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

[Rod Schneider]

The "Mystery" filler cap is for the oil supply tank for the turbocharger.

[Aeronut]

Do I spy asbestos in the gaskets on that air trunking?

[bomberflight]

The "Mystery" filler cap is for the oil supply tank for the turbocharger

~ many thanks Rod !

Every day in Hangar 5 is a school day for me ! There's always something new to learn

Aeronut ~ yes you're right. I was told not to stick my head in there ~ only the camera at arms length.

Which leaves me just enough time for a quick picture post today .....



We're looking at the top of the wing .....



And the fuel filler cap







That's it for this week ~ another update soon !

[The Inspector]

I hope the person who did that tank filler cutout in the wing skin didn't show it to their boss and ask for a raise! that defines the term 'hack job'

[CrewDawg]

In defense of the "hack job", that is a ring that is made to hold the fuel tank filler necks in place. There is a rubber accordian type tube/boot that goes around the fuel cap receptacle on one end and attaches to the wing skin on the top side. This is to prevent any fuel that is spilled during filling from running down the outside of the fuel tank and into the wing. I"ve had to put those on Chuckie and they are a royal PAIN!! There is no room to work to get it seated around the filler neck and trying to get the screw holes lined up around the top is a pain as well. They also made getting the fuel caps on very difficult.

Also in the first couple of pictures above the relatively new looking black crinkle painted box is the turbocharger pressuretrol which is part of the turbocharger control system. It senses the manifold pressure and sends that signal to the system to adjust the position of the waste gate.

[The Inspector]

Having worked on or inspected tin work for 45 years,I understand that. It's the hand can opener approach taken to create that hole in the skin and at least three rivets with insufficient or no edge margin, the fact the part is round (and obviously could serve as a template) but the opening is far from that. Guess someone left his 'pride of work' sitting on the dresser that morning, that picture defines HACK JOB. And if it was presented to me as an Inspector for buy off, I'd write it up as 'unacceptable ' and reject it.

[Ken]

Some Roger or Rosie the Riveter probably did the best they could; it may have been their first day on the job. I can imagine this person being a bit disappointed at not being able to open a precise circle and asking the boss if it was okay. His response was likely, "Don't sweat it kid, you'll do better next time. Now, let's get to the next airplane." And today their airplane, and all its warts, serves as a historical record of imperfect times when the outcome was not yet crystal clear.

[CAPFlyer]

Sorry Ken, but I don't think it was a "Roger" or "Rosie" Riveter job. The workmanship looks like that which resulted in the "hack job" camera bay modification that was done after the War. The metal doesn't even match meaning it is a modification from either during the war as a repair, or most likely after the war while it was flying for the French.

[Ken]

Okay. When it was described as a filler location, I assumed it dated back to the factory.

[CAPFlyer]

I don't know if the fillers had a cover on them from the factory or not, but that cover isn't factory especially because of the stuff that was listed.

As it is, one of the things that set the US apart was that we maintained the build quality and workmanship at all times during the war. As such, I'd have a problem if that had been from the factory because the factories that had quality issues didn't make it through the war (Brewster ring a bell?) because the lack of quality didn't stand the test of battle.

[the330thbg]

good grief the amazing shape this aircraft is in after almost 70 years certainly makes me proud to be an American. The fact that we as a nation could build such solid, solid aircraft at one time.

[B-17 guy]

good grief the amazing shape this aircraft is in after almost 70 years certainly makes me proud to be an American. The fact that we as a nation could build such solid, solid aircraft at one time.

Agreed, especially considering they were designed with a life expectency of less than a year and supposedly built only to last for that long.

[The Inspector]

...and they punched out 16+ every 24 hours of every day.......

[bomberflight]

I can't say they all look the same ~ but they all look similar .....





Whenever this was done ~ all the fuel filler caps on the top of both wings look similar

[bomberflight]

Something different to share today .....







The .50's for the tail gunners compartment are ready !





And here's a shot of the man who's superb wood working skills had me totally fooled that these aren't the real thing



Another update will be along soon !