing to do with your comment. :lol:

I was just looking at the picture and realized the original had the 1943 surround. Never saw that before. It would be cool if it was added this time around.

Sun May 25, 2008 9:33 am

Rocky H. is a great guy!! If he can't MAKE it work, then it just won't work!

SPANNERmkV wrote:Bill,
Thanks for the info on those parts.
I know BETTER than to say we don't need them at this point, because we may pull the radios and discover a "gotcha!"

ALONG those lines, we are re-visiting the extrusion issue for the Compression Strut Tie doomaflodgy(reference BAC1509-30858)
Rocky the DER is involved... 8)

So we may be back to going in on having a batch of that made IF Rocky breaks our hearts!
The Gentleman from S. Carolina would most likely be interested in getting in on that as well.

Gotta go take a work break. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Don't they know there is a Warbird going on?

Sun May 25, 2008 5:46 pm

RickH,

That left outer wing panel probably came off of a late "F" model in the bone pile, hence the red surround. An interesting aside to that photo is the way that the O.D. faded differently. Notice how much greener the left outer wing is from the balance of the aircraft. I read somewhere about the different paints used by the various manufacturing locations and the fading tendencies being different. Nine-0-Nine has a nearly perfect "brownish" color that was typical of many B17s after long months outside. If memory serves, Boeing-built aircraft stayed greener than Vega or Douglas birds, and the difference was in the paint suppliers using different formulations. You can also see the differences in the cheek window installations on early "G"s that had been sent through the mod centers.

Scott

Sun May 25, 2008 10:54 pm

Rick and Scott,
GREAT Observation and a good excuse to quit scrubbing.
Princess Pat has the nastiest engine nacelles I have EVER seen on 1& 2.

Amazingly enough,our wing extensions look like the photo. They have some weird grey discolouration and a very light green that doesn't resemble the darker green on the wing roots.

I like the idea of the 1943 style red border.

Today I pulled 2 carbs.in anticipation of having them flow tested.
At first I thought the MO was just being totally gay about wanting the carbs gone through. BUT# 1 had some nasty scurf growing in it.

Scott, wisht you were here last night. We tried the swage machine at Continental and we were not getting the proper reduction in size per the manual's go- no go chart. Fortunately this was all on "test" parts and a short piece of our cable. We will talk to the "experts" Tuesday.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY (Observed!) TO ALL

Sun May 25, 2008 11:14 pm

Spanner,

Good deal with the swaging machine--get an experienced operator to step you through the first few terminal ends. The process isn't hard, but the correct mandrels and settings are crucial. Check into their proof-testing equipment while you're there. When we used to make our own cables on the floor (they have a ()$^$@$# shop do them nowadays so that it takes five times as long and they don't fit when we get them) we had a tester to proof them before stringing them in the airplane.

If you're going to go for the 150-mission nacelle look, don't forget to loosen up every joint in your exhaust rings for that pretty tan staining on the oil. Those 1820s were nasty.

Scott
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